The days of an
accountant’s role being all about numbers or just the tax return are no more. Today, much of this work can
be dealt with by technology, and so their responsibilities lie elsewhere.
Your finance professional needs to have a much wider skill set to ensure they
are keeping up with the times. Here, we explore the main ones to look for when
selecting an accountant.
Leadership
You should be relying on the finance expert – not the other way around. They ought to be taking the lead on their proficiency, and independently. Of course, your accountant will require information from you, but they need to be able to think strategically and plan for the long-term. This way, they can help take your business forward.
Technical
It’s also important for your accountant to possess digital skills. With the roll-out of Making Tax Digital (MTD) for VAT, along with future introductions for Income Tax and Corporation Tax, an accountant shouldn’t be working manually. Instead, they should have cloud accounting software as part of their offering, and the expertise to use it. Technology is dynamic, which forever changes the picture of what the future holds for accounting.
Time management
This is one skill that an accountant ought to already have – but as our world becomes even more fast-paced, its importance will increase. Ideally, they will be incredibly organised; meeting deadlines, effectively prioritising, and able to help you when required – including dealing with any financial disagreements.
Problem-solving
Not every issue can be foreseen, however the perfect accountant will have the capabilities to effectively handle these situations. By performing both problem-solving and critical thinking, they will reduce the chance of any risks, including those financial, and provide results that are reliable.
Clarity
A key skill is communicating
financial information in a way that the everyday person can comprehend. This should
include its interpretation and results. Getting to the point is vital, as
you’ll want to be able to understand what is being said, and quickly. As a
result, you can then use the information for effective decision-making.
Personability
Going hand in hand with clarity is personability. Of course, you’ll prefer an accountant who gets along with not just you, but any other stakeholders in the business. Ideally, they will also be inspiring and encouraging, providing a great boost in your company’s success.
With these core capabilities, your accountant will be a key player in growth, rather than simply helping to sort your enterprise’s accounts. And there’s no need to look any further for your growth partner than Nabarro Poole.
Our friendly team will communicate with you in layman’s terms and do what’s necessary to take your business to the next level. You can have faith in our technical skills too – we’ve been using cloud accounting software since 2010. We’ve transformed with the times so you can keep ahead of the curve.
Want to give your finances that all-important boost? Simply speak to us. Get in touch today to discuss your needs.
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