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Essay Available:
Pages:
2 pages/β‰ˆ550 words
Sources:
3 Sources
Style:
APA
Subject:
Business & Marketing
Type:
Essay
Language:
English (U.S.)
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MS Word
Date:
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Topic:

Accounting Soft Skills. Business & Marketing Essay

Essay Instructions:

This writing assignment contains two parts. First, conduct research to determine the specific types of skills that accounting firms are seeking in their employees, aside from accounting knowledge. Use at least three unique sources dated 2017 or after, and cite properly using either APA or CMA standards. Interviews (one-on-one -- not lectures or conferences) with members of the accounting profession can serve as sources as well.
Second, once you have identified and explained some of the leading non-technical skills, lay out your definitive plan for enhancing those soft skills that need your personal attention. Honing your own skills will make you a more marketable recruit for the accounting world.
Be specific, be thoughtful, and demonstrate both value-added learning and polished writing skills.
Accounting professionals strive to improve their clients’ businesses. As such, accountants must possess the necessary skills in order to achieve this objective. An often unspoken key difference between the successful client engagement and the unsuccessful engagement involves the human side of the experience. The human element is deemed important across different plateaus of the accounting discipline. For example, as noted on the AICPA web site, “soft skills” are receiving more attention as critical skills for tax practitioners in the current business environment (Murphy, 2014). Additionally, Robert Half Finance and Accounting (2013) suggests that soft skills are vital for accounting and finance professionals. So much, in fact, that 'Soft skills are the new hard skills" (p. 1).
In addition, Anthony Noto, the global co-head of Goldman Sachs’ global telecommunications, media and technology group in investment banking, claims that “The CFO of 50 years ago was an accountant and controller [who] made sure that the numbers were audited appropriately, and they were disclosed and disseminated appropriately.” Today, a CFO needs to be more of an operating CFO” … as “someone who’s using the financial data and the data of the company to help drive strategy, the allocation of capital, and the management of risks. You need a partner on your side who can help you make decisions” (Perez, 2013, p. 1)

Essay Sample Content Preview:
      Accounting Soft Skills Name Institution Date     Part 1 –Soft Skills   The case for evaluating the soft skills is that accountants need to be proficient in accounting and financial roles, and have right skills mix to be effective.  Soft skills are sometimes associated with the personality, these skills can learned and the leadership ability is one of the most important in accounting now more than ever before. Accountants who demonstrate leadership and initiative that are transferable skills, and are more proactive when implementing changes and add value in the workplace (Byrne & Lees, 2018). Leaders play an important role to boost talent, facilitate training, build trust, delegate functions, contribute ideas, and share information,   while setting an example for others. Soft skills can help accountants adapt in different environments and even as the jobs evolve these will be useful together with the digital technology skills. The communication, critical thinking, self-management, interpersonal skills, teamwork and problem-solving skills are other skills that improve the effectiveness of employees (Denison, 2018). Besides the technical knowledge people skills and personal attributes are important as accountants should have good communication skills and in some instances work under pressure where they are require solving problems. Furthermore, accountants must be open to learning, which allows them to improve their skills and competencies.  Technical skills based on accounting knowledge are important, but the advent technology of technology in their work has meant accountants need communicating more. Colquhoun (2018) pointed out that soft skills like communication skills are important more than ever, as there have been changes in practice and even now accountants are expected to be more creative. Accountants are also more likely to interact with clients, while communication skills are some of the most important to build a business.  A balance between the soft and hard skills is necessary to improve workplace productivity and acquire the most relevant skills. Part 2- Enhancing the Soft Skills Ideally, the employers ought to provide training and teaching opportunities for staff to man...
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