Increasingly, accountants have to work with a variety of departments, such as information technology and accounts payable, as organizations seek to leverage internal talent and reduce reliance on external consultants. Written communication, whether emails, memos or reports, is becoming increasingly important. Different locations and conflicting work schedules result in written communication composing a large chunk of communication among departments and professionals. How can accounting professionals, with improved business communication skills, deliver more value to their organizations?
Memos and other communications about accounting can prove to be very technical in nature. Additionally, accountants must understand the needs of other organizational members, as well as how the information being communicated is used. While not exhaustive, the following is a checklist to get the ball rolling.
- Quantifying the qualitative. Sustainability, corporate governance, and risk management are all buzzwords in the business landscape, particularly since the financial crisis, but what do they really mean? The ability to quantify these phrases, as well as the effect they will have on organizations, is critical to the continued success of the accounting profession. Creating metrics, standards, and methods of evaluating concepts is the proverbial bread-and-butter of the accounting field, and the areas mentioned above are prime examples of where accountants can take leadership roles in these conversations....
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Source: Sean Stein Smith (www.accountingweb.com)
