Companies this year will place a stronger emphasis on candidates who can fill a range of in-demand skillsets, from strategic commercial skills, to niche, technical expertise and are willing to pay more for the right fit, but where to begin?
The first thing you need to know is that you’ll be in good company: approximately 20% of chief executives of the FTSE 100 are qualified accountants.
The accountancy sector provides a rewarding and far reaching career path, with immediate study expectations, and a range of specialisations, from corporate finance and tax to assurance and managements. Hot roles in 2016 include accounting managers, senior accountants, payroll professionals and analysts, highlighting a deep shift from recovery to productivity.
Recruitment goals amongst HR recruiters will differ slightly depending on the size of the organisation, as large companies are planning to hire slightly more temporary and interim professionals than small companies, creating a perfect hiring environment for skilled candidates to either learn the trade through contract positions or address a root skills shortage by proving their worth.
As a director, you’ll need excellent interpersonal skills (you’ll be working alongside all business departments and collaborating closely with the CEO) and the ability to present information succinctly: skills which you can learn within a small or large firm. Those that choose a large firm will be presented with a number of specialist career routes to reach the position of director, but accountants can benefit from a faster learning curve and early responsibility within a smaller organisation.
To gain a sense of what you should be prioritising, the next step is to look at dominating trends in the industry. The influence of online software and digital modernisation in the sector will place more importance on cloud computing and forging business relationships online. Increased confidence, the economic climate and increased job creation dominated 2015; filling skills gaps will influence 2016, so demonstrating some knowledge will be advantageous.
A standard three-year period of exams and work experience will provide the experience and skills that are needed to work anywhere in the world, but the ambitious, analytical, and persistent candidates who understand business requirements will stand out from the crowd. A lack of niche, technical experts is a primary reason for the skills shortage, so find your niche to scale the career ladder, while maintaining a keen business eye and enthusiasm for driving growth.
