Upping the ante: New skills needed in finance, accounting, and tax

Finance, accounting, and tax have a longstanding legacy in businesses of all shapes and sizes, but it’s no secret the business world is changing. &nbsp;According to the <em>Journal of Accountancy</em></a>, businesses are looking to finance and related functions to help navigate these new changes and complexity. And while this puts them in an “enviable position of influence […] increased skills are needed to meet additional responsibilities.”

Finance, accounting, and tax have a longstanding legacy in businesses of all shapes and sizes, but it’s no secret the business world is changing.  According to the Journal of Accountancy, businesses are looking to finance and related functions to help navigate these new changes and complexity. And while this puts them in an “enviable position of influence […] increased skills are needed to meet additional responsibilities.”

Tomorrow’s finance, accounting, and tax superstars require a portfolio of skills and knowledge that goes beyond the basics.

Already complex positions are increasing in complexity, with many being asked to take on responsibilities previously outside of their purview. In a CGMA survey of 1,200 CEOs, CFOs, and management accountants, 85 percent said their organization has significantly expanded the role of the CFO and finance-related positions, across a range of responsibilities:

• Strategic business planning (58 percent)
• IT development and cyber security (55 percent)
• Management and corporate governance (46 percent)
• Legal and compliance (44 percent)
• Human resources (40 percent)

That’s why the W. P. Carey School engages with industry experts to develop real-world programs with real-world impact, taught by faculty with decades of real-world experience. The W. P. Carey Master of Accountancy (MACC), Master of Taxation (MTax), and Master of Science in Finance (MS‑FIN) programs prepare you to meet demands posed by both your desired field and the evolving business environment, through a blended curriculum of high-level and applied concepts.

So you’ll gain an understanding of the forces that influence your field as a whole, and the intricacies of day-to-day operations that shape your experience on the job — making you a more adaptable and desirable job candidate, ready to fill the skills gap and cut through the complexity of any industry.

Learn more about the short- and long-term success you can discover with a MACC, MTax, or MS‑FIN from the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.