Personal Competencies

Personal competencies relate to the attitudes and behaviors of individuals preparing to enter the accounting profession. Developing these personal competencies will enhance the way professional relationships are handled and facilitate individual learning and personal improvement.
Professional Demeanor
The accounting profession is committed to maintaining a public reputation for excellence in the performance of important roles in business and society. Individuals entering the accounting profession should behave in a manner that is consistent with the character and standards of the discipline of accounting, as well as the norms of the environment in which they interact. This competency involves demonstrating objectivity, integrity, and ethical behavior. It also includes a commitment to stable work performance, as well as a commitment to continuously acquire new skills and knowledge.
Elements include:

Cultivates growth in personal conduct and capabilities
Diagnoses the need for change and takes appropriate action to gain competencies
Measures oneself against evolving standards and meets or exceeds those standards
Accepts professional development as a life-long process
Performs reliably under changing demands
Evaluates information in a manner free of distortions, personal bias or conflicts of interest
Recognizes situations where professional ethical standards apply and behaves accordingly
Conducts oneself with honesty
Respects confidentiality
Commits to quality and efficiency
Manages stress and adapts to unusual demands with composure
Objectively considers others' professional criticism or evaluation
Adheres to a level of personal appearance appropriate to the environment
Identifies and prioritizes career and personal goals and is accountable/learns from mistakes

Problem Solving and Decision Making
Accounting professionals are often asked to discern the true nature of a situation and then determine the principles and techniques needed to solve problems or make judgments. Thus, individuals entering the accounting profession should display effective problem solving and decision-making skills, good insight and judgment, as well as innovative and creative thinking.
Elements include:

Makes valid and reliable evaluations of information
Uses experience and comparison in forming opinions
Evaluates the significance of evidence or facts
Synthesizes novel or original definitions of problems and solutions as circumstances dictate
Adapts to new contexts and promotes constructive change
Verifies information for problem definition and solution
Proposes and evaluates alternative solutions
Seeks consensus where appropriate
Considers contingencies and future developments
Reasons carefully and thinks effectively in abstract terms or generalizations
Analyzes the impact of potential actions
Considers unconventional approaches and solutions to problems
Knows when to follow directions, question plans or seek help

Interaction
Accounting professionals must be able to work with others to accomplish objectives. This requires them to act as valuable business partners within organizations and markets and work in teams to provide business solutions. Thus, individuals entering the accounting profession should demonstrate an ability to work productively with individuals in a diversity of roles and with varying interests in the outcome.
Elements include:

Recognizes the value of working within diverse, cross-functional teams
Interacts and cooperates productively and maturely with others
Facilitates free expression and constructive activities of others
Coaches or mentors in appropriate circumstances
Commits to achievement of common goals when working on a team
Accepts suggestions and guidance of team leaders and other members
Recognizes and accommodates the protocols and expectations of teams

Leadership
Individuals entering the accounting profession should be able to effectively lead in appropriate circumstances. This involves acquiring the skills needs to influence, inspire, and motivate individuals and groups to achieve results.
Elements include:

Motivates others to achieve excellence
Rallies the support of others to accomplish objectives
Chairs teams or volunteers for projects
Values inputs and points of view of others and responds appropriately
Facilitates development of consensus or compromise as appropriate
Persuades others to a course of action by reasoning or incentive
Practices principles of effective governance

Communication
Accounting professionals are called upon to communicate financial and non-financial information so that is understood by individuals with diverse capabilities and interests. Individuals entering the accounting profession should have the skills necessary to give and exchange information within a meaningful context and with appropriate delivery. They should have the ability to listen, deliver powerful presentations and produce examples of effective business writing.
Elements include:

Organizes and effectively displays information so that it is meaningful to the receiving party
Expresses information and concepts with conciseness and clarity when writing and speaking
Receives and originates direct and indirect messages as appropriate when listening, reading, writing and speaking
Uses interpersonal skills to facilitate effective interaction
Places information in appropriate context when listening, reading, writing and speaking
Selects appropriate media for dissemination or accumulation of information.

Project Management
Accounting professionals must successfully manage a diversity of projects throughout their career. Individuals entering the accounting profession should demonstrate the ability to effectively control the course of a multi-dimensional, multi-step undertaking. This includes managing project assets, including human, financial, property, and technical resources.
Elements include:

Determines project goals
Prioritizes and delegates as needed
Allocates project resources to maximize results
Effectively manages human resources that are committed to the project
Effectively facilitates and controls the project process
Measures project progress
Takes corrective action as needed
Sees projects through to completion or orderly transition
Realistically estimates time and resource requirements
Recognizes situations where prompt and determined actions are needed and responds accordingly

Leverage Technology to Develop and Enhance Personal Competencies
Technological adaptability is a requirement for today's accounting professional. As technology advances, the accounting professional must acquire new skills and determine how new technologies should be best incorporated into their practices. This commitment to continual technological learning will enhance the development and application of other personal competencies.
Elements include:

Exchanges information using appropriate communication technologies such as e-mail, discussion boards and video-conferencing
Explores new technologies and their application to business and accounting scenarios
Acquires skills through technology-based learning modules when available and appropriate
Addresses privacy, intellectual property rights and security issues related to electronic communications