5 Tips for a Successful Career in Accounting & Finance

Source: @kellysikkema

Building a strong and successful career takes a lot of mindful planning, regardless of your profession. Even with good planning, there’s no one-track route to achieving success. How easy the journey will be depends on your personality, the company you work for, and the industry in which you work. 

That being said, having the right skills needed for the job will get you far. More importantly, you’ll need to market yourself and network with the right people. This is even more important if you’re in the accounting and finance sector, where competition is high. If you’re unsure about the best steps to take, the tips listed below will help. 

Branch Out

As a newbie in the industry, it’s always best to work in an established company where you gain the necessary skills and experience to grow. However, as you move on, you might feel stunted in growth and yearn for something more challenging. In such cases, many opt to buy preexisting companies, like an accounting firm, for example. This is a great idea as it’s logistically easier than setting up your own company. 

The risks associated with starting afresh are eliminated since the firm already has well-established operations and staff members. If it sounds good, why not check out this guide on buying an accounting practice? That being said, you’ll also need to think deeply about the pros and cons to determine whether or not it's the better option. 

Invest In a Mentor

Having a mentor who has already walked the path you're on is great because they get to guide you on your way, potentially making your journey to success easier than theirs was. Mentors can offer you first-hand experience that enables you to develop the necessary skills needed to thrive in your chosen career. Another great thing about having a mentor is leveraging their connections and networks to advance your career.

Build Varying Skill Sets 

Don't keep yourself in a box. If you do, you'll be self-restricted into a single area of finance. This stunts your growth and keeps you on a journey to stagnant water. With broad skill sets, you add to your marketability and reduce your chances of becoming redundant in the ever-changing business environment. With the continual advancements in technology, you must keep updating your skills to stay ahead of the curve. You can also further your own knowledge by levelling up on your education and completing a master’s programme. 

Learn About Technology 

Being tech-savvy is fundamental to your skillset. If you can use technology effectively, as well as create efficiencies, and improve processes within your organization, you become an employee with added value, which changes how you're perceived within the workplace. Develop your technology skills by taking courses after work and participating in-office training sessions whenever they're held. 

Welcome Change 

There's nothing more constant than change, so you need to embrace it at every career stage. In today's business environment, things are always changing. This requires finance and accounting professionals to adopt a forward-thinking and informed decision approach to help them make profitable decisions for the company. 

Every new day gives us another opportunity to be better than we were yesterday. In the world of finance, this stays true. If you're looking to grow and find success, pick up one or two of these tips, implement them diligently and watch the results unfold.