The inclination towards state-of-the-art technologies, such as cloud computing, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, has caused enormous workplace modifications for employees. With this increasing dependency, where does a professional accountant stand today? What about the pool of skilled accounting professionals who have been delivering perhaps equal services for several years?

Today, the nature of almost every other job in the accounting and finance discipline has been continuously evolving. Why is upskilling important? Given this and more, it’s highly indispensable for accounting professionals to leave no stone unturned and look out for upskilling opportunities to keep up with the pace. Upskilling refers to the process of sharpening the existing skills and learning new ones.

The pandemic has proved to be an eye-opener for employees to hone their cognitive and digital capabilities, resilience, flexibility, and emotional skills. The period of business upheaval might not sound like the perfect time to invest in skills development. However, the reality is, there’s no right time like the present to knuckle down to grow skillset and broaden accounting knowledge. That way, accountants can increase their worth and prepare themselves for an unprecedented future. And thus, lead their organization to unmatched growth.

Let’s delve into how upskilling can pave the way for success and set your career on the right track:

Prepare for future roles

Learning, undoubtedly, is a never-ending process. Therefore, accounting professionals shouldn’t squander any opportunity to widen their knowledge spectrum and take their careers to the next level. And while acquiring additional skills is a surefire method to future proof your career, an advanced degree is equally important, if not more. Previously business schools used to have the necessary prerequisite of the GMAT examination. However, the good news is that many schools have waived off this requirement as of lately. 

Therefore, accounting professionals should consider online masters in accounting no GMAT to distinguish themselves in a pool of skilled employees. In addition, an online degree works best for those professionals who find it challenging to tackle family responsibilities and work. That way, with this degree, individuals can learn advanced knowledge about auditing, tax planning and refine financial competencies. And the degree also aids in preparing individuals to become future business managers.

Ensure job security

One word that could sum up the workplace precisely is – unpredictable. Suppose you have been working for your organization for far too long. In that case, you might believe you are impervious of redundancy risk. However, this isn’t entirely true. Organizations often value those employees that are up-to-date and efficient at work. According to a report, approximately 64% of learning & development employees accept that the workplace L&D environment transitioned from nice-to-have to need-to-have during the year 2021. Therefore, if you aren’t polishing your existing competencies and developing the most sought-after skills, you are posing yourself to a threat.

With rapid advancements in technology and the latest trends, every accounting professional should stay abreast of these developments and remain ahead of the curve. With smart upskilling, you can assimilate a diverse range of skills that could lend a helping hand to you in the future while switching to a new job role.

Explore new career prospects

When you pour in your efforts to grow your skills, you increase your value in the employer’s eyes. As a result, you might increase the probability of getting a promotion at your job, the one for which you have waited for quite a long time. Perhaps you might end up getting a job offer for a similar or advanced role in another company of your niche. 

Or you may find yourself getting drawn to some other career pathway. For instance, being an accounts manager, you enrolled yourself in a coding boot camp to learn basic coding skills. However, down the road, you realize that software engineering has been your passion throughout your life. Thus, upskilling can make you discover various careers about which you might have never thought of previously. However, before arriving at a decision, ensure to look out for the profession which makes the most financial sense and provides advancement opportunities.

Enhance professional network

Individuals who wish to variegate their skills should look for advancement opportunities, either within the workplace or outside of it. Joining an organization that takes upskilling of employees seriously is a good option. However, seek out volunteer opportunities, too, as skills acquisition is relatively easy in low-pressure work environments. And the best part? It also allows you to grow your professional circle; thus, making it a fruitful time investment.

Another best approach is to enroll yourself in online courses. Search for the one that offers desired skills and can be a valuable addition to your career. By doing so, you will raise your employability chances. Likewise, there is a high probability of getting in touch with like-minded people during a company-sponsored training program or an in-person class. Who knows, you may also end up finding a mentor for your professional journey.

Increase productivity

Picture this – who would you like to keep on your staff? The one who refines the skills now and then and keeps up with the modern industry trends? Or the one who merely makes an appearance? Well, the answer is pretty evident. Employers always appreciate those accountants that contribute their part, bring expertise to the table, and help the organizations achieve positive outcomes.

Dedicating some time to smart upskilling allows you to grow professionally and increase productivity at the workplace. High levels of productivity equate to impressive business outcomes, which implies more happy employees. And what is more? Upskilling also soars up confidence and boosts morale. All you need is to ensure to learn from the right program or the right mentor.

Final Words

Admittedly, the embracement of cutting-edge technologies has brought a substantial change in accounting and finance-related jobs. Therefore, companies today search for individuals who can execute tasks that even robots cannot perform. Skills such as analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving are paramount for accounting professionals in this era of automation. The capability of thinking critically and making on-spot decisions in real-time has now become a focus for employers.

It may be attributable to the undeniable fact that the responsibilities of accountants have evolved during the past few years. Since the lines between various business aspects have become indistinct, today, all the more so, accountants should wear multiple hats. They must master the basic know-how of different disciplines, regardless of whether they have a direct relation or not.