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The Essential Skills Needed for Accounting Jobs

By DeVry University

January 5, 2026

6 min read

Accounting jobs play a significant role in nearly every industry, from healthcare and technology to business, government, and nonprofit organizations. No matter where you’re hoping to grow your accounting career, organizations rely on skilled accounting professionals to help keep financial information accurate. 

 

Developing strong accounting skills can make a meaningful impact at any stage of your career journey — and as you gain experience, you’ll need to evolve in order to progress. In other words, your skills and responsibilities will look different in the early stages of your career compared to those you’ll need as you move into managerial or leadership roles. 

 

Understanding what employers look for at each stage of your accounting career can help you chart your path, strengthen your resume, and pursue roles that align with your goals.

Entry-level accountants: Skills needed for accounting graduates

When you’re just starting out after earning an accounting degree, the skills you’ll need for entry-level roles are all about building a strong foundation. Some of the most important skills needed for accounting include:

  • Basic understanding of GAAP: Entry-level accountants should know the fundamentals of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), which help you stay compliant and guide how financial information is recorded and reported.

  • Financial reporting: A basic understanding of how to prepare and organize financial statements, such as income and cash flow statements, is required for tracking and communicating a company’s financial performance.

  • Proficiency in Excel and accounting software: Accountants use spreadsheets and other accounting tools regularly, so you’ll need to be familiar with common accounting platforms.

  • Attention to detail: This skill is essential for keeping accurate financial records and being able to quickly spot errors.

  • Time management and ability to meet deadlines: Tax timelines and monthly or weekly reporting require being timely and organized.

  • Strong communication skills: As an accountant, you’ll interact regularly with supervisors, coworkers, and clients, so the ability to communicate clearly is essential.

  • Knowledge of basic tax principles: Having a solid understanding of tax rules and compliance can help you stand out in entry-level accounting jobs and show employers they can rely on you, especially during the busy tax season.

  • Willingness to learn and take direction: Being open to training and feedback can help you grow, especially early in your career or as accounting tools and standards change.

Mid-level accountants: How to boost your accounting resume

As you gain experience and apply for mid-level roles, employers look for increased skills on your accounting resume. At this stage of your career, you’ll likely be taking on more complex financial responsibilities and leading junior team members. 

Strengthening these accounting skills through education and experience can help you stand out as you advance in your career:

  • Financial statement analysis and reporting: Mid-level accounting roles often require you to interpret financial data and prepare reports for clients and leadership.

  • Budgeting and forecasting: Creating budgets, assessing spending reports, and forecasting financial outcomes become essential skills during this phase of your career.

  • Advanced Excel functions: Skills in pivot tables, VLOOKUP, and macros can help you analyze data and automate repetitive tasks.

  • Working knowledge of ERP systems: Understanding enterprise resource planning (ERP) software like SAP and Oracle can help you effectively manage financial data across an organization.

  • Process improvement and internal control development: Experience identifying and analyzing existing business processes can help you strengthen policies and procedures, improve accuracy, and support compliance.

  • Soft skills: Leadership, critical thinking, communication, and initiative are soft skills that demonstrate your ability to solve problems, make decisions, and contribute to team leadership and success.

  • Mentoring: Mid-level accountants often help train new hires, answer questions, and manage junior staff who are new to the field.

  • Cross-functional collaboration: You may work with other teams within your accounting firm or organization to support broader financial goals.

Accounting managers: Strategic and leadership accounting skills

Stepping into an accounting manager role often means taking on broader leadership responsibilities. At this stage, you’re not only using your education and technical accounting skills but also shaping financial strategy, leading teams, and ensuring processes run efficiently. 

Accounting skills for managers include:

  • Team leadership and project management: Guiding teams, delegating tasks, and overseeing projects to keep financial operations running smoothly.

  • Expertise in regulatory compliance and audit procedures: Ensuring adherence to financial regulations and maintaining accuracy and compliance.

  • Strategic financial planning and risk management: Analyzing trends, forecasting outcomes, and identifying potential risks to meet long-term financial goals.

  • Strong interpersonal skills for managing stakeholders: Communicating with executives, department leads, external partners, and clients.

  • KPI development and performance monitoring: Establishing measurable performance indicators and tracking progress to improve financial health and operational efficiency. 

  • Conflict resolution and coaching abilities: Addressing team challenges and providing coaching and support to junior members of your team.

  • Advanced reporting and dashboard creation: Using advanced tools such as Power BI to build dashboards and generate clear reports that help stakeholders visualize financial data and insights.

  • Cross-functional collaboration: You may work with other teams within your accounting firm or organization to support broader financial goals.

Controllers and senior financial officers: Executive-level accounting skills

Executive-level accounting roles, such as controllers and senior financial officers, require a combination of strategic insight, leadership, advanced industry knowledge, and technical expertise. At this level, you should be prepared to guide overall financial direction, ensure regulatory compliance, and make high-level business decisions. A master’s degree in accounting can help prepare you with the knowledge and skills required for many senior leadership roles in finance. 

Controllers and senior financial officers should hone these executive-level accounting skills:

  • Long-term financial strategy and capital planning: Develop and oversee multi-year financial plans and help guide investments, capital allocation, and organizational growth.

  • Deep understanding of regulatory landscapes: Familiarity with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), which sets U.S. corporate governance standards, and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), which guide internal reporting and help ensure compliance, reduce risk, and maintain stakeholder trust.

  • Board-level reporting and investor communication: Prepare and present financial data to boards, investors, and other stakeholders so they can make informed decisions.

  • Merger and acquisition experience: Evaluate potential acquisitions with due diligence and support financial planning during mergers.

  • Technology adoption and systems integration oversight: Oversee the implementation of new technologies and accounting systems to ensure accuracy and seamless integration across departments.

  • Ethical leadership and corporate governance: Maintain high ethical standards and adhere to governance practices to build trust, credibility, and compliance.

  • Ability to lead cross-department initiatives and influence company direction: Collaborate across teams, guide strategy, oversee projects, and make decisions that shape the organization’s financial and operational direction.

Develop accounting skills for every stage of your career

Ready to build accounting, leadership, and strategic skills to help you stand out in today’s competitive job market? Our career-focused accounting and finance degrees are designed to prepare you for every stage of your career.

Frequently asked questions

What skills does an accountant need?

While the necessary skills will vary based on your role, accountants typically need a mix of technical and interpersonal skills, such as:

  • Accounting software proficiency
  • Analytical and critical thinking
  • Attention to detail
  • Budgeting and forecasting
  • Communication
  • Financial reporting and analysis
  • Leadership
  • Risk management
  • Strategic planning
  • Tax knowledge
  • Time management

What are some common accounting careers?

Accounting offers a wide range of career paths, from entry-level to executive roles. Common accounting careers include:

  • Auditor
  • Budget analyst
  • Chief financial officer (CFO)
  • Comptroller
  • Controller
  • Cost accountant
  • Financial analyst
  • Forensic accountant
  • Managerial accountant
  • Staff accountant
  • Tax accountant
  • Senior financial officer (SFO)

How can I advance my accounting career?

You can advance your accounting career by gaining industry experience and pursuing additional education and certifications. When you enroll in an accounting program  here at DeVry, you’ll study key topics such as accounting principles, tax regulations, auditing, and financial reporting, and you’ll gain hands-on experience with accounting software like Excel and ERP systems. Depending on your program, you can also prepare for certifications like the Certified Public Accountant (CPA)1 or Certified Management Accountant (CMA) credential.

How is AI reshaping the accounting field?

AI is reshaping the accounting field by automating tasks such as data entry, reporting, and reconciliation, and providing real-time data analysis and predictive modeling. AI algorithms can detect anomalies and accurately analyze vast amounts of data, which can lead to reduced compliance errors. Learning how to use AI tools in accounting can help you upskill and stay competitive in your career.

The information presented here is true and accurate as of the date of publication. DeVry’s programmatic offerings and their accreditations are subject to change. Please refer to the current academic catalog for details.

1 Credits and degrees earned from DeVry, including Keller, do not automatically qualify the holder to sit for professional licensing exams to practice certain professions. For example, the educational requirements for Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensure and/or certification vary by state (and U.S. territory). The differences in the number of accounting course hours and the specific accounting course topics required may impact a student's ability to sit for the Uniform CPA exam and apply for licensure in different jurisdictions. Students interested in practicing a regulated profession must contact the appropriate state regulatory agency for licensing requirements in their field of interest and Students are responsible for contacting the state board of accountancy for the jurisdiction in which they are applying to confirm whether they have completed the appropriate credit hours and coursework to qualify to take the CPA exam. DeVry University and its Keller Graduate School of Management are not able to advise on or determine if or when any student may be eligible to sit for the CPA exam or otherwise satisfy licensing criteria in any state. Visit https://www.devry.edu/compliance/student-consumer-info.html#cpa for additional information.

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