3. Skills requirements for accountants
Skills are capabilities which encamppasses knowledge, professional ethics and attitudes to perform accounting
and other tasks required from accountants. These skills are obtained from the total effect of the accounting
program, specific courses, practical experience and continuing professional education. IAESB (2010) listed skills
required by professional accountants under five groupings, namely i) intellectual skills, ii) technical and
functional skills, iii) personal skills, iv) interpersonal and communication skills, and v) organisational and
business management skills. The Higher Education Academy (1998) defined intellectual skills as the ability to
analyse, think critically, evaluate and synthesise information. Accountants need intellectual skills to make
decisions, exercise good judgments and solve problems. These skills are derived from a combination of
knowledge. Technical and functional skills are skills specific to accountancy as well as general skills. These
skills include skills in numeracy, decision and risk analysis, measurement, reporting and knowledge in legislation
and regulatory requirements. Personal skills are skills relate to ability, attitude, capability that an individual
accountant has. These skills can be developed to improve personality and individual learning. Interpersonal skills
are skills that enable an accountant to work with others for the benefit of the organisation. With these skills, an
accountant can influence, motivate, resolve conflict and delegate tasks to his/her team members to achieve the
goals of the organisation. In order to achieve that, the accountant must have good communication skills.
Communication skills are skills that enable an accountant to convey, discuss, listen and defend his/her view,
orally and in writing and in either formal or informal settings. Organisational and business management skills are
important in managing a business organisation in which an accountant is a key member of the management team.
It is important for the accountant to understand all aspects of organisation including its behaviour. The
organizational and business management skills include long-term planning, project management, management of
people and resources, decision making, leadership and professional judgement