In Business? It’s All About The Data…
Once a Nice Supplemental Skill — Now Becoming an Essential Skill!
I recently attended and presented at the 2018 IMA Annual Conference in Indianapolis.
My session was on Excel’s Query tool — (Power Query / Get and Transform), and it was clear that data was one of THE hot topics at the conference.
Although the topic of data and increased interest (“big data”, etc.) has been around awhile, I have not seen the elevated level of focus witnessed recently within the accounting profession.
It seems clear that a “tipping point” has been reached.
Why? Based on the topics at the conference and the frequency of data related content that I am seeing…
Just Consider This from the Last Week…
Via my LinkedIn connections (shout out to Tom Hood, Mike Quindazzi ✨, and Jody Padar) for getting the following items in my feed…
You Must Be Digitally Fit to Land a Job at PwC (thanks Jody Padar)
“ Specific technical skills that PwC is interested in include data analysis and visualization as well as artificial intelligence and automation. Fenlon says that understanding how to manipulate data in Tableau or Alteryx can make a candidate stand out.”
The tools mentioned above are just two of the data / visualization packages on the market — I mention a few others in my comments to Jody’s post:
Digital Demands CFOs Rethink How to Deliver Value (thanks Tom Hood)
“ To keep up with digital business, CFOs and finance leaders must deliver value at a faster pace and in a different way. First, create data and expertise as a service.”
“Leading finance teams will become digital interfaces for their organization’s financial data”
The following graphic highlights that accounting profession’s shift to other types of data as well — not just historical financial transaction level data!
LinkedIn Presentation — Global Recruiting Trends 2018: The 4 Ideas Changing How You Hire (PDF) — Thanks Mike Quindazzi ✨
Think Data is one of the 4? You guessed it — and this is in the Human Resources realm, not the core “numbers” folks!
Not sure about that, but it certainly helps you stand out and differentiate yourself!
…however, if you are a numbers geek (and that’s what accountants are…), you are behind if you aren’t well versed in data!
Zooming in on the Key Attributes above, where do you fall?
If you are a business professional — especially an accountant — and you are feeling like your “data skills” aren’t up to snuff, START HERE.
Review this content and start to form a game plan for moving forward.
If you need resources, drop me a note (LinkedIn, Twitter, Medium, etc.) and I will be happy to help you out!
About Don
“It’s time for DIFFERENT”
Don is passionate about helping professionals and organizations keep up and adapt to the changing business world that we operate in.
