It is no secret that developing a high-flying career in accounting and finance hinges on more than just exceptional grades. In this day and age, it is all about skills. Safe to say, if you wish to succeed in this demanding career, you will need to apply yourself and work hard. When applying for a role in the finance industry, it is essential to add a list of all the finance skills you’ve learned throughout your education. Every finance position demands a particular skill set; therefore, it is crucial to tailor the skills to include on your CV to the job you want. After all, employers in the finance industry are searching for candidates who are experienced and loaded with financial knowledge.
So, how do you know if your resume will make it to the top of the pile or if it will fall short?
Here are a few must-haves that will set you up for a successful career in finance, Skills to Include in CV:
1. Analytical skills to include in CV
Businesses are always looking to recruit employees who can analyze circumstances and draft suitable conclusions. The trend toward a more analytic finance system requires skills involving tactical thinking, big data, collaboration, and leadership, with real-world examples and performance-driven results.
There’s an abundance of opportunities for employment and professional growth for those who acquire and maintain the top financial analyst skills. Also, if you are studying a CFA course and need some guidance regarding preparation, visit Wiley CFA and learn all the best ways to pass your examination.
2. Accounting skills
Accounting skills are the strategies and abilities that enable you to effectively and successfully record, manage, and track financial transactions. Many recruiters expect accounting skills because they are necessary for performing financial reporting, modeling, analysis, management, and various other related tasks. A basic understanding of accounting skills will undoubtedly help you land an excellent job as a finance professional.
3. Problem-solving skills
It is no longer sufficient to understand processes and systems thoroughly. It is also necessary to deal with challenging problems as they arise. Whether addressing the financial implications of a complex business structure or devising a personalized solution to a client’s tax quandary, a track record of problem-solving will propel your career forward in leaps and bounds.
4. Financial modeling
Financial modeling is the process of abstractly representing a real-world financial situation. In financial modeling, you create an arithmetical model that describes the financial results of an asset or portfolio over a specific time. Financial models assist you in estimating the value of a business or comparing multiple companies. You could use them for long-term planning purposes, such as deciding on a budget, calculating the cost of a project, or testing a specific situation. Employers almost always expect you to be proficient in financial modeling if you apply for senior-level positions.
5. Communication
It is critical in the finance industry to be able to communicate effectively. It would be complicated to exchange views and collaborate with other team members or departments if you lacked strong communication skills. You’d be working with a large group of people and would have to explain technical details to non-technical viewers several times.
6. Interpersonal skills to include in CV
There was a time when finance experts were confined to cubicles, but that era has passed. Any notion that a career in finance entails only crunching numbers has given way to the reality that roles require workers to interact with clients and worksite teams daily. The ability to build strong partnerships is critical for accounting and finance professionals. When comparing two equally qualified candidates, interpersonal skills are frequently the deciding factor.
7. IT skills
Because of the escalated emphasis on automation and digitization, more hiring managers are looking for financial professionals with the necessary IT skills to utilize new systems.
The future of accounting is in your hands. Employers will highly demand accounts payable automation, predictive analysis, and software knowledge.
8. Desire to innovate
A career in finance does not mean that there is no room for creativity. This industry is driven by efficiency, constantly finding new ways to achieve and accomplish things. This is where you come into play. Your innovation can help your organization save money and time by streamlining processes to increase accuracy and speed. These efforts will advance your career by demonstrating that you are actively pushing yourself to think outside the box.
9. Project management
Any assignment that lasts more than a few minutes is essentially a project – one that you must successfully manage to make a profit. To complete your project, you’ll need to plan your time efficiently, prepare budgets, meet deadlines, and get what you need from others on time. Staying organized and paying attention to every detail is essential during and after any project. Someone will usually have queries about the inputs and presumptions for any analytical project. People will question the quality of the result if you cannot deliver time-critical data, even if it is 100% accurate “a result.”
For this matter, it is critical to organize both hard and electronic copies to obtain data quickly. A CFO who needs the information in 30 minutes for a conference call may ask you a question months after your initial analysis. Simply put, sloppiness is intolerable in the financial world.
10. Relationship skills
Recognizing different personality types, resolving conflicts, asking the right questions, educating others, and helping clients are all people skills needed to succeed as a financial professional.
People and businesses will come to talk to you about their finances. They overspend and do not tend to save anything. They require an unbiased advisor who can comprehend their needs and help them make decisions. Financial success results from hard work, and technical knowledge accounts for 15% of the equation, while psychology accounts for the remaining.
Relationship management is an essential life skill, whether you’re dealing with coworkers, subordinates, bosses, or people outside your enterprise.
Conclusion
You will become one of finance’s most sought-after experts by adding these skills to your resume. You will emerge as a leader and position yourself at the top of your field by combining your ability to analyze numbers with management, relationship development, communication, and whatnot skills. Moreover, broadening your skillset is critical to establishing a successful career in finance, from improving your financial skills to cultivating the ability to think outside the box.
