2007-09-06 13:32:20 · 9 answers · asked by angel_rat_83 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Taxes ➔ United States
people skills, reading, writing, being a good judge of character, good with excel, willingness to learn, not be afraid of new things, very detail oriented, etc. Pretty much the same skills that any professionla needs to have.
2007-09-08 18:13:56 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Math is really the least of the qualities that a good accountant must possess.
Most people (including myself) get into accounting because they are good at math and don't want to teach math or become an engineer. Good interpersonal skills are a must for any accountant in today's business environment. I know that the stereotype of accountants is the boring nerd with the pocket protector, but that is simply not true.
Whether you are in audit, tax, or consulting, interacting with the client and other team members is the highest priority. The skills of accounting can easily be learned, but gaining the confidence and trust of the clients is the hard part.
The other important aspect to accounting is being EXTREMELY detail oriented (bordering on being anal). For instance, in one of my audit clients I found what I thought was a very minor mistake. (The date on the maturity of some bonds was off by a month). If this mistake had stood, their entire financial statements would have been misstated by hundreds of millions of dollars. What may seem like an innocent mistake can be very big.
2007-09-06 23:56:20 · answer #2 · answered by Rock Chalk 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you go into public accounting you need to be good with computers and communication. You would be surprised how much time you will spend talking to people (building relationships), explaining things, and interviewing people. You also spend a lot of time writing reports and answer e-mails to clients. There is a lot more to it than just math.
2007-09-06 20:41:04 · answer #3 · answered by kristin 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You have to like puzzle solving as most customers you help will have posted something to a wrong account. Of course it will be up to you to decipher what they meant to do. So good analytical, math, tax knowledge, customer service (not needed unless you want clients), and plenty of patience. Good Luck.
2007-09-06 20:47:05 · answer #4 · answered by Kelko 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Good in accounting helps....
2007-09-06 20:39:33 · answer #5 · answered by Andy J 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Has to be a very detailed person.
2007-09-06 20:36:23 · answer #6 · answered by Judy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
he or she is very good in accounting using excel and very good in standards , he or she is very good in accounting theory
2007-09-07 18:21:52 · answer #7 · answered by Dsalah s 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
good memory and being organized
2007-09-06 20:40:18 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
LOGIC.. he or she must know when to debit and when to credit.
2007-09-06 20:38:08 · answer #9 · answered by Colonel 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋