What skills are required in your position on a day-to day basis?
I am a senior in high school who is currently in an accounting class. #accounting #finance #business #accountant
17 answers
Roy’s Answer
Hi Anaya,
Others have mentioned the need for strong "soft" interpersonal skills such as communication. This is absolutely true, but I see you've mentioned you're in school and taking accounting courses.
The knowledge of accounting is still important, but not in the way you may anticipate, as many of the concepts you are learning in school will fall away once you begin employment and hone the concepts specifically needed for your group. The purpose of learning all the concepts that you do in school (and the reason there is an emphasis on getting good grades) is to demonstrate that have a mind willing and able to learn and apply new skills. I would hence encourage you to do well in your classes in tandem with building your soft skills.
Those who have the most influence have both a). knowledge and b). good communication. Having knowledge without means to communicate it results in one's knowledge remaining siloed. Having communication skills without appropriate knowledge results in the spread of information that may not be correct.
Paul’s Answer
Kathryn’s Answer
Everyone has given you great advice to follow. In addition to the above, be sure to embrace change and not be afraid to think outside the box. Use constructive critiscm as a learning, training & growth opportunity. Remember, no one is perfect and we have all made mistakes. The important thing is to learn from them & don't let mistakes define you.
Best of luck to you!
Katy
Emilio’s Answer
Christopher’s Answer
The most important skills for my job as a Leadership Development Lead involves project management, communication skills, instructional design, public speaking skills, and general people management skills.
You definitely want to be a person who knows how to work independently and collaboratively.
I'd encourage you to look at job postings for jobs you are interested in and see what skills they mention. That could be a great first step for identifying a list of skills that you can then begin working on.
Lora Geiger, PCC, MSC, SPHR, Ed.D.
Lora’s Answer
So one skill I'd highlight is learning agility, being a continuous learner and embracing change in both your mindset and on-going growth and development. As I work with leaders at all levels of the firm, and we define leadership in terms of both leading yourself and leading others.
One way to lead yourself is to know your values, what you care about and taking care of your well-being. We think in terms of developing well-being as a leadership skill so that you can live a fulfilling life and also have sustainable performance by renewing your energy. This is a skill you can cultivate in high school, college and beyond by knowing what brings you energy, whether that's through sports, working out, sleep, nutrition, spending quality time with family and friends and connecting with something larger than yourself, for example, volunteering.
Once you know yourself and develop your own self awareness around what brings you energy and how you renew your physical, emotional, mental and spiritual energy, you can also role model for others as a way of leading others. For ideas on how to cultivate well-being habits to enhance your energy in each of these four dimensions, check out the habit bank https://habitbank.pwc.com/tab=1 and find what might work for you!
Olivia’s Answer
As many others have answered, communication is very important. Having the ability to build relationships with others is a valuable skill that will help you be successful no matter what career you choose. Having a network of colleagues to support and guide you will encourage personal and professional growth.
Although technical and analytical skills are something you can build up throughout your career, having an interest and learning about them while in school can only better prepare you for a successful career.
I hope this helps! Good luck!
Alex’s Answer
I believe what everyone said above is 100% true. I would like to piggyback off the time management aspect as life is a lot different from college to your first job. You must be able to prioritize your time for what is most important in your work day. For myself, I am in Sales, so using my calendar for everything helps me understand where my time is going and what I am focusing on the most. Then at the end of each week I revaluate and make sure that what I spent my time on was worth it and if it wasn't I change my strategy. Also, asking questions, as no question is a dumb question. Make sure you are curious in your job and communicative with people around you.
I wish you the best of luck.
Thanks,
Alex
Jamie’s Answer
Meghana’s Answer
I definitely agree with those above! I just graduated college and had similar questions related to yours!
Time management is crucial! You'll usually never just be working on one thing at a time, often times you'll be balancing many tasks with different deadlines. Setting a prioritized to do list helps so much! That way you know what is due when, and know where to put your efforts first.
I also think strong communication skills have helped me a lot, both verbal and written. I often times have to take complicated information and turn it into a powerpoint or document that is simple to understand.
That being said, you'll learn so much everyday just by being on the job, so just be willing to learn and grow!
All the best,
Meghana
Brandon’s Answer
John’s Answer
Janice’s Answer
Be a good listener; be open and flexible to change; continuous learning is very valuable as you keep your skills tuned, you are more likely to be able to move into different roles. Communications is key to everything! Observe your surroundings so that you are aware of what is happening with who....Networking with others is another key element if moving around within your company is something you wish to do. I take a lot of notes and save them....as a reference - I've had several managers come to me asking for notes to help a case/cause. Don't be afraid to voice your opinion and know that it is okay to say no at times. Believe in yourself and be strong internally - that has helped me get through some of the struggles in life that one may encounter. Be professional to others - kindness goes a long way. Ask for help when you need it.....
Yunqing (Meredith)’s Answer
2. Data analysis skills, especially Excel.
Brett’s Answer
On a daily basis I would say that my position requires customer service skills, the ability to communicate verbally and with the written word. Time management is also a big part of my position. Accuracy and a level of understanding of both what I am being asked to do as well as what the financial rules are regarding what I am being asked to do. For instance a customer requests something, is that within our regulations to accommodate that request. Also computer skills, basic math skills. I think as you gain confidence in your field or job a lot of these things will fall into place. Treating people the way they deserve to be treated and handling difficult situations appropriately will help you deal with any encounter in the professional world and personal world. Also I feel asking questions to get the answers you do not know. Its ok not to know just try not to assume that what your doing is always right. Use the experience of those around you to help you. I hope this helps!
Megan’s Answer
Hi Anaya,
On a day to day basis, I generally use the following skills:
- Ability to communicate, both verbally and in writing. Being as concise and precise as possible is important, as well as tailoring my message to my audience (the right amount of detail, technical jargon, etc.).
- Project management - the ability to juggle multiple clients and various demands on my time, thinking through timelines to help clients plan, anticipating issues that may arise, etc.
- Working with and leading teams - I work at an accounting firm which is really a people-based business. Coaching and fostering the professional development of the people I work with is a big part of my job.
Looking at that list, it's less about what you do (technical knowledge of accounting or tax) and more about how you do it (communication, project management, leadership skills). I hope you find that helpful!
Agree with Megan's feedback completely. Communication and project management are absolutely critical.
Heather Lashway
Jacob’s Answer
Hi, Anaya,
I think Megan gave you a great answer. I'd also add the willingness to be a lifelong learner. The world is constantly changing and the accounting field today is radically different from what it was even a few years ago. Technology has transformed accounting and will continue to do so in the future. Businesses everywhere must implement technology solutions to compete. In the professional services industry, data analytics and visualization tools are an integral part of how we serve our clients.
I hope this helps - good luck!