90 Careers The hard case for soft skills A range of non-technical competencies are essential for career success in the accountancy world of today. BY KARIN LANIGAN ACCOUNTANCY IRELAND APRIL 2017
Careers 91 The focus on competencies by HR and management professionals has existed for decades, with ‘competencies’ being a well-utilised buzzword. Competencies relate to more than skills and knowledge. They refer to the appropriate attitude that eventually translates into behaviour. In a fast-paced, dynamic world and workplace, the competencies required for career success have become more complex. Competency requirements can vary across professions, sectors, roles and levels of seniority, but there are many that are universally required. You are likely to see many of these competencies appear in job descriptions as well as personal development and training plans. Chartered Accountancy has always been deemed to be a very technical profession and to a large extent, it still is. But due to developments in information technology, growing business complexity and the resulting changes in the role of the accountant, the range of competencies and skills required of Chartered Accountants have expanded and evolved. A changing world The move away from the traditional technical accountancy positions to roles requiring cross-functional collaboration and business partnering have shone a light on a range of other competency requirements. The focus on non-core technical skills has intensified with more emphasis on value creation, collaboration, technology use and partnering with non-finance business units. This is not to say that the profession and the role of the accountant is no longer underpinned by technical competence – it is; but there is now a clear requirement to demonstrate technical accounting competencies complemented by a wider, more diverse range of competencies. They are not necessarily new requirements, but the focus on them has certainly intensified and the expectation is that Chartered Accountants should possess and actively demonstrate such non-finance competencies. As your career advances and you take on more management responsibility, the combination of the competencies required will also change. You will need a multidisciplinary approach. If you take on a management role, for example, you will be required to possess management, mentoring and appraisal skills as well as work planning, delegation and teambuilding skills. This is in addition to your core technical skills. Similarly, if promoted to a senior management role, There is now a clear requirement to demonstrate technical accounting competencies complemented by a wider, more diverse range of competencies. you will be required to demonstrate leadership, decision-making, influence and relationship management skills. Starting point With the fast pace of business, it can be a challenge to stay up to date. Many believe that all learning and development takes place in a classroom or formal training setting, when often the most valuable and instilled learning comes from doing and engaging with others. The starting point for developing and enhancing your competencies is firstly to gain a clear understanding of your current ability. This can be achieved through psychometric testing, your work appraisal process and 360-degree reviews by colleagues, friends and family. These processes will help identify the areas you need to focus on and you can then put a development plan in place. Your development plan should take a broad approach and include training courses and professional development, but there are other ways to develop your core competencies. Key projects Extensive learning can be acquired by getting involved in projects outside your department. Make it known that you are interested in working on cross-functional projects where you will gain exposure to other disciplines and other areas of the business. This will facilitate a learning process on a number of levels – you will better understand other areas of the business; you will be better able to communicate across departments; and you will raise your profile. Moving beyond your comfort zone will be a learning experience in its own right. Professional coaching Coaching will allow you to take the time you need for self-reflection and will provide some space to think and plan while receiving the facilitative support of an experienced professional. A coach will help you tap into your true potential and work towards enhanced career success and fulfilment. Mentoring Mentoring has been proven to deliver key learnings to professionals at all levels. A mentor can provide support as you develop solutions to career issues; they call upon similar experiences to empathise with the mentee and understand the key issues. Acting as a mentor can be equally beneficial in terms of your development, as you learn about yourself while developing skills in a range of areas including communication, listening, understanding, empathy and feedback. Give something back Becoming involved as a volunteer in an organisation outside your day www.accountancyireland.ie
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