Top 8 Accounting Skills to Look For in Clerks and Bookkeepers
What are hard and soft skills in accounting?
Accountants require both hard and soft skills. Hard skills include knowledge of GAAP, financial reporting, accounting software proficiency, and basic business practices. Soft skills involve deductive reasoning, problem-solving, strong written and oral communication skills, and attention to detail.
Accountants and bookkeepers are vital to business success, performing essential functions and responsibilities regarding an organization’s finances and legal obligations. They monitor your revenues and expenses, ensure statutory compliance, and provide financial data for crucial business decisions.
Since the role requires specific knowledge and experience, hiring account clerk candidates with the hard and soft skills the job demands is best for your company. This blog post will discuss the skills needed for accounting clerks and bookkeepers.
What Makes a Good Accountant?
A good accountant, according to EmployTest CEO Ken Crowell, is more than just spreadsheets, financial reports, and tax tables. “They must have a keen eye for detail, verifying that every record is accurate and compliant. They must also have strong analytical and problem-solving skills to navigate complex financial landscapes while providing strategic guidance,” he explains.
The hard skills of an accountant are not enough, though. “Good accountants must communicate well, both to external and internal customers. While conscientiousness may not be the typical trait for accounting staff, it’s important to make the team run well,” Ken adds.
8 Must-Have Accounting Skills
Accountants and bookkeepers should have specific accounting skills to excel and perform their jobs efficiently. The top skills or abilities needed for accountants include hard and soft skills.
Hard Skills Needed for Accounting
1. Knowledge of GAAP
Generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) are standard accounting practices, guidelines, and procedures accountants follow to prepare and present financial statements for reporting. The primary purpose of GAAP is to ensure that everything about your company’s financial reports is accurate and complete.
An accountant well-versed in GAAP applies its principles to create financial statements that align with the established guidelines.
Additionally, some regulatory bodies require publicly traded organizations to be GAAP compliant, so having an accountant who understands these rules is key in fulfilling legal and financial obligations.
2. Knowledge of basic business practices
Accounting isn’t just about numbers. A great accountant understands how the rest of the business works, too. Since they often work across departments, knowing the basics of operations, revenue streams, and cost management helps them put financial data into context.
When accountants understand how the business operates, from its revenue streams to its expenditures, they can provide more informed analysis and actionable advice that drives growth.
3. Financial reporting and analysis
An accountant needs to do more than just keep the books. They should be able to create and interpret financial reports that reflect how the business is performing.
If you’re hiring for an accounting clerk or similar role, look for someone who can confidently prepare income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow reports. These documents are essential for understanding where your business stands, helping you make more informed decisions moving forward.
4. Accounting software proficiency
Accountants must also know how to quickly use established and upcoming accounting software systems to keep up with the changing times. As the accounting world has digitized, tax preparation, compliance, and enterprise resource planning software have become “must-haves” for efficient work.
Soft Skills Needed for Accounting
5. Deductive reasoning and problem solving
Strong accountants don’t just input data. They make sense of it. These skills help them spot trends, flag issues early, and support decisions with logic instead of guesswork.
Accountants use analytical and problem-solving skills to identify patterns, which help support accuracy in financial reporting and compliance.
6. Strong written and oral communication skills
Accountants often need to explain complex financial information to non-financial professionals. That means they should be able to write clearly and speak plainly.
Whether it’s a report for leadership or a quick email update, good communication makes sure financial details don’t get lost in translation.
7. Organization and attention to detail
Accountants deal with large volumes of financial data daily, making it essential to maintain organized records. Having a keen eye for detail enables your accountant to effectively manage multiple tasks, meet deadlines, and handle financial information with minimal errors.
As for attention to detail, this ability means accountants review and verify financial data, identify errors or discrepancies, and maintain financial records’ integrity. Accountants with a meticulous eye help minimize mistakes that can have significant consequences for your business.
8. Ethical conduct
Integrity and professionalism should be deeply ingrained in every fiber of an accountant’s being. Upholding ethical principles, maintaining confidentiality, and prioritizing the public’s trust in the profession are non-negotiable standards.
Identifying a Top Quality Accountant Candidate
The accounting field can be demanding as it involves important financial information. One seemingly minor mistake can create problems and impact your company’s reputation
For that reason, hiring the most qualified candidates with skills required for accounting and finance should be a priority. Fortunately, EmployTest’s accounting skills tests can help you spot the best candidate for the role.
Since 2006, we at EmployTest have worked with over 6,000 companies to administer pre-employment assessment tests. We help clients determine the appropriate test(s) when hiring for specific skills or competencies.
Try a free sample test today!