Accountants do many things, but ultimately, they help make people's lives more manageable. From filing taxes to regulating payroll for a small business, accountants work wonders for their clients. While crunching numbers, technology implantation and tax compliance (and more!) are all part of their job description, writing is another skill excellent accountants should possess.
Financial tasks like recording income, budget preparation, and bill paying require good use of mathematics, as well as, language. Therefore, business writing ought to be just as important as good arithmetic for accountants. Although these financial professionals don’t have to be poets, they do need to get their point across regularly - and easily - for their clients who aren't well versed in accounting terminology. Whether it’s drafting a report for investors or replying to a client’s email, accountants need to communicate well.
Communication Skills
Excellent teamwork goes hand in hand with excellent communication. Accountants often have to work with other departments or firms to fulfill their duties. In this case, excellent communication skills are essential. Not to mention, a huge chunk of business communication happens via email these days. When financial assets are involved, written proof is always necessary. It's important for accounting professionals to be able to discuss these matters in an articulate and clear way.
Of course, that means that emails remain on file for further reference. This alone should be enough of a motive to keep writing skills sharp. Furthermore, regular written correspondence with clients help builds trust in that relationship. When someone gives their writing that personal touch, it’s apparent in even the most transactional email. Colleagues and clients alike will take note of effective email writing.
Remember that this is the twenty-first century. Even people’s mobile phone covers have personality! Accountants must be able to convey their personality and communicate through their writing effectively. This is a fundamental skill expected of the workers of today. Meeting those expectations doesn’t just tick all the boxes, it can even open doors of opportunity. Having these skills will make your job easier by being able to effectively communicate with your employees/coworkers, as well as creating a high client retention rate because you have a great relationship with them.
Job Retention
Accounting firms have raised the bar on what they expect from their employees. In fact, prospective accountants usually have to complete written and oral exams during the hiring process. Poor grammar could quickly get a rookie accountant the boot. Indeed, plenty of dismissals happen on account of poor writing skills. A large number of firms report this as a reason for job termination.
The pressure for accountants to display notably good writing (and speaking) skills is palpable. Alongside tests, firms sometimes also conduct screenings to judge prospective accountants’ writing. Being able to discuss complex financial issues in a clear and articulate manner is something that is absolutely necessary in any advisor role.
Technical documents detailing results of analyses, research or procedures that have been performed must be well-written. Sloppy penmanship in these areas lowers the quality of work and thereby hurts the business relationships. Clients who pay for service want to results, not typos. Regularly delivering carefully composed pieces of writing helps keep accountants employed.
Common Writing Tasks
Accountants have plenty of writing they need to do frequently. First of all, there are technical documents like analysis of business performance or financial reports. While this kind of writing tends to be packed full of data, there should be a clear explanation. Management and clients have to be able to understand these documents, too. Failure to properly communicate can lead to trouble and misunderstandings.
Then, there are less technical documents like memoranda, letters or papers. As these types of writing are less technical, they should be even easier to read and understand. Seasoned accountants understand the importance of writing these documents properly. It’s crucial to strive for legibility and resist the urge to information dump.
Granted, as time goes on, writing these same documents over and over again gets easier. With time, accountants can develop their own writing finesse. Also, there are lots of helpful templates out there for those who struggle to structure ideas. The point is that accountants have to deliver consistently good writing all the time. There is no getting around that.
Similarly, it’s always a good idea to consult professional writers, so that they can make suggestions regarding style and semantics. The easiest way to work with a seasoned professional is to simply send out your piece to a writing service like WoWGrade.com that employs many niche writers. Just submit your paper for editing and carefully analyze the changes that the writers made. You can also ask them to leave comments in the document, where they would substantiate the changes.
Professional Development
Despite the common misconception, accountants actually do have to read quite a bit. They have the stay in the know about new tax laws, accounting programs and even review contracts for clients. Moreover, they have to pour through and analyze data while conducting research. Excellent reading abilities can improve their writing and further their overall skill set.
Also, if accountants choose to further their studies, they will need to write a lot. Just to get CPA credit, there are personal statements, exams, research papers, essays and case studies to write. Maintaining an exceptional level of writing can be what pushes an accountant’s career to the next level. The professional world always values perfectly penned papers.
Climbing up the accounting ladder requires excellent writing as well. Great communicators are charismatic and find themselves presented with opportunities more often than others. Keeping soft skills as pristine as hard skills is key to advancing in the office. A junior accountant could become a senior accountant, or senior accountant to partner, in no time with dedication and spot-on writing skills.
Conclusion
Accountants are masters of data and numbers. However, as logical as their jobs may be, they shouldn’t neglect their writing abilities. All accountants can benefit from possessing and continuing to improve their writing skills.
After all, the importance of communication in the modern office is undeniable. Being able to write well can actually help an accountant keep their job. That’s because they have plenty of reports, letters, and memos to type up almost daily. Brilliant writing skills can also help further an accountant’s professional development and bring them more opportunities.
Any accountants looking to improve their writing should go ahead and jump right in. Some solid tips are to keep it simple by using plain English. Also, always consider who your audience is and adjust the tone of your writing accordingly. Furthermore, strive to keep your writing concise; the devil is in the details. Lastly, do your best to write more and get feedback from friends or colleagues you trust.
Lori Jones
Author Bio: Lori Jones is a blogger and content manager at Studicus.com She is a seasoned writer, passionate about style and linguistics. Her articles are always well-penned and thoroughly researched.