Competency Framework: ManagerAccountant

Competency' and competencies may be defined as the behaviours (and, where appropriate, tehnical attributes) that individuals must have, or must acquire, to perform effectively at work that is, the terms focus on the personal attributes or inputs of the individual. A competency framework is a structure that sets out and defines each individual co mpetency (such as problem-solving or people management) required by individuals working in an organisation or part of an organisation. Here we have defined the competency framework for an account manager with all the key behaviours that the job demands in order to perform effectively. The Accounting Manager typically serves as member of management and is considered a senior level consulting within the organization. As such, the Accounting Manager provides functional, technical or process leadership. The organization will depend on this person's management of multiple teams. The Accounting Manager generally is responsible for high complexity and ambiguity. As such, the Accounting Manager provides tactical responsibilities. Lets first define the job description for an account manager which will involve all the tasks, responsibilities and duties a manager has to perform because without laying down these tasks, responsibilities and duties , it is very difficult to extract out the behaviour that are demanded at the time of job. The Accounting Manager generally has the following responsibilities:

Ensures the accounting policies and practices of the organization are followed; works closely with internal auditors, public accountants, federal tax examiners, and other financial professionals ensuring that practices are in line with the overall goals of the organization. Oversees and evaluates the activities of the accounting staff, and provides for their professional development; analyzes and solves accounting problems. Prepares or leads preparation of reports which summarize and forecast business activity and financial position in areas of income, expenses, and earnings, based on past, present and expected operations.

A typical example of job description for the Accounting Manager role may include:

Responsible for managing the general accounting function. Oversees the completion of ledger accounts and financial statements. Evaluates and makes appropriate improvements to internal accounting processes ensuring that practices are in line with the overall goals of the organization. Designation of CPA may be required. Requires a bachelor's degree in area of specialty and at least 7 years of experience in the field or in a related area. Familiar with a variety of the field's concepts, practices, and procedures. Relies on extensive experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Performs a variety of tasks. Leads and directs the work of others. A wide degree of creativity and latitude is expected. Typically reports to top management.

Now the next step of developing a competency framework is mapping these job description requirement against the behaviours that is needed to perform excellently .

Competency Cluster: Leadership

Accept full responsibility for self and contribution as a team member Strategic management Display honesty and truthfulness; confront problems quickly Display a strong commitment to organizational success and inspire others to commit to goals Demonstrate a commitment to delivering on his/her role Managing resources and leading organisations effectively and ethically Understanding stakeholder needs and priorities

Competency: Acting Ethically & Legally Consistently acts in a principled, open and conscientious manner, and challenges unacceptable behaviour. BASIC INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED Complies with the Applies relevant codes of Ensures compliance with, main codes of conduct, conduct, regulations and and exceeds, minimum regulations and legislation legislation, sets high requirements to at least the minimum standards of accuracy and or regulatory standards of requirements for legal attention to detail relevant codes of conduct, compliance and to avoid in producing compliant regulations and legislation, infringement and related accounting records and recognising implications of penalties or sanctions. reports to the highest non-compliance for standard of individuals, for professionalism. organisations and the wider public interest and the longer term reputational benefits of operating to and beyond such minimum standards.

Competency: Influence Ability to listen, interpret & understand information, communicate in an effective manner and influence others in order to arrive at a win-win situations BASIC INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED Identifies and Develops leadership and Continues to develop develops influencing influencing abilities leadership and influencing skills by learning from capabilities at Provides mentoring and colleagues and superiors. departmental level. coaching. Seeks opportunities to Effectively mentors and Seeks opportunities suggest improvements in manages others to improve internally to influence or tasks and processes. team motivation and initiate courses of action or performance levels. Develops basic approaches change relevant to the leading to operational business/job role. Seeks opportunities to improvements. recommend and implement courses of action or change

programmes relevant to job roles/department/business Presents logicalarguments to justify any proposed change programme.

Competency: Proactive Proactively spearhead and coordinate the execution of responsibilities in order to achieve desired outcomes. BASIC INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED Seeks and suggests ideas to Seeks new tasks and Anticipates and plans for appropriate people at development self, business and clients. appropriate times. opportunities. Identifies and develops new ideas and challenges Seeks new tasks and Identifies and develops new challenges whenever ideas, areas for for business improvement. previous work has been improvement and is Is prepared to defend them completed successfully. prepared to logically and robustly and is able to robustly defend them. implement and manage change to achieve objectives.

Competency: Continuous Improvement Ability to continuously improve own performance along with organizational processes and systems. Ensure learning from mistakes, initiate change and generate workable ideas. BASIC INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED Identifies basic ways of Develops self and others Continuously identifies improving personal performa and proactively seeks ways of developing self nce. new knowledge and skills and others to improve processes and Seeks and learns new Wherever possible seeks performance. knowledge and skills. to develop-self in relevant new skills, knowledge and Proactively takes steps to Keeps themselves up to date behaviours. reflect on and consider with professional personal and developments. Understands what skills, team strengths and knowledge and behaviours Seeks regular feedback & weaknesses to identify are necessary in their role builds upon constructive development needs. and proactively takes steps criticism. to develop them Attentively listens to and observes colleagues and Learns from colleagues experts. and experts Displaying openness to Maintains a constant new ideas and awareness of current opportunities and keeps information and up to date with professional professional developments. developments.

Competency Cluster: Professional Knowledge

Possession of content knowledge in various domains of accountancy Technical expertise Ability to understand and analyse Awareness and foresightedness about the business environment

Competency: Knowledge of Accountancy and its accurate application Has complete and updated knowledge with regard to Financial Accounting, Management Accounting and Cost Accounting BASIC INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED Understands the different Inherent and updated Continuous and in depth rules and methods of understanding of the subject knowledge, with accounting in all the three accounting know hows the awareness of the domains smallest possible Identifies and advices nittygritties Ability to recognize the seniors and management important aspects or on the important Analyses ,evaluates and details accounting aspects of the interprets the organizations organization accounting Ability to make reports Ability to apply concepts Ability to evaluate the pros Ability to summarize and translate it into and cons of the submitted information reporting reports and applied concepts Ability to break down data, into relevant and irrelevant Ability to implement, and recommend changes monitor and update accounting systems and processes

Competency: Sustained Knowledge of the Business Environment Ability to continuously gauge, analyse and make changes given the dynamic business environment BASIC General awareness of the organizations surroundings To advice the organization with respect to changing economic environment both local and global To be able to translate the acquired knowledge with regard to the environment into alternative plans that can be approved of by the INTERMEDIATE Seeks to discover the new environmental opportunities and changes To be able to advice the business keeping in mind the legal framework and the risk factors concerned To recognize and implement changes for the good of the stakeholders and business ADVANCED Continuously seeks and learns of the changing environmental trends for business sustenance and improvement Ability to identify the critical environmental aspects that directly and indirectly affect the business To do a cost benefit

higher authority

analysis concerning the noted and learned environmental factors

Competency: Taxation and its understanding In depth and accurate knowledge about the subject of taxation and its implication on the Business BASIC To have complete content knowledge about the various tax aspect related to the Business INTERMEDIATE To know and be able to decipher taxation clauses both locally and globally and its impact on the organizations accounting and business ADVANCED To have updated knowledge and ability to analyse, evaluate and segregate the taxation clauses that benefit or disturb the financial matters of the organization

Competency: Financial Planning Long-term profit planning and management of resources aimed at generating greater return on assets. BASIC Assesses the value of the organisation in terms of assets, market value etc Analyses and advises on investment in financial instruments to meet organisation goals Manages Cash flow and working capital INTERMEDIATE Evaluates and advises on capital investments such as mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures etc Monitors changes in the economy impacting financial position of the business Suggests policies for risk management ADVANCED Recommends ideal financing for the organization Develops financial plans in alignment with strategic goals of the organisation

Competency: Audit and Assurance Related Services BASIC Evaluates and reports the programs based on different standards of auditing (govt, value for money etc) Ensures compliance with environmental regulations Ensures compliance with accounting standards INTERMEDIATE Analyses and prepares the documentation regarding management audit
Summarizes conclusions and prepares necessary reports such as internal audit report etc

ADVANCED
Develops and advises on a framework for detection of fraud

Competency Cluster: Professionalism

Competency: Ethics and Trust To use ethics as the foundation for building reputation and instilling trust in all stakeholders BASIC INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED Applies professional ethical Exercises integrity and high Plans and exercises due standards level of professional diligence in mergers, judgement reviewing financial Demonstrates professional statements and in courtesy, i.e. informs Ensures confidentiality of conducting operations clients as and when an stakeholder information issue occurs in their work Maintains objectivity and independence in appearance and facts Apply ethical and moral reasoning to behaviour, management and leadership at work

Competency: Communication To use clear and effective communication in the professional environment BASIC INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED Listens attentively and asks Selects an appropriate Facilitates resolution questions whenever method to convey between differing necessary information and ideas viewpoints Communicates information Considers the need for Carefully adapts the tone in a timely, clear and confidentiality and secrecy and style of communication concise manner wherever required to suit the audience Follows up to ensure that communication is understood effectively

Competency: Stakeholder Focus To anticipate and meet the needs of internal and external stakeholders BASIC INTERMEDIATE Develops a sound Anticipates and meets the understanding of the needs of external organisation and its stakeholders business environment Seeks feedback from all stakeholders Anticipates and meets the needs of internal stakeholders

ADVANCED Acts in best interest of the stakeholders Represent stakeholders interest during change Inform stakeholders about anticipated change

Competency: Problem Solving Ability to collect and analyse information and device various solutions with one best solution BASIC INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED To be able to define the To be competent enough to To have updated scope of problem integrate and analyse data knowledge and ability to for patterns, relationships generate and evaluate To be competent to collect, and trends alternative solutions for a select, verify and evaluate problem information relevant to the problem To be able to create final recommendations, including an action plan

Competency: Professional Development To sense and learn the technical advancements in the profession and apply those learnings on the job BASIC INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED Engages in professional Enhances the professions Applies new learning for development to maintain image and reputation the benefit of stakeholders and enhance professional Develops and participates Engages in mentoring knowledge and skills in professional networks to activities to enable others Contributes to research and enhance service to to learn, to develop and technical advancements in stakeholders by improve performance the profession communicating with other professionals and professional associations

Competency: Professional Self-evaluation Provides professional advice to stakeholders and accepts feedback from them on the same BASIC INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED Acts within the scope of Is inquisitive and is vigilant Invites and accepts professional competence for potential misstatements feedback from stakeholders and provides expert advice Considers where problems only in the areas of are likely to arise and specialized knowledge monitors these areas Knows when and how to refer to other professionals and experts in areas such as law, IT, international business development