4 characteristics of an accountant
1. Learned in the ways of money
Typically, an associate degree or even a vocational certificate may suffice to earn a job as an accountant (bookkeeper is interchangeably used at times). For some companies, having a master’s and doctorate degree earns you a place in higher positions up their corporate ladders. In any given position, being an accountant means being able to gather financial information. Not just that, it also entails interpreting and analyzing it for decision-makers of a company.
The knowledge of an accountant does not come overnight; months or years of studying, training, and learning are invested to acquire a solid foundation in business studies. Therefore, accountants first understand the basic functions of a business for them to accurately analyze and interpret financial data.
2. Knows the way around a computer
Gone are the days of the abacus and manual computing, or even paper spreadsheets. A business owner has to know at least the basic features of an excel spreadsheet. However, an accountant knows how to make that spreadsheet, spot errors, extract data, and anything that goes with it.
The challenge?
Accounting software, Cloud-based systems, and other technology-related systems that help in financial decision-making are important must-have tools for an accountant’s daily work. But those who cannot keep up may become obsolete and a change of profession might be an arm’s length transaction away.
Get further insights on How Cloud and AI are Transforming Accounting
3. Detail-oriented and organized
“Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny. Consume you, it will.” -Yoda, Star Wars
A dark path for accountants could be the hordes of data they have to sift through to get viable information. Accountants need to be able to sort through bulks of data without being confused by it all. They know how to prepare this bulk of data as well; once they do, they would also know how to check others’ works too. This is how auditors spot errors: by being able to go through data and by knowing how to do what they are checking. Once auditors spot these errors, no matter how they are hidden under mountains of other information, the audit trail will lead them to it if they know where to look.
Errors, fraud, and other irregularities are the fruits of an auditors’ labor; whereas these are an accountant’s bane.
4. Client-oriented and remote-work reliable
Despite having to work with money daily, accountants seldom handle cold, hard cash. Receipts, invoices, bills, transaction notices, bank statements, etc.: these are the representations of money in the form of revenues and expenses that accountants handle. With computer vision technology, even information in these physical documents can be transferred reliably to the Cloud.
Have a look at our previous article on Integrating Computer Vision into Accounting
Working remotely with your accountants will not be a problem, given the right technology. Reliability is still a priority and should not be compromised in social distancing situations. With the proper tools and software, accountants are there to help run your business properly and stay safe at the same time.
At last, an accountant’s first priority professionally would be the clients. Thus, accounting’s new normal dictates that accountants should be able to cater to their client’s needs in the most accurate way without compromising safety.