#CareerBytes: 5 must-have skills to become successful Chartered Accountant (CA)
In India, Chartered Accountancy (CA) remains one of the most preferred professions, thanks to the lucrative opportunities it offers. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) provides a three-level CA program comprising Foundation, Intermediate, and Final courses. Though many wish to become CAs, aspirants must have certain skills and attributes to be successful. Here are five must-have skills to become a good CA.
Strong analytical skills
In order to be successful, a Chartered Accountant needs to possess strong analytical skills. CAs deal with numbers a lot, and it is crucial for them to have the ability to analyze those properly and make decisions based on the numbers. Analytical skills will also help them in solving complicated problems through logical and informed decision-making with an intelligent approach.
Successful CAs have good conceptual understanding
It goes without saying that only those Chartered Accountants who are conceptually thorough can become successful in the industry. They should have a strong understanding of various concepts, practices, and methodologies relevant to Chartered Accountancy in order to make progress.
Good teamwork skills, communication skills
Many CAs opt to join large companies/organizations and handle their various finance/accounts/audit activities. They need good teamwork skills as they often form an integral part of a company's strategic top team and collaborate across various departments and multi-disciplinary teams. They also need good communication skills to communicate complex technical information/financial data in an easy-to-understand manner and effectively communicate with team members, seniors, clients, etc.
Tech skills also necessary
In this digital age, technology is all around us. So, developing good tech skills has become necessary for everyone, including CA professionals. CAs need to keep themselves in touch with and adopt the latest technologies relevant to their profession in order to be successful.
Commercial awareness another crucial skill to possess
Chartered Accountants are also required to possess excellent commercial awareness to become successful. Being commercially aware is an important skill; it helps CAs in having a good understanding of the business environment in which they, their organization, or their clients are operating. This will also help them understand various sectors of the business, competition, and associated issues and use the same to their advantage.