Being on top of your technical game is no longer enough to stay in the running in this highly competitive industry. Nowadays, CPAs must possess the often overlooked soft skills in addition to being highly trained in the technical competencies of their trade. Soft skills such as personal, interpersonal, managerial and organizational capabilities play a key role in making or breaking a firm’s success as clients are demanding more accountability and seeking “the right fit” both technically and personally.

Aside from client demand, the tough internal challenges of succession planning and recruiting and employee retention have more firm leaders implementing an all-inclusive approach to address the need for soft skill development within their firm. This means not only the managing partner or management group is held responsible for such soft skills. Instead, the entire staff is trained accordingly and held accountable at a level-appropriate basis.