Whether you’ve started or you’re months away: now is the time to get started. Do you have a job description? if you don’t you could start by doing a search online for any relevant job descriptions. Try getting two or three and consolidate all the different duties. Then review to make sure that all the important duties are there. This is imperative if you are the top Accounting person in the organization and should have an understanding if you report into a more senior person who is responsible for the Accounting of the organization. The following are some of the responsibilities that an Accounting Manager, Controller, VP or Director of Accounting or Finance, CFO etc. may be responsible for:

Main Responsibilities of the Accounting Department

Accounts Payable Costing Inventory Management Accounts Receivable and Billing Credit & Collection Leases Annual Audit Financing Managing Business Risk Asset Management Financial Statement Analysis Payroll and Benefits Bank Reconciliation Financial Statement Preparation Policy and Procedure Development Budgeting Financial Reporting Pricing Cash and Investment Management Forecasting Process Improvements Cash Disbursements General Ledger Maintenance Sarbanes Oxley Cash Receipts Grants and Subsidies Staff Training/Mentoring/Appraisal Compliance with Government IFRS or ASPE Strategic Planning Contracts Administration Insurance Tax Planning Cost Reduction Internal Controls Year-End

 Determine the Gap

Now that you’ve determined what you are responsible for; measure your skills and knowledge to what has to be done. Determine the Gap and decide how to fill it. Do you need a course, webinar or buy a book. Then schedule how you will fill that gap and do it.

Too many individuals take a course, webinar or buy a book and either don’t read it or do; then won’t do anything with the information they have learned. One thing that I do after taking a course, webinar or buy a book is immediately put into action what I have learned. For instance one of the gaps I had on my first job as a manager was public speaking. Wow isn’t this a surprise. This will probably be on everyone’s list. I needed to work on mine as there would be many more instances where I would be doing presentations, meeting with Senior Management meeting with outside stakeholders etc. There are many fine organizations.

I choose Toastmasters which is a fine organization who is dedicated to communication and leadership development. Toastmasters are global and probably have a group in our area. There was also The Christopher Leadership Group; who in their own words say: “The Christopher Leadership Course of National provides a welcoming and supportive environment where you will build strong leadership skills and learn to overcome your fear of standing up in front of a group to speak.” In addition I’ve heard great things about Dale Carnegie Training and there’s always speaking coaches as well.

Excerpt from Paul J. Calleri’s up and coming book on Management Excellence.

Paul J. Calleri is a CPA, CMA of Paul J. Calleri, Chartered Professional Accounting, principle of TheGAAP.net and entrepreneur.

What is your Gap? Can you share with our fellow CPA’s how are you planning to fill this Gap?

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