Here's how you can move from a staff accountant to a managerial position.

Moving from a staff accountant to a managerial position requires a proactive approach to developing leadership skills and taking on more responsibility. Start by mastering your current role, consistently delivering accurate financial reports, and demonstrating a keen understanding of the bigger picture. For example, take initiative on projects outside your typical duties, such as streamlining processes or leading a small team through an audit. Seek mentorship from senior leaders, ask for feedback, and actively work on improving your communication and decision-making skills. By showing your ability to lead, solve problems, and drive results, you'll position yourself as a strong candidate for a managerial role.

One thing I found helpful is, as much as you ensure you have the required skills and expertise in your field, make sure you are abreast in the relevant standards, regulations and requirement. In order to fully represent and understand what it means to lead, you should also understand how to effectively manage people, resources, skills and expertise to drive home the organization goals and objectives

The main thing is having the ambition to progress in your career. Once you have this ambition, the best way to gain experience is; 1. Apply for and obtain a job in your chosen industry or practice 2. Enquire whether the employer will provide study of relevant qualifications 3. Apply your study knowledge in the workplace and once you are comfortable with your current workload or tasks, ask your employer for additional duties/responsibilities 4. You could ask to be an understudy of a colleague who undertakes work that interests you Remember, if you don't ask you don't get. Finally, be inquisitive.

One thing I have discovered is that the more you avail yourself or expose yourself to learning the faster you can become a manager.

The most thing i found helpful is to understand the business. What exactly the numbers meaning in real. Numbers in business aren’t just figures; they tell a story about performance, trends, and opportunities.

The easiest way to show case your leadership skills is to mentor more junior colleagues. This opportunity may come naturally as your role evolves, or you may need to speak to your management to open this opportunity.

Leadership is an essential skill for a manager, it is pertinent that you are able to effectively manage not only resources, but human capital as well.

Relationships and management of key stakeholders' expections are ways to becoming a successful manager. You need to be able to make decisions and be responsible for the consequences. The ownership of such decisions positions you into a managerial role.

Building relationships is a crucial skill for any accountant transitioning to a managerial role. As a staff accountant, your primary focus may have been on technical accuracy, compliance and completing assigned tasks. However as you move into management, the ability to cultivate strong, strategic relationships becomes vital to your success and that of your team

At Nestle, we say feedback is a gift. What this means is that you should be open to receive constructive feedback and take action towards them. By doing that you prepare yourself for a top managerial role.

Ensure you are engaged in your team and work. Make your voice heard in collaborative meetings or collaborative work. You may have an idea to improve processes in the work place - relay this to your superior in a polite manner, I.e. not cricising current practices but suggesting that you have an idea that could achieve XYZ. You are in control of your own destiny, and those who speak the loudest are heard.

Do not be afraid to take or start a project. Very important because once you are able to manage a small project team, then it means you would be in a position to lead or manage larger teams.

In my past experience, I learned that it's not enough to just focus on the numbers—you really need to understand the story behind them. By planning ahead and staying engaged with the data, you gain valuable insights. And since you're closest to the numbers, don't be afraid to speak up and share your viewpoint; often, your perspective can shape decisions in ways others might not see.

Immediately you stop learning, you stop making yourself relevant. In order to be a good manager, you should be able to adopt to the attitude of continuous learning.