Enhancing Tech Skills for Accountants: Skills for the Future

It's a well-known fact that the continued advancement of computer technology in the past few years has left virtually no industry untouched. One of the fields that this digital age has most influenced is accounting. Accounting professionals previously spent a significant chunk of their time making manual entries and scanning for errors. Today, after honing tech skills for accountants, they can accomplish these tasks in less time and more efficiently.

It's no surprise then that the skills required for a successful career in accounting have changed significantly. Most employers today seek accountants who are knowledgeable and competent in basic accounting principles and industry practices and can leverage automation tools to achieve higher levels of accounting accuracy and efficiency.

Here are four crucial tech skills for accountants to become proficient if you hope to stand out from other job seekers and bag that top accounting job at the company of your dreams.

Proficiency in Microsoft Excel

Competency in Microsoft Excel is very critical when it comes to succeeding as an accountant. While you typically will only sometimes use this software in your day-to-day accounting processes, many employers still highly value the ability to read and analyze the data on Excel documents. At the very least, you should understand basic features such as sorting, filtering, and formulas. If you're filling a role that requires extensive use of the platform, you should be comfortable with advanced features such as what-if scenarios and pivot tables.

Thorough Knowledge of Quickbooks

Quickbooks has been the primary accounting software of choice for small and medium-sized enterprises for over four decades. If you're applying for an accounting job at a small business, you will likely use this platform frequently. For this reason, understanding how it works is critical, as you'll need it for various accounting tasks, including expense tracking, payroll preparation, and invoicing.

Familiarity with Cloud Computing

Knowledge of cloud computing is one of the most sought-after skills in the accounting industry today. Cloud computing technologies help streamline accounting processes and enhance a company's agility and flexibility. Since cloud computing also eliminates the need for on-site infrastructure, it can significantly reduce a company's expenditure, thus saving money. Consequently, familiarity with these technologies gives you a competitive edge over other job seekers when applying for your next accounting job.

Expertise in Data Analytics

As an accountant, you'll work with large volumes of data to address pertinent accounting questions on an ongoing basis. For this reason, having acute data analytic skills is critical. Being proficient in data analytics allows you to contribute to the company by evaluating performance, mitigating risks, and tracking customers' behavioral patterns.

Bottomline

Computer technologies have a vast potential for increasing the performance and efficiency of accountants, which translates to better results for businesses and clients. As such, developing the tech skills for accountants highlighted here can significantly enhance your value as an accounting professional and improve your career prospects.