Actionable Accounting: How to Distinguish Yourself as an Accountant

As an accountant, your career will be one that includes many challenges and many rewards. Particularly around tax season, hours can be long, but the opportunity for accountants to enjoy life and have a satisfying career are many. Here are just a few ways to distinguish yourself in this dynamic field.

1. Reliability

If you give your word as an accountant, it’s important to either keep it or take time to explain what makes you unable to fulfill your obligations. Much of an accountant’s reputation will be staked on their ability to have clients rely on them.

2. Honesty

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal suggests how honesty plays an integral role in the relationship between accounting and society. Because accounting is a central facet of a functional business world, the article maintains, better accounting will lead to a healthier world view among citizens. More than this, honesty will ensure that you will have a successful career as an accountant. While dishonesty may have short-term gains, it is also quickly discovered and often ruinous for an individual within the accounting field. For career-minded individuals, dishonesty in accounting simply doesn’t pay.

3. Work Ethic

One of the best ways for accountants to distinguish themselves is through a strong work ethic. The value of hard work will come in handy especially during periods of long hours and challenging assignments. And a good education and preparation for the demanding tasks of accountancy can set the tone for a successful career, with master in accounting degrees such as Stetson University’s online program making entrance into the field a great option for those wanting to learn from home.

4. Strong Interpersonal Skills

Understanding how to treat others with respect is a great way to become respected yourself. Because accounting involves interacting with others to create positive outcomes, a knowledge of how to treat others as equals even under strain is an important personal quality in the field. Clients and colleagues will all appreciate accountants who can keep their cool when the going gets tough.
 
For these reasons, becoming an accountant is a rewarding path, but one that also requires a clear knowledge of one’s values to succeed. However, with the right attitude and ethical guidelines, accounting can be one of the most enjoyable careers available. By being honest, forthright, hardworking, polite, and ready to learn, the ability to succeed in accounting is there for the enterprising worker.