[IMGCAP(1)]When I’m interviewing accountants for positions inside companies, I’m always amazed at how few of them have a solid understanding of internal control. If you want to progress into supervisory and managerial level accounting positions, be sure to develop these skills.
How can you do that?
1. Keep yourself current through continuing education.
2. Think about appropriate controls as you go about your accounting work.
3. Understand control weaknesses in your area and how they’re mitigated.
4. Find opportunities to suggest and implement cost effective improvements.
5. Watch your boss as he/she navigates the interpersonal aspects of making these changes, especially with non-accountants. Ask for mentoring. Learn.
6. Volunteer for projects to review, develop, and document controls.
An accounting professional who understands internal control, and can persuade non-accounting colleagues to adopt appropriate controls, is worth his/her weight in gold.
Donna Svei, CPA, CFE is an executive search consultant and resume writer. Monster.com named her one of their “11 for 2011: Career Experts Who Can Help Your Job Search.” Donna blogs at AvidCareerist.com. You will find her on GooglePlus at gplus.to/donnasvei and on LinkedIn at
