Top Finance and Accounting Skills for Career Growth

Last updated: January 20, 2026

By Mark Fiebert

Key Takeaways

• Always-In-Demand Skills: Finance and accounting careers remain resilient because every organization needs financial oversight, making these skills consistently valuable across industries and economic cycles.

• Value of Credentials: Earning respected certifications or advanced credentials signals credibility, discipline, and expertise, helping unlock senior roles, higher compensation, stronger job security, and long-term leadership opportunities.

• Technology and Adaptability: Mastering modern tools like automation, data analytics, and BI platforms is essential to remain relevant and demonstrate impact through KPI-driven, insight-based decision making.
• Continuous Learning Mindset: Advanced education, certifications, and ongoing training expand strategic perspective, strengthen business judgment, and position professionals for broader responsibilities beyond traditional accounting roles.
• People and Leadership Skills: Strong communication, networking, and management capabilities help translate complex information, build trust, and differentiate professionals aiming to move into influential leadership positions.

There are many reasons why people have a career in Finance and Accounting, but primarily it’s because the skills you learn from the field would always be in demand. Basically, every business needs someone to do accounting or handle the company’s finances. So if you’re eyeing to improve your career, there are some things you can do to help yourself get in a better position to have opportunities come your way.

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Build Credibility With Education and Credentials

Starting with a degree or foundational coursework in accounting or finance is a strong launch point, but long-term growth usually comes from building credibility beyond the basics. Depending on your direction, that can mean pursuing a respected certification, specialized training, or other credentials that signal competence, discipline, and commitment to the field.

Credentials can open more doors early in your career by qualifying you for a wider range of roles, from public accounting and corporate finance to FP&A, audit, tax, and controllership paths. Over time, they can also strengthen job security, increase earning potential, and improve your chances of moving into senior leadership roles, especially when paired with measurable results and strong communication skills.

Get With The Times

Finance automation has expanded rapidly across back-office and analytical functions. Advances in ERP platforms such as SAP, Oracle, and Microsoft Dynamics, along with cloud-based systems, have reshaped how accounting and finance teams operate. Excel remains important, but it is no longer enough on its own. Today’s professionals are expected to work comfortably with SQL, modern Business Intelligence tools, and AI-assisted analytics to manage, analyze, and interpret large, complex datasets. Strong analytical skills remain the foundation of success in accounting and finance.

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Technology now handles much of the routine processing, but it cannot replace professional judgment. Finance leaders are valued for their ability to think critically, validate automated outputs, identify risks and opportunities, and translate data into clear business insights. The most effective way to demonstrate value is through measurable, KPI-driven results that show tangible impact on efficiency, decision-making, risk management, and profitability.

Continuous Learning – Getting an MBA

Getting an MBA can help prepare for bigger roles in an organization. Employers value them in business leadership as their education gives them a better business perspective either in finance or accounting, which helps them in their role. The knowledge in the course will supplement your accounting skills, which will give you a position for better opportunities. While on the job, especially in the early years, do not settle for doing the same things without doing something to learn new things.

Enrolling in specialized training programs and professional courses is an effective way to keep your skills current after completing a degree. Ongoing learning helps you stay aligned with evolving industry practices, emerging technologies, and changing business expectations, while also strengthening your strategic and analytical capabilities.

Professional certifications play an important role in demonstrating expertise and credibility to employers and clients. They provide clear evidence of commitment to continuous improvement and career advancement. Pairing certification study with practical exercises, assessments, and real-world applications helps reinforce learning, build confidence, and ensure you are prepared to apply new skills effectively on the job.

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Focus On Communication

One of the most important things to get ahead in your career is the ability to communicate effectively. Communication skills are important to explain accounting or financial jargon. The days of staying in a cubicle are gone, the role will now require you to help clients understand industry language and translate institutional knowledge into sound recommendations they can fathom. Your communication skills are important in building interpersonal relationships. Companies benefit greatly when clients and customers know they can trust and have established a good relationship with them. Those who aspire to excel in their careers must know how to drive customer satisfaction and build rapport.

5. Establish Your Network

Networking has been proven to be an effective way to get the job that you want. Make sure you maintain a good relationship and continue to expand your network so you’ll have someone to turn to for advice, guidance, or ideas over time. Having an extensive network can help you land a job that would otherwise be difficult to get. There are also some jobs that are not publicly posted and are only available through referrals.

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Learn Management and Business Acumen

Managing a team is not something accountants are known for, but if you’re looking into improving your career, you might want to gain the ability to handle a team. This will show your employers that you’re capable of a leadership position, and they’ll keep that in mind. You will also have to get the bigger picture. This means that in the course of your career, try to see things from a higher perspective and spot trends that will commercially affect the market and the business as a whole. Having this interest and knowledge will typically put candidates in a better position.

Your success must come from a conscious effort to improve yourself every day. Technical knowledge and skills are important, but you will need to cover your bases with other things that pertain to stepping up the ladder. Take a long-term view and create a plan with short-term milestones to get you near your objective, that, and a “bit,” of hard work couldn’t hurt.

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Further Guidance & Tools

• CPA Roadmap: Use ThisWayToCPA to understand CPA exam sections, requirements, and a clear starting plan for certification.
• Excel Mastery: Use Excel spreadsheets to strengthen reporting skills with practical tutorials, tips, and workflow guidance.
• BI Training: Use Tableau Training to build analytics skills for dashboards and KPI storytelling that hiring managers recognize.
• MBA Quality Check: Use AACSB Accreditation to evaluate business programs and confirm reputable standards before investing in an MBA.
• Communication Skills: Use Toastmasters Tips to improve clarity, confidence, and client-friendly explanations of financial concepts.

Next Steps

• Pick a Track: Choose a target path (CPA, FP&A, audit, tax, analytics) and list the skills and roles you’ll pursue.
• Build Proof: Create a KPI-focused portfolio with two to three work samples, such as dashboards, variance analyses, or process improvements.
• Skill Upgrade: Practice advanced Excel and one BI tool, then apply them to a real dataset to produce clear, decision-ready insights.
• Communication Reps: Translate a complex finance topic into plain English and practice delivering it as a short, confident explanation.
• Network Intentionally: Reconnect with colleagues, join relevant groups, and start value-first conversations that lead to referrals and hidden opportunities.

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Final Words

Finance and accounting careers reward people who pair strong technical fundamentals with modern tools, clear communication, and steady professional growth. When you combine credible credentials, practical analytics, and relationship-building, you become harder to replace and easier to promote. Keep learning, show measurable impact, and stay connected, and the right opportunities will find you more often.

Additional Resources

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