Technical Skills Required in Accounting
Accountants are auditing professionals responsible for examining a company's or organization's records to ensure accuracy and legal compliance. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 1,290,600 accountants and auditors employed nationwide in 2008. The number is expected to increase to 1,570,000, making accounting one of the faster growing career fields. Today's accountants need a wide range of skills including technical skills that are required to handle the highly automated software programs utilized in the accounting profession.
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Accounting Software
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One of the most basic skills that today's account must have is the required knowledge and aptitude for using basic accounting software packages. In the past, accounting was done with painstaking paper-based bookkeeping efforts. In today's automated world, it is necessary for the accountant to be familiar with accounting software programs like Intuit Quicken software. Other accounting programs that accountants may need to be familiar with include Accurate NXG, FlexiLedger software and Blackbaud The Financial Edge.
Compliance Software
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In addition to basic record-keeping, accountants need to have a broad familiarity with the laws governing the field of accounting. The difficulty in knowing and understanding accounting laws is the sheer breadth of required knowledge needed to remain in compliance with the law. To help accountants with this, knowledge of compliance software programs can help eliminate the need to remember all facets of the law. Accountants can use compliance software to monitor and ensure that accounting entries are legally compliant. Compliance software programs include Paisley Cardmap, Corporate Responsibility System Technologies Limited's CRSTL Compliance Positioning System; Intrax ProcedureNet and FLS eDP.Payrolltax.
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Document Management
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Aside from ensuring that calculations are correct and that entries are legally compliant, accountants need to be detail-oriented and keep records in safe and organized locations. Many documents are now managed through software programs that eliminate the need to sift through file cabinets to find what is needed. Document management software is needed for ensuring that documents are stored and easily accessible. Document management software include programs like Accutrac software and OmniRIM software.
Financial Analysis Software
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Accountants must be able to sift through large amounts of financial data and make sense of the seeming malaise of financial records to discern patterns or problems. Being able to use various types of financial analysis software can assist with this task and make the process automatic in some cases. Accountants can use financial analysis software for the purpose of creating various reports and presentations. Software packages include RSM McGladrey Auditor Assistant, AuditWare software, Paisley AutoAudit and MethodWare ProAudit Adviser.
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References
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