The completion of the course of Chartered Accountancy is a lifelong dream for many students. Students aim to build their career once becoming a CA by either looking for a job or starting their practice. However, often the students turned professionals struggle to find jobs in CA firms or companies due to a variety of reasons. Any person having passed the CA examination would have a certain nuance and knowledge with them, however along with knowledge the following skills are often required to successfully land a job:
- Leveraging Technology:
Technology will play an important factor going forward for CA and CA firms as well. Whereas previously the technology would be limited to usage of certain software, in the present use of a variety of tools may increase. The use of artificial intelligence, automation, and robotics in the day-to-day operations of a CA firm is going to increase. Any CA should be ready and willing to adapt to those technologies in their daily routine.
- Communication Skills:
One of the often-presented criticisms against Chartered Accountants, especially recently passed out professionals has been the lack of their communication skills. Whereas knowledge is a very important facet for a CA, how to communicate that knowledge and talk with a client is an underrated skill. Communication skills include various aspects of communication including usage of correct words, timing as well as the confidence to showcase one’s knowledge. The confidence not only allows a candidate to stand out in interviews but also in many cases raises the confidence of a client, especially in a tricky case.
- Research:
The job of a Chartered Accountant is hinged on knowledge about various laws that may affect a company or a firm or a client. Various laws or a particular section of law may be subject to myriad interpretations. There might be case laws at various forums wherein a higher authority would have pronounced their judgment regarding their view of law and its interpretation. A CA and a CA firm would have to rely on those judgments to take a stand. The ability to research, understand and interpret the various manner in which one law can be seen by various parties is an important skill for a CA. This allows them to understand different viewpoints and save their client from taking a potentially wrong decision.
- Understanding of business:
Every business and its sector is unique from an accounting and taxation perspective. An IT company is an asset-light whereas a manufacturing company would be asset-heavy. Based on what sector a company operates in, their accounting policy would be different. A CA should understand the workings of different industries and businesses. Without a proper understanding of a business and sticking to standards for ratios or application of the same accounting policy for different businesses may often lead to wrong preparation of financial statements and incorrect calculation of taxes for a company.
- Flexibility:
The financial and legal landscape is ever-changing with dynamic laws. Any CA seeking jobs in CA firms must prepare themselves mentally to be flexible. The flexibility has to be adapted with various aspects including working hours, various sectors in which a firm might be operating as well as the ever changing landscape of laws in the country.
- The basics:
A CA might know various laws in detail but those basic skills are also important. Basic skills include office ethics, time management, business communication & discipline. Jobs in CA firms are often high-pressure jobs and would require CA’s to work in high octane environments. The basic skills assist in a high-pressure situation and deliver high-quality performance.
The course Chartered Accountancy is one of the toughest in the world. Any professional having passed the program must possess the necessary intellect to land a job. However, Jobs in a CA firm are much more than mere intellect and the above-mentioned skills can not only highly enhance the worth of a fresher CA but also serve them in the long run.
