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What’s your new tax year resolution?

18th Apr 2017
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Whether you’re one of the 61% of UK-based qualified accountants plan on changing jobs in the next two years, or just looking to progress within your current organisation, establishing and regularly reviewing career goals year-round is crucial. So, as accountants, if you missed out on setting yourself a career related goal at New Years, why not take the opportunity to set yourself one this New Tax Year – which is arguably actually the more important of the two. But how can you set yourself an effective and relevant target?

Accountant career planning advice

The first thing to do when setting yourself a New Year resolution is work out where you want to be in a year, do you want to have more responsibilities, be in a new role, or new company altogether? That way you are able establish what you need to do to achieve your longer-term goals. For some professionals, this might mean undertaking more continued professional development, developing a new skill, learning to utilise a new technology, or preparing for new job applications.

There’s little doubt that CPD should be a year-round effort, however as the role of the finance function shifts ever towards a more strategic one, remembering to commit time to CPD can prove difficult. Regardless of your specific career goal, CPD is likely to help you achieve it so there is no excuse for avoiding it. By keeping up to date with issues relevant to the accountancy sector, professionals can provide insightful ideas to relevant discussions.

For professionals aiming for a promotion it may be a case of having to learn a new skill, such as leadership. In fact, according to EY’s report ‘The DNA of a CFO’, as professionals begin to reach the top of the finance function the ability to build effective relationships and demonstrate leadership capabilities become crucial for progression. So, attending training courses which help to develop your interpersonal skills or proactively seeking mentorship from senior colleagues will likely be incredibly valuable. Working in an interim role can also provide accountancy professionals with the opportunity to gain skills significantly quicker than their peers in permanent roles.

Professionals looking to gain more responsibilities in their current role should be prepared to demonstrate their ability to effectively manage their time, and show that they have the relevant experience by taking on more complex tasks where possible. As always, proactively completing CPD and expanding relevant skill sets will also likely work in your favour.

If you are a management accountant looking to move outside of your current organisation, or a senior practice accountant looking to move in-house, you should focus on brushing up your CV and updating your LinkedIn profile. An increasing number of recruiters are looking for passive candidates, so even if you aren’t ready to start looking just yet, make sure to keep your profile up to date. For those looking to make a move, consider partnering with a specialist recruitment partner, and make sure to network as much as possible – you never know where you’re next opportunity might come from.

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