Diversity

Careers
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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
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