Whether you’re starting a career in accounting or reflecting on how to grow your current one, it’s important to know the essential qualities of an accountant. But what defines success in the industry?
Demystify the road to growth in the profession by understanding the top qualities of an accountant and how you can improve your profile with these soft skills.
Qualities of an accountant #1: Curiosity
“You have to be very open; you have to be willing to ask questions. And not to prove that you’re smarter, but to show you’re genuinely interested in how and why they’re doing what they’re doing.” “Those outside the profession may view accounting as a relatively static field — how much can calculations and formulas change, they may figure — but that perception is far from reality in accounting.” - Mike Brown, CPA, CGMA, CMA, and National Instructor with Becker |
There’s always something new to learn in the accounting profession—be it new regulations, best accounting practices, or new technology for data management and workflow efficiency. When you’re willing to dive into a complex problem and ask questions, you’ll produce better work and gain the confidence of your clients and teammates. You must be excited to learn new skills and information, or else you simply won’t keep up with your colleagues and your clients’ needs.
And to top it off, your job security depends on your curiosity. Professionals who earn additional credentials—like Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) and Certified Management Accountants (CMAs)—have better job outlook and a much more competitive resume.
If you’re willing to keep learning to earn and maintain professional credentials, you’ll tap into unstoppable career growth.
Qualities of an accountant #2: Adaptability
“You have to be willing to roll with the punches. I have been so impressed watching how creative everyone has been. I love that [accounting] forces some folks out of their preconceived notions.” - Mike Brown |
Spending any time in the business world gives you a masterclass on adaptability. For accountants, for example, the increasing norm of a virtual workplace has brought the challenge of learning to interact with clients through video calls and chats, without the relationship-fostering benefits of in-person conversations and consults. Your ability to adapt to not only these types of changes, but the many others that you’ll face in an ever evolving industry is crucial to your long-term success.
Adaptability is a quality for accountants that’s important for those who are beginning their careers and who have worked in the field for decades. You may face situations where a manager asks you to write and rewrite a report, or where you’re learning a new tool to reach compatibility with a client’s workflow. Keep your mind open to taking a new approach whenever there’s the need.
Qualities of an accountant #3: Communication
“It’s the people skills you need—I learned that pretty early on.” “You’ll be the most popular person at your company if you’re the one who people can look to and say, 'Oh, he or she actually likes presenting? Let’s give (this presentation) to them.'” - Mike Brown |
Breaking down the walls that can go up between accountants and their clients requires finesse. You must be able to clearly and respectfully explain what you’re doing and why, why you’re seeking the information you seek, what you’ll do with it, and the overall desired outcome. You have to connect with their teams to let them know that you’re on their side, helping to support their goals and make their work better.
In the same way, accountants regularly create, review, and present reports, making strong written and presentation skills essential qualities of an accountant. Your reports should be clear and compelling, without grammatical or spelling mistakes. Your presentation should be confident, convincing, and well-spoken to drive the data home and inspire confidence in your expertise.
Being extroverted isn’t one of the key qualities of an accountant, but superior communication skills and comfort with public speaking will help you stand out within your firm.
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Qualities of an accountant #4: Leadership
“A lot of your career comes down to managing people. And managing up can be as important as managing down.” - Mike Brown |
Making your clients and teammates comfortable, valued, and free to express themselves is one of the most important qualities of an accountant. An impeccable ability to work with others is essential to both team productivity and client relations.
You can demonstrate leadership whether you’re in a management or junior-level role.
- As a manager, establish an environment that’s supportive, collaborative, and respectful. Listen to your team members and give them the opportunity to shine in the areas where they want to grow. Provide direction, without taking away their chance to learn—and don’t forget to recognize a job well done!
- As a staff member, lead by exemplifying teamwork, hard work, and the desire to keep growing. By being collaborative and bringing open authenticity to your team, you’ll easily gain trust and help foment an environment where everyone can do their best. With that attitude and commitment to excellence, others will naturally start looking to you for support.
Building great client relationships also requires your leadership. Take the initiative during meetings and calls to show your clients’ teams that you’re not only invested in getting the job done, but that you’re also on their side to make their organization better. This leadership is one of the qualities of an accountant that will ensure you maintain and grow your client base.
- Ask about the client’s priorities, goals, and pain points.
- Take notes during your meetings to demonstrate that you value the team members’ ideas and want to incorporate them in your work.
- Get to know the team on a personal level—who they are as individuals and what they value. You can even jot down quick notes for yourself to help you remember and follow up later in casual conversation.
- Share something about yourself, either your personal life or career, and something you’ve learned that applies to the situation. Bringing individual authenticity to the table forges relationships that positively impact the work produced.
Qualities of an accountant #5: Organization
As an accountant, you’ll work with multiple clients at the same time, often juggling projects and tasks that all need your detailed attention. Staying organized is essential to keeping up with and maintaining the quality of your work.
Not only do you need to be well-organized in your documentation and workflow, but also with your time. Good organization and management of your time will help you set priorities according to your deadlines and stay on track with your projects without feeling lost or overwhelmed.
Qualities of an accountant #6: Integrity
Last, but definitely not least: strict adherence to business ethics and personal integrity are vital qualities of an accountant. In this profession, you create reports and provide insight that helps businesses and individuals make important decisions for their future and well-being.
You must be able to hold yourself accountable to always perform your work thoroughly and ethically, abiding by all codes of business conduct, without slacking off or taking shortcuts that may result in detrimental missteps. Remember: your clients’ livelihoods are at stake.
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With these important qualities for an accountant, you can be confident that you have the soft skills to succeed. Grow your career by earning the most important credential for an accountant’s resume—a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license.
Learn everything you need to know about what is a CPA, how to become a CPA, and passing the CPA Exam—in Becker’s free downloadable CPA Exam Guide eBook.
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