Top 5: What Skills Set You Apart as an Accountant?
Whether you're a newly qualified accountant or a seasoned finance pro eyeing your next move, it pays to know what employers are really after. It’s no longer enough to just have the key qualifications for accountants - firms want well-rounded finance people who bring more to the table.
We’ve pulled together five of the top skills for accountants that consistently come up in conversations with UK accounting firms and industry bodies here in Yorkshire and beyond. And because we like a good hook, we’ve ranked them.
In at 5th place: Commercial Awareness
Very buzzword-y. What’s it actually mean? In practice, it’s about knowing how financial data connects to what’s happening in the wider business world. Can’t be a strong accountant with your head buried in the sand, ignoring the real world.
As Dr Sandar Win at Sheffield Business School puts it, accountants need to think commercially and understand how trends like inflation, regulation changes, or AI adoption affect client businesses.
If you want to build a well-rounded accountant skill set employers need, being able to link the numbers to your strategic decisions, and those strategic decisions to the world outside of your desk is a solid place to start.
And at 4: Tech Confidence
The days of surviving on spreadsheets alone are over. It’s 2025 and you’re expected to be hands-on with tools like Xero, Power BI and Sage Intacct. You’ll have noticed a number of firms transitioning to cloud-based systems, so the ability to navigate all these tech platforms isn’t even just a nice-to-have anymore – it’s essential.
ICAEW reports a growing demand for accountants who are not only tech-savvy but can also integrate data analytics and automation into their work.
Taking 3rd place: Communication Skills
This one’s focused on turning all that financial jargon into something that makes sense for everyone in the business, from the ops right up to the boardroom.
And if you’re able to communicate with all the types of stakeholder you’ll run into on the daily? You’re more likely to have a direct impact on strategic business decisions. In short, if you want your numbers to truly make a difference, you need to learn to explain them in a way that works for everyone.
Our runner up in 2nd: Attention to Detail
Obviously. Still a dealbreaker, though.
Accounting mistakes can be massive. Missed tax deadlines, incorrect cash-flow forecasts, compliance issues…that list could go on and on and get scarier with each entry. Investopedia agrees that a top accountant’s skill set should include both precision and logic to spot errors and inconsistencies. You need to learn to be meticulous, so you catch the little mistakes before they become big problems and potentially start costing the business money – or you your job.
And in prime position at number 1? Problem solving.
Most accountants can produce reports. Great accountants look at them, spot problems or trends and figure out how to move forward. Doesn’t even need to be a negative thing they’ve spotted; it could be a pattern the business could capitalise on. ICAEW research consistently ranks problem-solving as one of the most valuable skills in the profession, especially for senior finance roles. Whether you’re improving cash flow, streamlining processes, or navigating new legislation, being solution-focused is vital. If you’re working to develop your accounting skill set, this should be top of your list.
So that's the list.
The top skills for accountants in 2025. While your accounting qualifications will open the door, these skills will get you hired, promoted, noticed and relied on. If you wanna stand out, work on these areas.
And for those of you hiring accountants? Dig deeper past those technical questions and into these core skills too.
Or call us, and we’ll do it for you. Just saying.
