News Article - 28 November 2007
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Financial chief executives and managing directors rate leadership, strategic vision and commercial skills as more important than technical ability, new research shows.

The Career Benchmarking Survey by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and Robert Half Finance & Accounting found that tax specialists placed more importance on technical skill.

A third of women claimed communication skills were a crucial part of their roles, whereas 26 per cent of men focused on commercial ability.

"Whilst industry knowledge, experience and expertise is important, employers today want to find the right mix of technical know-how and the softer skills such as communication and leadership ability," commented Phil Sheridan, UK managing director of Robert Half Finance & Accounting.

The survey found that lower down the chain of command, the more emphasis financial workers place on technical knowledge and capability.

A previous ICAEW study of employers in the industry found that training opportunities featured as a highly important issue in job satisfaction for all roles but chief accountants and tax specialists in particular.

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