5 Important Qualities Necessary For Accounting Careers

Do you have what it takes to be a successful accountant? For a rewarding accounting career, possessing certain qualities and personality traits is a must. It is not just about job qualifications but also about soft skills.

Consider this Madoff scandal in 2008.

Bernie Madoff is a former American stockbroker who orchestrated the biggest Ponzi scheme in history, and also one of the largest accounting scandals. Madoff ran Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC. After the 2008 financial crisis, it was discovered that Madoff had tricked investors out of over $64.8 billion.

Madoff, his accountant, David Friehling, and second in command, Frank DiPascalli, were all convicted of the charges filed against them. The former stockbroker received a prison sentence of 150 years and was also ordered to pay $170 billion in restitution.

Madoff might have been worthy of his accountancy certification but did not possess the essential personal characteristics of an accountant.

Top-notch accountants must also possess several personal qualities to ensure that they can provide the best possible service.

1.  Detail-oriented

Working as an accountant involves paying close attention to detail. Even the smallest error can result in major money problems for businesses or individuals.

As such, accountants must focus on the details and place a lot of emphasis on the accuracy of the work. Accountants must have developed the skill of double-checking their work to the point where it is second nature to them.

2. Tech-savvy

An accounting career involves doing a lot of calculations, but it’s not just about math. Accountants need to be comfortable working with software and other tech tools such as Advanced Excel that handle these calculations.

3. Strong work ethic

Ethics and integrity are valued characteristics in an accountant. They must know right from wrong and always display integrity in their accounting and bookkeeping activities.

In Madoff’s case, they received a prison sentence of 150 years because they lacked a strong sense of work ethic.

To succeed in accounting, it is important to have a solid work ethic. Accountants sometimes work long hours, or they’re expected to be available more often during certain periods, such as during tax season,

4. Sense of accountability.

A good quality of an accountant is to accept the result and any fallout of their work. Accountants must own up to their mistakes and ensure that they are not repeated. Mistakes can happen to even the most diligent person. Accountants should, however, be taking steps to prevent inaccuracies.

5. Highly organized

To become the best accountant, you should be characterized by strong organizational skills. In your profession, every piece of data and paperwork should be reviewed at all times, no matter how small.

This, therefore, means that poor organizational skills will be detrimental to your career.

Being well organized ensures that accounts always have quick access to all the hardware they need, helping maximize productivity and freeing up more time for the most important tasks at hand.

Finally, these accounting qualities can be learned and practiced. This can be achieved by embarking on this practical accounting course to help you break into the profession successfully.