What Are Employers Looking For In Accounting and Finance Professionals?

There are specialist skills needed for every job, no matter which industry it belongs to. A job in accounting or finance is no different. There has been a huge demand for accounting and finance professionals lately. While there has been a steady rise in demand of these professionals, there has also been an increase in accounting and finance professionals. With such cut-throat competition, it is crucial for aspiring professionals to understand what employers are looking for in accounting and finance professionals. If you are still not sure, match your skills sets with the point mentioned below and you will know the area you need to work on.

Technical Skills
There has been a significant change in role and responsibilities of an accounting professional over the past decade. The skills set needed for the role is constantly evolving and therefore, those who are looking for a stable career in accounting and finance should acquire the basic skills first and keep themselves up-to-date with the changes in accounting and finance sector. Joining specialist courses like a Charted Accountancy, Financial Reporting, Master’s degree in finance, IT, tax and IFRS is a good way to start.

Industry Awareness
There has always been a demand for professionals with a futuristic outlook and idea about upcoming trends in the finance and accounting sector. A candidate with industry awareness is preferred more by the employers. Follow blogs, news, and forums where you can get updates about the latest happening in the industry.

Audit and Compliance
An accounting professional with specialization in audit and compliance will get more preference among employers. With increasing trend among companies to stay in line with regulatory requirements, the need for professionals who knows how to secure compliance skills is on rise. If you haven’t learned these skills, it’s not too late yet

Product and Validation
Investment banking has seen a huge boom over past couple of years. While there has been an increase in demand of account and finance professionals, the investment banking market remains short of qualified professionals. Accounting professionals with knowledge in product and valuation control are sure to have brighter career prospects

Complete Package
While technical skills and specialization are of extreme importance, most companies prefer professionals with good communication, analytic, and presentation skills. There is no point hiring an accounting professional who is not a good analyzer. Similarly commercial viability and international experience of the candidate also count a lot. Candidate with a stable career, good growth, and international experience always have an added bonus over their counterparts. The Bottomline
With such a vast change in market’s dynamics, this year is surely going to be a crucial year for accounting and finance professionals. If the current trend continues, be ready to witness a huge increase in demand for accounting and finance professionals in India as well as other developing countries. So equip yourself with required skills and get ready to take the market by boom.