Top Skills Employers are looking for in the Finance Market
Working in Finance and Accountancy recruitment I speak to businesses and employers daily about the skills they are looking for from their future employees. So, when I started to think about this blog my initial thoughts and reactions are that there are two sides to this … what skills are employers looking from a technical point of view and equally what are employers looking for character and personality wise.
Communication Skills
I think as a finance professional, the person that is trusted to interpret and convey financial information within a business it is imperative to have strong communication skills. It’s a complete misconception that accountants and finance people are just buried in figures all day. The ability to help people understand the bigger picture and to bring these figures to life is a huge part of the role. A good finance person listens as well as they hear.
Trustworthy
Another sought after characteristic has got to be trustworthy. A good finance professional, regardless of the level of seniority, has got to instil faith in people. An aura of reliability I would say.
Lifelong Learning
This may seem a strange one but I think the desire to keep learning is a great trait in the finance sector. In a discipline where things are forever evolving and changing the finance professional who is always studying and keeping abreast of changes is the one that everybody will want.
In respect of skills that clients are looking for I would say that is everchanging but there are certain skills and experience that are always sought after and attractive …
Ability to contribute strategically
Candidates who have a commercial awareness are really sort after. The finance and mathematical knowledge plus the ability to contribute to strategic decisions is so valuable.
Technically savvy
Finance departments are relying more and more on technology so the more IT literate you are the better.
Customer Service Orientation
Not a skill that is perhaps first in a finance person’s role but as markets and therefore specs change desirable finance people are equipped with this attribute. An accountant’s scope has been expanding for a long time and general business knowledge is becoming a must.
Having a specialism
Any areas of expertise can always make a candidate more desirable. Experience in areas such as Regulatory Affairs or Revenue Recognition to name a couple.
To have formal qualifications
This will obviously differ depending on if you are looking at industry or practice but a formal channel of study is generally preferable to qualified by experience. Look for the opportunities to get training that will make you more valuable as a team member.
Written by Jo Hood, Principal Consultant at Eventus Recruitment Cheshire.
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