What do you do if you want to become a leader in the accounting industry?

1 Build your network

One of the most important steps to becoming a leader in accounting is to build your network of contacts, mentors, and peers. Networking can help you find new opportunities, learn from others, and gain exposure and recognition. You can network online, by joining professional associations, forums, and social media groups, or offline, by attending events, workshops, and conferences. Make sure to follow up with the people you meet, offer value, and ask for feedback and advice.

2 Learn new skills

The accounting industry is constantly evolving and changing, so you need to keep up with the latest trends, regulations, and technologies. Learning new skills can help you improve your performance, expand your services, and differentiate yourself from the competition. You can learn new skills by taking online courses, reading books and blogs, watching webinars and podcasts, or enrolling in a certification program. Some of the most in-demand skills for accountants are data analytics, cloud computing, blockchain, and artificial intelligence.

3 Seek feedback and improvement

Another key to becoming a leader in accounting is to seek feedback and improvement on your work and behavior. Feedback can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, and guide you to improve your quality, efficiency, and effectiveness. You can seek feedback from your clients, managers, colleagues, or mentors, and use it to set goals and action plans. You should also be open to giving feedback to others, and show appreciation and recognition for their contributions.

4 Develop your leadership style

As an accountant, you might have to lead teams, projects, or initiatives, or influence decisions and outcomes. Therefore, you need to develop your leadership style and skills, such as communication, collaboration, delegation, motivation, and problem-solving. You can develop your leadership style by observing and learning from other leaders, taking on more responsibilities and challenges, and reflecting on your actions and results. You should also be aware of your values, vision, and purpose, and align them with your organization's goals and culture.

5 Embrace innovation and change

The accounting industry is facing many disruptions and opportunities, such as globalization, digitization, automation, and sustainability. To become a leader in accounting, you need to embrace innovation and change, and be adaptable and flexible. You can embrace innovation and change by being curious and proactive, seeking new ideas and solutions, experimenting and testing, and learning from failures and successes. You should also be supportive and encouraging of innovation and change in your team and organization, and help them overcome resistance and challenges.

7 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?