You’re a mid-career accountant. How can you take your technical skills to the next level?

1 Assess your skill gaps

The first step to improve your technical skills is to identify where you need to grow and learn. You can do this by reviewing your current job responsibilities, performance reviews, feedback, and career goals. You can also compare your skills to the standards and expectations of your industry, profession, and organization. For example, you can use the CPA Competency Map or the IFRS Self-Assessment Tool to evaluate your competencies in accounting, auditing, taxation, and reporting.

2 Pursue continuous learning

Once you have identified your skill gaps, you can look for opportunities to fill them through continuous learning. You can enroll in online courses, webinars, workshops, or certificate programs that cover the topics and skills you want to enhance. You can also join professional associations, networks, or communities of practice that offer resources, events, and mentoring for accountants. For instance, you can check out the CPA Canada Learning Centre or the IMA Online Education Center for relevant and updated learning options.

3 Apply your learning

Learning new technical skills is not enough. You also need to apply them in your work and projects to reinforce and demonstrate your mastery. You can do this by seeking feedback, asking questions, volunteering for challenging assignments, or taking on new roles that require your new skills. You can also use tools and software that help you automate, streamline, or improve your accounting processes and tasks. For example, you can use Excel, QuickBooks, Sage, or Xero to manage your data, finances, and reports.

4 Stay updated

The accounting field is constantly evolving due to new regulations, standards, technologies, and trends. You need to stay updated on the latest developments and changes that affect your work and skills. You can do this by reading journals, blogs, newsletters, or podcasts that provide relevant and timely information and insights for accountants. You can also attend conferences, seminars, or webcasts that feature experts and speakers on accounting topics and issues. For example, you can follow the CPA Journal, the Accounting Today, or the Journal of Accountancy for accounting news and analysis.

5 Share your expertise

Another way to improve your technical skills is to share your expertise with others. You can do this by teaching, mentoring, coaching, or presenting your knowledge and skills to your colleagues, clients, or peers. You can also write articles, blogs, or books that showcase your best practices, tips, or advice on accounting topics and issues. By sharing your expertise, you can enhance your reputation, credibility, and confidence as an accountant. You can also learn from the feedback, questions, or challenges of your audience.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?