By Hannah Dolan Students4 key skills that will make you more employable in 20232 Nov 2022 The accounting industry is constantly evolving. Keeping up to date with current industry standards is vital to secure a role and providing ongoing value to your clients.AAT’s new qualifications, Qualifications 2022 (Q2022), incorporate a greater focus on technology, the future of the industry, and skills employers will need in the future. Here we speak to employers about why each of these areas is so important.1. Understanding the importance of ethicsEthics is one of the most important aspects of being an accountant. Clients need to trust your professional integrity, and the public needs to have confidence in your standards and principles.Qualifications 2022 (Q2022), emphasise the fundamental principles of professional ethics from the very first levels. This has become a core part of the curriculum, running through every module at every level. “We get students really thinking about ethics, framework, and rules. It helps AAT members and students exercise professional scepticism and work through practical scenarios to understand how to apply the highest levels of professional judgement.”– Christina Earls, current AAT President5 toughest ethical dilemmas Test your code of ethics – scenarios2. Being able to provide a sustainable viewWhere once people came and dumped a bag of receipts on an accountant’s desk, now receipts can be collected and processed online using apps and software. This element of the qualification looks at the development of digital technology, how businesses are sustainable in the context of proper investment, management of their accounts, and using digital tools.“Finance professionals can add value in their roles by bringing various teams and experts to work on projects and have a whole life costing view, not just considering the immediate benefits but also the long-term financial and non-financial benefits of each project” Fatima Baig, Network Rail.The AAT Sustainability Checklist1. Ask how your organisation could benefit and help society and sustainability.2. Make a start, however small.3. Ensure that your organisation thoroughly researches all options when venturing into new areas or projects, this may mean putting the brakes on developments but will be cost-effective in the long run.4. As accountants know: ‘what gets measured gets managed’, so start measuring.5. Conduct regular risk assessments, including suppliers and third parties.6. Do your CPD: clients want and need your expertise, governmental funding and policy changes may offer innovation and growth initiatives.7. Set science-based targets.3. Effective communication skillsQ2022 highlights the importance of practical communication skills within accountancy. Whether you are working in a practice, a business, or in the public sector, you need to be able to communicate knowledge, information, and numbers. Ensure you are ready for the future by improving your ability to think critically and translate those thoughts into compelling documents, as well as your ability to convey relevant financial information to stakeholders.“It’s important to be able to communicate effectively. It’s no good sending pages and pages of information to someone who doesn’t have time to digest it. You must be able to deliver information in a concise way and get the point across quickly” – Sarah Powel FMAAT SJP AccountingGood communications skills – the key to your dream role?3 skills you will need for a future in accounting4. Understanding the impact of technology“Tech and digital skills are at the forefront of everything we do. Rather than having meetings with clients to discuss what the accounts look like, you’re now able to provide data in dashboards and use the meetings to provide value-added insight” Fatima Baig, Network Rail.This element of the new qualification explores the pros and cons of technology and interprets how technology is changing the role of the accountant. For example, the positives and negatives of implementing cloud accounting versus standard software packages.“With regards to technology and us as accountants. Our role is to interpret the data and help our clients make better business decisions” John Atkins, Larking Gowen.Further information:Qualifications 2022 – a way to future-proof accountancy careersEmployer videos – Q2022 themes and why they’re importantQuiz: Your top Q2022 questions answered Hannah Dolan is AAT Comment’s Content Editor.