When hiring accountancy trainees, employers seek both technical qualifications and soft skills that demonstrate potential. While expertise in areas like finance, tax, audit, and reporting matter, certain personal qualities distinguish top candidates. These attributes indicate ambition, professionalism, positivity, and the ability to think commercially.
Initiative Tops the List
Finance directors highly value proactive self-starters. Rather than constantly asking questions, try finding answers independently through research. Seek assistance only when needed, not by default. Similarly, look for opportunities to add value, take on extra tasks, and exceed expectations. Surprise your manager by delivering early or enhancing assignments.
Attitude Counts
Enjoying your work and projecting a positive attitude gives recruiters confidence you will sustain high levels of performance. Be dependable and show you take pride in adding value. Present solutions in terms of commercial impact and the bottom line. Avoid developing bad habits technical expertise over time like tardiness or dressing down, as this signals complacency.
Understand the Business
Commercial awareness requires familiarity with the employer’s operational drivers, targets, and objectives. Use real examples of delivering tangible benefits through your skills. Adapt communication styles to suit both financial and non-financial colleagues and avoid overusing technical jargon.
Soft Skills Matter
Interpersonal abilities like clear communication, relationship building, and presenting to stakeholders are now some of the most in-demand skills for accountants. Showcase these soft skills alongside throughout the hiring process. Back up claims of ambition and dedication by demonstrating natural curiosity about the employer.
The most well-rounded candidates blend financial acumen with soft skills indicating potential and cultural fit. Highlight both technical and personal strengths to stand out from the crowd of accounting applicants.