What makes a good accountant?

There are a number of reasons why you’d label someone a ‘good accountant’ - but most of them relate to soft skills like integrity and foundational numerical ability. Sure, accountants need to be good at maths and adhere to strict ethical standards, but that’s not all. Today, we’re going to talk about the lesser-known qualities that go into being a great accountant.

Detail-oriented

Crossing your ‘t’s and dotting your ‘i’s takes on a whole new meaning for accountants. One errant zero could be the difference between 10,000 and 100,000 to their clients or companies. So, to be a good accountant, you need to be meticulous. If you already double or triple-check your work; this could be the field for you.

Organised

Great accountants can look after multiple tasks and deadlines simultaneously. So, you’ll need to have a good handle on time management practices like Eating the Frog or Time Blocking if you want to be effective. Applying rigour to your day-to-day ensures that nothing gets missed. If this is you, accountancy could be a natural path.

Tech-savvy

Most accounting is done with SaaS tools these days, so you need to know tech programs like the back of your hand. It’s not just Excel anymore - Expensify, Quickbooks and all the Government Gateways will come into play. If you already know how to use some of these, you’ll be ahead of the curve.

Communicator

You won’t work in a silo as an accountant. Clients, colleagues and stakeholders will drop by your desk and you’ll need to explain complex financial information clearly to them. They’ll look to you for advice too. So, be prepared to support your ideas with equal doses of logic and empathy.

Problem-solver

We don’t mean ‘creative’ accounting. We mean getting creative to understand the accounts you’re working with. Oftentimes, you’ll have several stakeholders feeding into your books, so reconciling financial discrepancies simply around differing approaches is common. You’ll need to think through the numbers you see to understand how they got there and if they’re even right.

Evolving

If you’re going to get your accountancy degree and then never crack a book again; think again. New regulations, technologies and practices come into play every year. So, a good accountant keeps up to date; getting all the certifications and advanced training they need to stay competitive. If you love learning, this is a core skill good accountants need to have.

Business-minded

All businesses want to make money. So, if you can relate your advice to business goals, you’re going to make yourself invaluable. CEOs and CFOs love accountants who speak the universal language of business: profit. Learning how to translate your processes into cost-saving programs the big bosses can get behind will quickly advance your career.

See some of these qualities in yourself? We’d love to nurture them in a safe space within our #UniAsItShouldBe experience. Email us at enquiries@bolton.ac.uk or call +44 1204 903774 to discuss your future as a stellar accountant.