1 The technical path
The role and career of the accountant is constantly evolving and accountants now have two distinct career paths to follow - technical or commercial. For those who chose the technical path, employers require finance professionals who are up-to-date with changes in accounting procedures and legislative developments.
Undertaking specialist courses on subjects such as financial reporting, regulation, IT, tax and IFRS will help. Chris McCarthy, director at Hays Senior Finance, says: 'Professionals wanting to specialise in technical accountancy may also want to focus on risk and compliance as there is a real need for individuals who are able to predict and manage risk within a business'.