Career Success For Accountants

How I Got To Be A Finance Director Despite Being Technically Average

There’s a lot of advice out there telling you how to reach a senior level in accountancy.

I share a lot of ideas and insights online and in seminars and workshops for professional associations.

Today I wanted to write something a little different.

You see a lot of accountants and professionals seem to think that there is some magic formula.

The qualification that will guarantee success.

The connections that will help open doors.

The reality is that I got to be a Finance Director despite being technically average.

I started out in accountancy straight from school aged 15.

I had really basic qualifications.

I recall applying for about 40 jobs initially.  A handful of the organisations sent me a standard letter to say I had been unsuccessful.

One invited me to interview and decided to offer me a position in the accounts department.

In that first job I was responsible for matching invoices to orders and goods received notes and preparing invoices for payment.

Once I had mastered that I got more responsibility and ended up learning about all the core functions within finance.

I also noticed that the people who were more senior seemed to have developed skills and competencies that were not necessarily technical.

I paid attention to this, learned from them and looked for opportunities to put that learning into practice.

When I decided to move on, I wanted a role that was going to give me a broader range of experience.  So I moved into internal audit.

I learned about business risk, business processes, report writing, questioning, listening, completing work to timescales.

I also learned a lot about professionalism, interpersonal skills, building relationships, communicating difficult messages.

A lot of the people who were accountable for the processes I was reviewing were much more senior and a lot more experienced.  It required tact and diplomacy and an ability to win their trust.

As I moved into other roles I continued to learn, grow and develop.

I took every opportunity available to me to improve my skills, whether through formal training courses, on the job learning or getting involved in projects and work that were a stretch for me.

I focused on improving my management, leadership and presentation skills.

Yes I got my professional accountancy qualification but didn’t go down the line of collecting a lot of academic qualifications.

I didn’t have a set in stone a career plan.

What I did do however was curious.  Throughout my career I always had a question at the forefront of my mind.

That question was I wonder if I could succeed at the next level.

I wasn’t on a fast track.  It was more of a steady progression.

Looking back and reflecting on my 25 years in accounting, I think there were a number of key contributors to me reaching Finance Director.

  1. I learned early on that technical ability and qualifications would only get me so far in my career.
  2. When I changed jobs, I chose roles that were going to grow and develop me not those that were going to be more of the same.
  3. I looked for opportunities to contribute to the wider business rather than just focusing on the money.
  4. I realised that anything of significance was achieved through team work and a team effort rather than one brilliant individual.
  5. I took an interest in every member of team whatever level they were at.
  6. I built relationships with people.
  7. I went out of my way to help others be successful.
  8. I played to my strengths as much as I possibly could and looked to mitigate areas where I was weaker.
  9. I had my principles, standards and expectations.
  10. I took responsibility for my career and the results that I achieved.

What has helped you in your career so far?  What’s contributed to your success?  Share your story by leaving a comment.

About the Author Duncan Brodie

Since 2006 I’ve worked with in excess of 8,000 accountants and professionals in workshops, seminars and one to one helping them land their next jobs and become better leaders, presenters and business partners. Before that I spent 25 years in accountancy climbing the career ladder from Payments Clerk to FD. I’m a CIMA Fellow, Certified Professional Coach and Team Coach Facilitator.

Previous Post What You Need To Understand About Management Next Post Why Do Smart Accountants Sometimes Struggle As Managers?

Leave a Comment:

1 comment
2128 says 26 October 2023

Tonsilps and sloeep apnea in adultsMatute female imagesBrisnna love
xxxWhige gil ass and pussyGrahic gayBiig gay dick loversFrre
voyeur videosAustrailian lesbiansNicole confad nude12inch gayBath sewxy timeSwinge wie cumPetaa nude event miamiNationa sex offendder rgistry nsorAustralian convict woman ffacial disfigureent novelIllinois inn offender registered sexNuude young girls russiaDo
ggay meen get pregantNudde girls wit whip annd chainsGaay andd elln corbyDivision off adult andd career
educationHoorny teenms ebony videosFreed dursts dickCher gayy lewsbian comingWomen naked
punishment whippingTeems with toys adultYourr tubbe vinfage sexVintage colllege football memorabiliaComplrte sexx
comuc freeTeenn milf’s first time on camDrinking gangbang cumI cannot orgasmYoung aand innocnt bondageTitans suckNaked shootSistefs nakedScarlt letyter sexx offenderThumbs of rossdressing menPleyboy ber chicas calientes asien sexXxxx rayed pon twens nudeBiig gay free cockFrree foogjob modwl vjdeos tawnyFist state baqnk dento texasHorny pussy pornViivio porn moviesAdult japannese sitesFinal fantazy tiga
hentai moviePorrn ‘sword in the stoneErotic body rubs
nj1001 facials bokep terbaru tante Strange pleasureHaven jerk off videoVolunteer abroad
teensSmall tits phat asses1914 europes great in last started summer vintage
war whoMeriah carrie nakedIndian anal galleryHairy potter bearded collieHentai student train slutMet art porn reviewPantyhose swingBest anti-aging
facial moisturizerSymptoms penis painful lump under skinMen and a
girl fuckingNun sucks off priestBrittany coyle pornNude inspirationTeen nude locker room
showersNude pics of wendy wixPorn xxx photosMarkings
from england spind vintage porcelainFree pussy punishment picturesGirls taking it up the
assAdult entertainment law encyclopedia for indianaFree porn videos over 3 minutesNude people caught on the beachGta
4 nude guyZac efron and vanessa hudgens sex videoeShannen daugherty nakedCum spotsTwin girl nude models blog sitesSpring break big titsArmpit
asian girlSexy celebrities nude wallpapersEn peludas
vagina videoCouples with teens sex orgiesClaudia miller breast massageJapanese vintage haori kimono coat patternsVintage arielBlack
hairy woman assNear barcelona gay beach$15 guarantee test stripsClaire dames ass megaupload linksPenis masterbateCoeds fuck for book moneySelf fucking gaySarah playboy
nude realityPorn star nick phoenixPornstar emma cummins bioInfluence people for teen girlsBlack
chicks sucking dicks xxxGay hypnosis spandex storyPorn videos
with soundFucking free thumbsSugar baby sergeant s cock videoHow men masturbate
in nylonTeen sperm mouthRisk global domination pcAmatuer pussy rubbingWhite boys cock3d toons
girl eroticDog have sex with a womanBlonde clit galleryAnal toys
cleanersNaked amazingly gorgeous girlsAdult shops in portsmouthExperiencing free
info orgasm picture remember womanConjoined twins pornSexual
gladiator storiesVintage merry see saw teeter
totter watchLacey tom sexWill charlie sex lorenPorn xxx indiaRena soffer
nudeVlad teen modelsLingerie bondage – ebayMissy interracial fuckGirl cuts off guys penis001 hairy naturalDianel foxx transgenderCartoon disney porn free xxxFree fucking video to watchGorgeous tranny fuckedNaked mile showerPlaymates need to peeRudolphus
gay in herkimer new yorkBlack one piece bikiniOverthumbs sexy momPorn with
paralyzed peopleTotally oral sexClassroom sex vidsSlow and sexKinghost pornVirgin islands marching starsAlto moncayo wine review
by vintageBall sucking gaysBlack men who like to fuck white
menWebcam gay videosAmauter porn siteWife giving head u pornFace fucked matureLarge condom ratingsParvathy
omnakuttan in bikiniSex vid reviewNaked in the gymBreast and bottle fedShimano m952 bottom
bracketCar hire us virgin islandsParis hilton video tape sex freeHairy armpit licking videoWanna
lick g-unit lil kimLimp dick fetishAsian pole
beansChyna red assSassy mam breast feeding bottleDog first time sexTop
ten extra virgin olive oilMasturbation stories get offShort teen haristylesAmy lindsey xxxMarried women getting fuckedFrom the real housewives of new
york nakedAntoinette abbott blue nudeWhat i saw at the next door neighbor’s seex videoAdult multimsdia mobiile messagesNfll locker
room nudeDaane clok ppet namess for penisFrree mullan cartoon pornSizee of mark wahlberg’s penisMethods foor dryiong
bredast milkBartt simppson annd lijsa simpson hentaiBest plcse to love gayComparing pennis sizesTestt strip ffor yest infectionsFind sex offendders on iphoneSafee stripperLisa mries nude photosWhy iis sex greatTeens holly-dolly dollyPrettry rusie sexHott n teen wildMax hardcore kelly weols xvideoFake nude julia stiles photosBeutiful porno starJodi
fosterr publicly thanks gay partnerFreee pics twinksVinmtage ort llp studioBunny wojen seex toysTiny tit teen anal fuckGlida roberts nude

Reply
Add Your Reply

Popular posts

It Takes More Than Being Good At The Numbers
 Career
Oct 07, 2014
Why You?
 Career How to Succeed In Job Interviews
Jan 06, 2021
How To Stop Procrastinating And Start Achieving As A Leader
 Delivering Great Results as a Leader Leading
Oct 26, 2011
Career Success: I Am At My Best When
 Career
Nov 29, 2013