An Introduction to What the Intermediate Will Glean from the Professional Bookkeeper Program

In our last newsletter we discussed the types of occupations you could pursue with the Professional Bookkeeper training. We also explained the phenomenal opportunities that continue to grow due to talent shortages in the accounting industry. Companies are looking to attract and retain qualified accountants and bookkeepers with better salaries and benefits. Now is the perfect time to take advantage of this shortage by receiving professional certification that will demonstrate your expertise to those looking for applicants that can fill these gaps in their organizations.

The Backbone of Accounting: Practical Small Business Applications

Whether you’re new to the accounting field or have been performing accounting functions for years, our hands-on training is crucial in being able to retain what you will learn in this program. You will not only see key tasks being performed, but will also perform them yourself; this is one of the best ways to effect learning as an accounting professional.

With this article we have included a sample of Module II from the Professional Bookkeeper course in order to illustrate what those with intermediate accounting experience can expect to glean from this training. Entitled “Advancing Your Account-Ability” this module is designed to teach advanced accounting skills which will help you accomplish the day-to-day tasks you can expect in a typical accounting job.

You will be introduced to different business models, each with their own concerns and things to look out for. In order to provide you with the experience you need, the course includes valuable practice sets that expose you to the particulars of each business type.

Learn from the Best

In this video sample, we provide you with a brief rundown of what you will find in Module II, featuring Allen Bostrom, President of the Universal Accounting Center, as your instructor. Don’t worry if you don’t understand everything the first time you watch this clip. The beauty of learning via DVD instruction is being able to rewind and view the material as much as you feel necessary.

Please allow time for the video to load before viewing.

How Will This Benefit Me?

Module II will enable you to analyze your company’s or client’s finances, giving them valuable feedback as their profit and growth expert. Through this program you will build your accounting and bookkeeping knowledge from the ground up, and will gain sure footing as you perform those accounting tasks your employer expects from you as a true professional.

Don’t Just Take Our Word for It

Here are what UAC graduates have to say about their experience with the PB Program:

“This course far exceeded my expectation and helped fill in gaps in my accounting education. This course has helped me clarify the accounting process and gave me the complete picture whereas the college courses each take a normal area and expand on it.” -Clark Ceauford

“This class has helped me complete the accounting puzzle so that interpreting what I have been doing for years makes sense.” -Janet Harris

“I now understand what it is I have been doing for 6 years. I am so excited about being an accountant now and not just a [clerical] bookkeeper. I feel confident and well prepared to have my own accounting business.” -Nadine Malpas

“I took this course after having earned a bachelor’s degree and then working for a CPA firm for nearly ten years. This was a tremendous course!” -Bruce Bushman

What’s Next For Me?

We have designed and developed the Professional Bookkeeper’s Program from over 25 years of practical experience as accounting professionals. Unlike universities that train you in accounting theory, we have developed this course in order to prepare you to perform the daily tasks and responsibilities we know you will encounter. Our interaction with over 30,000 individuals in the accounting field has consistently demonstrated the issues faced daily in this industry. We have met countless accountants “trained” in a university setting who have professed that they weren’t adequately prepared to perform those daily tasks. Our instructional model will give you practical experience performing those tasks, giving you the confidence and skills you need to succeed.

Benefit from our experience, our detailed training, and our hands-on instruction that will give you an advantage in your accounting pursuits. Get the training you deserve so you can earn what you are worth! Order the Professional Bookkeeper Program today.

Don’t let the “I should have’s” creep into your accounting career! Look into…

Getting Yourself That Much Needed Raise!

Watch The Video Below And See How You Can Earn At Least 20-30% More Without Going Back To College

No need to spend 4 to 5 long, agonizing years and thousands upon thousands of dollars of your hard-earned money to increase what you can earn in your Accounting career. Universal Accounting can help you do this, like 30,000+ others just like you!

Earn What You Deserve! Ask Yourself These Important Questions…

Have you ever looked at those in the accounting business who are making more than you and ask yourself, “Why not me?” You’ve even gone as far as to look into what it would take to reach that level and found it could take years of training and tons of practical experience and asked yourself, “How in the world am I going to get that?”

Is it possible to draw from 25+ years of experience and the highest quality practical training in less than 90 days?

In the video that you are about to watch below you will understand how Universal Accounting’s Professional Bookkeeper Program is designed. Since 1979 Universal Accounting has specialized in training those like you in small and large business the art of accounting and what you need to know to advance your career within the profession. We have put that experience to work for you so that you could get to the level you want to be, in your accounting and bookkeeping career, in the shortest amount of time possible.

The Professional Bookkeeper’s Program contains proven accounting strategies developed and practiced by Universal Accounting and its graduates. Couple this with the huge demand for accountants who understand the specific needs of small businesses, because the most common problem plaguing small business owners is their inability to understand their finances. You can start to see where your opportunity is!

What Is the Professional Bookkeeper’s Program?

Today’s universities train individuals in the complexities of audit, tax, and accounting standards for large corporations. Little is mentioned regarding the day-to-day accounting practices for the small business. In choosing a bookkeeper/accountant, a small to mid-size business owner should seek a professional qualified to support the needs of his/her small business. When you earn for yourself the Professional Bookkeeper designation you will be recognized as such an individual with the vital small-business bookkeeping and accounting expertise in a variety of industries.

The Professional Bookkeeper certification uniquely announces to employers and clients that you have proven your ability through training, testing, and experience to confidently provide full bookkeeping and accounting services. The best decision you can make is to invest in yourself with the right training that will get you to your next level, your next promotion, or increase in pay. Can you afford to hesitate to take the easiest step in the whole process of getting to your professional goals and dreams?

Get Ready For That Next Promotion

Are you tired of working for what seems like an eternity, without ever getting ahead? Do you dream of making more money and being able to enjoy it? Do you wish you had more free time to spend with your family or pursuing your favorite hobby?

Want more of a taste of what the program is all about? We’re glad to give you all the information you want to be able to make the right decision for your career’s advancement and financial opportunities in the near future. Below you will find the details of what each module includes and what you can expect from the program.

Here’s also a sample of the Accounting Manual for your information. (in PDF format)

Here’s what’s in the course that will take you to your next step in your career:

1- Accounting Made Easy Purpose: To help you learn or review the fundamentals of the accounting and bookkeeping process. Universal’s home study course, Accounting Made Easy, reviews some of the basic concepts in accounting while introducing some aspects of small business accounting that even the most experienced accountant may not know. It establishes the sure foundation of accounting knowledge that you will continuously draw from years after you complete the Professional Bookkeeper’s Course. Also includes: The one accounting rule you should never break. The single best indicator of a company’s financial strength. The tried and proven accounting system that ensures efficiency, accuracy, and integrity. Just to name a few of the many things contained in Module I. 2 - Practical Small Business Applications Purpose: to help you succeed in business by using professionally designed accounting systems for a variety of industries. In this home study course you will complete books for four different businesses in varying industries. You will master the eight-step process that must be completed for each business in arriving at meaningful financial information. you will learn different methods of accounting for different industries that will provide you with an enhanced understanding of the needs of each individual business. Also includes: Setting up a set of books from scratch. know precisely where all those hard earned dollars were spent. Efficient and accurate reporting of inventory adjustments, and owner costs. How to highlight cash shortages and overages — when they are a problem. Of course it’s not limited to these few examples, Module II is where the practical experience starts. 3 - Advancing Your “Account-Ability” Purpose: To help you set up a complete bookkeeping system, and manage clients from a variety of more sophisticated industries with your new accounting and bookkeeping skills. Advanced accounting goes beyond the mere development of reports, and explores the value of the information. This is where the rubber meets the financial road. It aids the business in evaluating past performance, and establishing meaningful plans for the future. Without it, the business owner is running blindfolded. Every accountant should be committed to identify financial strengths and weaknesses of the business that will make the company stronger and more profitable. Indeed, the professional accountant is “The Profit Expert: of the small business and when performing his or her role well, will be one of the most influential people within the company. Surprisingly to most people, these skills are not taught at the college or university levels. In most cases a person either needs vocational (available at Universal Accounting Center) or on the job training to become a full-charge bookkeeper.

I’ve Heard Enough, I Want to Enroll In The Professional Bookkeeper’s Program Click Here

The Best Career Decision You Can Make:
It’s Right In Front of You, It’s Within Your Grasp

It’s all about the experience you have and the specializations you have mastered. Accounting and Bookkeeping is no different. It is the quality of the training you receive that makes the difference of what you earn!

Go ahead and try to find a more comprehensive training program than what you can find in Universal’s Professional Bookkeeper’s Program. You can’t. We know because we have scoured the industry. This is no accident! We want to be your answer for your next promotion, pay increase, or financial opportunity that comes your way in your place of employment. That is why we have gone the extra mile, heck the extra 5 miles with what our course covers, so that you can come back to your training and find the answers that face us in the accounting and bookkeeping industry.

How you benefit from the The Professional Bookkeeper’s Training:

— Increase Your Marketability in the Profession. Only the Professional Bookkeeper program gives you the hands-on knowledge to best service the greater percentage of business types out there; small businesses. You want training to support companies creating new jobs. The small business sector is where you will find that growth today. You’ll be able to go anywhere there is business happening and have the skills to provide for you and your loved ones handsomely. No more worrying about lay-offs, downsizing, or corporate restructuring. the skills you learn and develop with the Professional Bookkeeper’s Training are yours to keep.

— The Professional Bookkeeper Program teaches real-world skills that you can use right away. Forget spending year after year in class learning accounting and tax “theory”. We cut right to the core and teach you the techniques used in the real world. No fluff, no fat. In 60 hours or less, you learn to do practical accounting and bookkeeping tasks that you will use right on the job the very next day. Where could you find training that you can use the next day to improve your position, your company, or your department? Universal’s training is timely and up-to-date, and applicable right away to real-life accounting situations.

— Imagine the confidence you will be able to have, the trust you will create with those you work with, the source of information you’ll be, the person with the answers for the financial health of the company. Can you imagine how indispensable that will make you to the company, or your department? If by chance you have something arise that you haven’t dealt with before, the course workbooks will become an invaluable addition to your library. These reference books include tables and charts not available from any other source. You can refer to them often, saving you hours of research looking for the right information. The workbooks alone are a wise investment.

— By going through the program, increasing your knowledge and skills in accounting and bookkeeping, having the talents many companies seek diligently for, and being an indispensable member of the company with the answers this program focuses on (the practical and efficient methods of doing a business’ accounting) you’ll be able to literally write your own pay check. Wherever you decide to ply your accounting and bookkeeping wares when you have the experience and the Universal certification as a “Professional Bookkeeper”, asking and getting that money you deserve will be not a question of “if” but a decision of “which one?”

How The Professional Bookkeeper’s Program Effects Your Bottom-Line 20%-30%

Now you’re thinking! Every bit of training and career improvement affects what you can require for your salary. Imagine with Universal Accounting comprehensive training, that could take normally years to acquire, can do for your take home pay. Others have experienced 20%, 30% increases in what they get to bring home to their loved ones, and when you act proactively by enrolling today, you can start planning on those pay increases on a more regular basis.

The Professional Bookkeeper’s Program is an exhaustive course containing the proven accounting strategies discovered, developed and practiced by Universal Accounting and its graduates. And so can you!

The Accounting Tools For Success Are At-The-Ready For You

There remains an essential need of continuing your professional education to increase your opportunities. With each workbook of each Module you will be able to gain for your professional career the accounting “tools” of the trade that can take you to the level of employment you seek. Universal Accounting’s training goes into such detail to allow its graduates the ability to tackle what is faced day in and day out in a full service position.

Additionally, we practice on various types of business model examples to broaden your expertise in each kind of business you may be in and address your need to have several opportunities to gain the hands-on knowledge and confidence of having mastered what that type of business faces in accounting needs.

The skills, prior experience and expertise that employers are seeking is what Universal has tirelessly targeted and designed the comprehensive instruction around. As our graduates stated in the clip you just saw, you will also be able to gain, as they did, for yourself. That desired position, added responsibility, increase in career opportunities and the subsequent increases in pay you have set to achieve in your profession is within your grasp. Don’t hesitate in making them a reality for you!

Take advantage of this golden opportunity now. Don’t delay in making that investment in yourself! Time is precious, and you can ill afford to put off the accounting industry leading training that has proven time and time again to work with not just hundreds of graduates, but thousands over and over the last 25+ years.

I’ve Heard Enough, I Want to Enroll In The Professional Bookkeeper’s Program

Universal is committed to getting to you the right information so that you can benefit from it in your professional career. We are dedicated to assisting those like-minded individuals to becoming successful in Accounting, Bookkeeping and Tax Preparation. Let’s get to answering that ever-important question of how can the Professional Bookkeeper’s training help you to get to that level of income that you are searching for in your accounting/bookkeeping career.

The Nuts and Bolts of the Universal Professional Bookkeeper Offer

While developing the most comprehensive training course found in the market - chock full of 25-years worth of experience and up-to-date proven strategies, methodologies, and tactics - Crafted to the student, and taught in such a way to have everything for the beginners to the most advanced in the profession - we have given to those who have come before you this Iron-Clad Guarantee.

Getting the program is as Risk-Free and as “Benefit-Full” as we could make it.

We extend this Universal Iron-Clad Guarantee to you! Enroll in the program today and you will have not only the Knowledge-packed course, the Iron-Clad Money-Back Guarantee but we’ll give you an additional two practice sets ($198 value). Business types that you can practice doing books on, so you can completely familiar with all the methods of the accounting process.

“Although I came into the class with quite a bit of accounting experience, I was able to get valuable experience in areas I was never able to work with and also received a greater understanding of the processes I have already worked with.” – Robert Ivain

“I am currently employed with a small business in town as their office manager. I am responsible for all accounts payable, accounts receiveable, and monthly financial reporting to the bank. I have worked in the accounting field for the past 6 years. I have also continued to keep a few of my favorite clients and help with their accounting on a part time basis in the evenings. My home business is still going well and I find great satisfaction working with small businesses.” – Gayle Morton

“I have started my business. As of July 1st, I am leaving my job of 15 years and working my business full time. My number one priority now is to complete the course, as I already have enough clients, on contract, to give me a larger annual income than I had working for my employer, and my position was a senior management one (making the second highest income in the company). I plan on completing the course before I actively pursue more clients.” – Robert Ursu

Practice makes perfect. The three modules already contain practice sets for nine different types of businesses. Purchase the Professional Bookkeeper today and you’ll receive two more practice sets, giving you eleven in all. This will give you even more confidence and experience in various industries and the opportunity to work with additional types of clients.

In addition to the practice sets we recognize that you will need the support from Universal to help you through your coursework and answer questions that arise from all that is involved in the program. We won’t just leave you high and dry! We’ll add into this offer 6 months of Universal Coaching Support, a $585 value for FREE. You’ll have access to our Academic Coaches to be able to get your questions about the course work, but you’ll also have 6 months access to your Accountant/CPA Coach to be able to answer the questions that arise when you are applying what you learn to your position. By phone or email both of these coaches are here to answer what questions may come along. This also includes the cost of $485 for the final exam for the Professional Bookkeeper’s designation. Certification to your employers that you have gone through the best possible training and have mastered everything there is to know in the program.

The Do’s and Don’ts of Changing Jobs in the Accounting Field

Perhaps you began your accounting career with the idea that you would move up or quickly switch to a job more compatible with your interests and goals. Whether you’ve been in your current job for ages and need a change, or if you’re just interested in the opportunities available, accounting is a wide field that offers many options. From controller to tax manager, from senior accountant to senior analyst, from credit manager to bookkeeper, the job possibilities are endless, so there’s no reason to feel gridlocked in your accounting career. But as you consider a change in occupation, remember the following Do’s and Don’ts:

Don’t be rash simply because you’re unsatisfied with your current employer. Sometimes we want a change because the current situation is undesirable. If this is the case, take the time to consider whether it’s the employer or current work environment that’s unappealing rather than the job itself. In this case you may consider switching employers rather than switching occupations.

Don’t worry if the thought of changing careers makes you nervous. Change of any kind, especially in a career, makes most people nervous. It’s perfectly normal and shouldn’t scare you away from accomplishing what you desire. Taking it slow and creating a plan will help ward off any fear you might be experiencing.

Don’t get discouraged. It may take awhile to 1) discover what you really want, and 2) find that perfect job for you. Recognize that changing jobs will take time and require patience.

Don’t rule out staffing agencies. Sometimes you have to date a few employers and jobs before you commit to just one. There are staffing agencies that specialize in accounting and by taking a few months to test drive a few employers and occupations you’ll get a good idea of which might be best for you while getting your foot in the door.

Don’t begin applying for jobs before you’ve considered exactly what you want. Again, you don’t want to be rash. Switching from one job to the next without careful reflection will do you no good.

Do take the time to research and consider all the possibilities. Take the time to consider your interests, your objectives, and your ultimate career goals. Do the research necessary to determine which job and employer will be right for you.

Do take advantage of all your networking contacts. This is where your contact list will come in handy. Call around and talk with your contacts. This can accomplish three things: one, it will aid in your research to determine which accounting occupation could be right for you; two, it can help you discover job opportunities you may not heard about otherwise; and three, you might win an advantage on a job you’re interested in.

Do find a mentor. Once you determine the occupation for you, find a mentor who can help you move through a job search most effectively. A good mentor will provide encouragement, advice, and networking opportunities.

Do remember your transferable skills. Because you’re moving from one accounting job to another, recognize that your transferable skills are invaluable. Update your resume so that it targets your desired occupation while highlighting those transferable skills.

Do get training that will help you advance. Often you’ll have a better shot at getting a job if you’ve had advanced training. For example, enrolling in UAC’s Professional Bookkeeper Program could give you the advantage in finding just the job you want. It will bolster your resume and give you a talking point in those crucial interviews.

Whichever occupation you choose in the accounting field, the important thing is that you find the right one for you. In following this list of Do’s and Don’ts you will have a better chance of doing just that.

Learn More about the Professional Bookkeeper (PB) Program

If you would like to see how the PB Program could benefit your career, order our DVD “Introduction to the Professional Bookkeeper Program.” For less than $10 you can advance your career and open yourself to more accounting possibilities than you may have otherwise imagined. Don’t delay professional success. Order your copy now!

Serving Subscribers with Our Free Newsletters

We enjoy sending you information that we hope improves your efforts to advance your accounting career. Our three newsletters, AB Tips, Tax Tips, and Career Tips, are intended to help professionals like you advance in whatever their current position in the financial field. The AB Tips Newsletter is designed to share accounting and bookkeeping tips with subscribers. Intended for individuals with their own accounting practice or for those who would like to start their own practice, we specifically include tips on how to market your services, how to streamline tasks, how to organize your office space, etc. Our Tax Tips Newsletter is for tax preparers or those interested in tax preparation. We provide tax news, information on starting your own business, tips on building your clientele, etc. And finally, we have our Career Tips newsletter, for those of you who work or would like to work in the accounting field. In this newsletter we include information on getting the right job, advancing in your field, moving into management positions, etc.

As we learn more about your needs, we alter our approach in order to better serve you. We’re adding a few things to the newsletter that we hope you enjoy. Here’s a breakdown of what’s included and how we hope it helps you.

Two articles

Since we began running our free ezines over two years ago, we have included two articles every issue that offer accounting and tax information, tips on running and marketing a small business, career guidelines and promotional pieces. The newsletters provide us with the opportunity to share our products and services with those we believe they best serve. Universal’s programs are top of the line and life-changing; we promote them because we know they help people like you achieve career goals and realize your business dreams.

We also use the newsletter as an opportunity to expose you to our many free resources, including personalized information from our President and CEO, Allen Bostrom in Allen’s Blog, UAC’s accounting and tax forums, the newsletters, and the Universal video tour.

Recently we’ve responded to requests for purely informational pieces as well. Last summer we asked newsletter subscribers to tell us what you wanted to read about. For the past six months we’ve tried to include articles on all suggested topics. Each newsletter contains one, if not two, informational pieces. We continue to welcome your feedback as we write articles intended to help you improve your accounting career. Please visit our forums for a chance to give us feedback on past articles and suggestions for future articles.

Press Releases and New Products

We want you to be in the know about everything Universal, so we include all press releases, enrollment offers, and information about new products in our newsletters. From our new interactive testing center to our customized Professional Bookkeeper Program for Canadian residents, we want you to be the first to know what’s happening at Universal Accounting Center.

Quotable Quote

Everyone could use a little inspiration now and then, so we like to include a quotable quote in each issue of our newsletters. Funny quotes, somber quotes, quotes that make you want to get up and accomplish something, we try to include a variety that inspire and uplift.

“The Bottom Line”

And last but certainly not least is an upcoming addition to our newsletters: a video clip we call “The Bottom Line.” In the serious world of financial statements, taxes, and projected profits, the bottom line is that we like what we do and can enjoy a good laugh about our profession. The humorous clip is intended to help lighten your load and improve your day. We hope you look forward to this new feature and share it frequently with coworkers, family, and friends.

We want our newsletter to help you move forward in your goals as a financial professional.So stay tuned as we continue to improve our newsletters so that they can better serve your needs. We appreciate your support.

Why You Should Always Negotiate a Better Wage

While women have advanced considerably in the workplace, there still exists a significant difference in salaries when compared with their male counterparts. While gender discrimination may be one cause of this disparity, a lack of salary negotiation may be another.

In his article entitled “For Women, a Failure to Negotiate,” Pallavi Gogoi reports that while women represent nearly 50% of full-time professionals, including executives and managers, they only make 72% of what their male counterparts make. And while many may assume that’s gender discrimination residue, executive coach Lee E. Miller argues it may simply be the result of a lack of negotiation. “Most women hardly negotiate when they get a job offer,” says Miller, co-author of A Woman’s Guide to Successful Negotiating. “That’s because they look at the offer as the goal, not the beginning of a relationship.”

That 28% represents a significant difference that adds up over a career-time. Joann Lublin discusses this in her Wall Street Journal article “Paying the Nice Price.” She references Linda Babcock, a Carnegie Mellon University economic professor who calls it “the accumulation of disadvantage.” Babcock explains that a 22-year old professional who fails to get her first job offer of $25,000 increased by $5,000 will lose more than $568,000 by the time she reaches retirement.

Whether you’re a man or a woman, you don’t want to loose half a million dollars by failing to negotiate. It’s important that you acquire this valuable skill. Here are five things to remember when negotiating for a better salary:

Avoid desperation. No matter how badly you want the job, curb your enthusiasm. Employers can smell desperation and will use it to their advantage by offering you a lower salary. The more confident and self-assured you are, the more appealing you will be to potential employers. When they sense that you won’t settle for less, chances are they won’t offer it.

Be enthusiastic. When purchasing something, like a car or home, experts tell you to act like you don’t want it; you’ll get a better deal that way. This concept doesn’t apply to the job hunt. If an organization senses apathy on your part, they’ll choose someone else. So it’s important that you be enthusiastic and show your interest in the employer and their position.

Show them why you’re the best fit. To get the best salary you should illustrate why you’re the best candidate. When you shine above and beyond the other applicants you become the best person for the job, and as such, the person deserving the best wage.

Wait until you know they want you. Don’t start talking about salary before they’ve made it clear that you’re the candidate they want. Once they make an offer you can be assured that you’re their best pick and now that the ball is in your court, you can begin negotiations.

Keep looking. It’s important that you don’t become emotionally invested in one job. Regardless of how much you want a particular position, don’t stop searching. In fact, one good way to negotiate a better salary is when you’ve received competing job offers.

All professionals, men and women, need to be able to negotiate a better salary. It may feel uncomfortable at first, but we promise that it will pay off in the end. Literally.

References
Gogoi, Pallavi. “For Women, a Failure to Negotiate.” 22 April 2005. BusinessWeek.com
Lublin, Joann S. “Paying the Nice Price.” The Wall Street Journal

The 8 P’s of an Effective Accounting Manager:

Do You Have What It Takes?

Being promoted to accounting manager is quite a feat. This means you’ve proven to your boss that you are a competent and responsible accountant who can be trusted to manage other accountants. Unfortunately, like most accounting managers, you’ve been trained as an accountant, and not as a manager. So how do you rise to the position? Experience will provide you with the best schooling, but to avoid major obstacles and find success more quickly, here’s a crash course in managing that will put you on the right track.

1. Permit others to do their jobs
Because you’re a good accountant, it’s tempting to look over shoulders and micromanage a time or two. But remember, your new job is more about managing than it is about accounting. You can best promote success by enabling your team to succeed. This means that rather than telling them how to do their job (which you might occasionally have to do), you enable them to do the best job they can. Be sure they have the resources they need, eliminate unrealistic deadlines, and, if possible, provide them with proper training. You need to change your mindset and see yourself as a facilitator.

2. Provide vision and support
Good managers inspire success with clear vision. In essence you are the sage for your department, they will look to you to get the long range vision as well as the details in the minutae of each task. It is your job to look to the future and envision positive changes within your department. Once you’ve shared this vision, you need to provide your team with the necessary support to accomplish the vision.

3. Practice good communication
Without good communication skills, you’ll find it difficult to lead your team anywhere, because without clear direction they won’t know where to go. You must clearly communicate your vision, your objectives, and your expectations. Facilitate the communication with your team. Don’t become the “preacher” but the “teacher” or your team will quickly tune you out. Communication runs both ways; you must listen well and engage in productive discussions with your team.

4. Pilot< your team
It is the Captain of the ship that has the wheel, and your department is no different. Someone has to steer the department, and as the accounting manager, that would be you. The first requirement in becoming a good leader, is in having the confidence to lead your team. Recognize that you were promoted to this job for a reason, and if you don’t have confidence in yourself right now, at least trust that your boss does. If you see yourself as “one of the accountants,” working shoulder to shoulder with everyone else, the team you manage will see you that way as well. You must take charge and lead your other team members along to the goals set for the department.

5. Plan for success
Who set’s the goals for the department? Sure, sometimes the goals come down from above you, but most of the time you and your team will have the discretion to set goals that you can not only meet, but stretch your abilities as a group. It’s cliché because it’s true: if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Managers look ahead, anticipating difficulties, critical events, and opportunities to move forward. If you want to succeed, you must take the time to evaluate the department’s current standing and make plans for improvement.

6. Pose questions
How could we change this procedure to save time? What about the current system is/isn’t working? What can we do this year to increase the company’s tax deductions? Asking questions is a good way to boost success. Don’t be afraid to question the way things have been done, or even the changes you have made upon becoming a manager. If you give yourself permission to question, you’re giving yourself permission to improve.

7. Problem-solve
Much of your job as accounting manager will be dedicated to putting out fires. Learn to problem-solve and resolve conflict with as little smoke as possible. If necessary, read up on critical thinking skills and negotiation. Always search to hear before you seek to be heard. Many times a difficult situation is mitigated just by the composure the manager has in the situation.

8. Protect your employees
You provide a buffer between your team and the BOSS. I remember being cornered by my boss for the approach I took on an important project. I was relieved when my manager stepped forward in my defense. We talked about this project extensively, he explained, and I made it clear that I trusted him to complete this project using this approach. Imagine how my loyalty for this manager increased when I realized he was on my side. Obviously, there may be times when a member of your team makes bad choices and needs to be held accountable. But you should see yourself as an advocate for those you manage.

Becoming a manager can certainly be daunting, but give yourself the time to learn how to manage, realizing that this new position is very different from your role as accountant. With a little time, and the 8 P’s of managing success, you’ll find that maybe you’re more of a natural than you first thought.

Learn more about the accounting business

10 Winning Characteristics

Courage-not complacency-is our need today. Leadership not salesmanship. - John F. Kennedy

As we finish out the year, now is the perfect time to do a little self reflection and determine what you want from your career in 2008. If you’ve considered moving up in your current organization or perhaps within another, you must decide whether or not you possess the necessary leadership characteristics to truly lead your company to success. The following 10 characteristics are found in many great leaders. How many of them do you possess?

1. Positive. You don’t find many Negative Nellys in leadership positions. Most are extremely positive, looking for ways to see the glass as half full regardless of current circumstances.

2. Proactive. Leaders don’t wait for things to get better, they make them better. This requires you to be thinking of innovative ways to approach problems and devise solutions. You are active, not passive, about your job.

3. Good communicator. In order for a leader to be able to lead a team, he/she must be able to communicate clearly and effectively.

4. Open-minded. Some may think leaders have all the good ideas. That’s not true. Leaders are able to recognize good ideas, regardless of who came up with them. This requires them to be open-minded and willing to give credit where credit is due.

5. Confident. That’s confidence not arrogance. Coworkers are not interested in working for an arrogant leader, but they do appreciate being led by someone who has a quiet confidence about them, recognizing that they can lead a team to success.

6. Passionate. Enthusiasm can compensate for a lot of weaknesses. When a leader is passionate about the job they do, the direction they’re heading, and the goals they’ve established, it’s contagious, getting everyone excited about a project.

7. Respectful. It’s important that leaders treat everyone with respect, regardless of whether or not they deserve it. People want to work with a leader who shows them respect. And you’d be amazed at how much respect you earn by being respectful yourself.

8. Inspiring. Good leaders are able to communicate a vision that inspires everyone on the team. They can motivate team members who may have been resistant, and they move others to believe when they may have previously been doubtful.

9. Delegator. The best leaders recognize that they can’t, and shouldn’t, do everything themselves. They delegate well, divvying out tasks to team members who can adequately perform them. They also recognize that team members have unique skills and abilities that can contribute to the success of a team.

10. Motivated. You don’t become a leader by sitting back to watch others do all the work. Leaders are motivated to keep moving, to work hard and see the fruit of their labors.

Becoming a good leader is a process. Most work to develop these characteristics over time. So if you don’t possess all ten right now, it doesn’t mean you can’t lead, it just means you have a few things to work on in order to improve your leadership abilities. So focus on which character traits you need to develop and get moving! 2008 could be your year to shine as company leader.

“The quality of leadership, more than any other single factor, determines the success or failure of an organization.”
– Fred Fiedler & Martin Chemers, Improving Leadership Effectiveness

“People ask the difference between a leader and a boss . . . . The leader works in the open, and the boss in covert. The leader leads, and the boss drives.”
– Theodore Roosevelt

When your practice grows enough to sustain one or more employees, you must exercise good leadership skills in order to direct your staff with inspiration and focus. When a team feels that it’s lead by someone with powerful vision who values their participation and inspires them to do great things, the business will thrive and the employees will contribute greatly to its success. But as an accountant or bookkeeper, the leadership role may feel a bit oversized or awkward. Don’t let that stop you from running a winning business. You can develop into a strong leader as long as you are willing to focus on a few things. Here are 4 traits of influential and inspiring leaders. Try a few on for size.

1. Vision

Theodore M. Hesburgh, retired president of the University of Notre Dame, once said, “The very essence of leadership is that you have to have vision. You can’t blow an uncertain trumpet.” Leaders envision what can, but hasn’t yet, been achieved. They have a clear picture of where they want their business to go and how it can get there. Unwilling to settle for the status quo, leaders are striving for improvement, progress, and continued and amplified success. But more than that, good leaders can share this vision with their staff and communicate it in a way that makes it clear, reasonable, and most importantly, inspirational.

But how do you do that? First you must have a vision. What do you want your business to become? Be willing to release limitations and think big. Imagine that success in your mind. What does it look and feel like? Then create a strategy. What will it take to accomplish that vision? Design a 5-year, 10-year, or 15-year game plan and take the actions necessary to achieve it. And most importantly, develop a dialog about that vision and plan; share it with employees. Practice talking about your vision in a way that is dynamic and exciting.

2. Passion

I once taught part-time at a university. I didn’t have as much experience or expertise as my colleagues, but my students seemed to enjoy my classes. On teacher evaluations the reason became clear. The most popular response I received was, “The teacher is passionate about the subject.”

Passion is contagious. One way you can ignite your vision is with passion. If you’re truly excited about something, that excitement will spread throughout your office, touching everyone who works for and with you. If you don’t currently have something that impassions you about your business, find something quick. That passion will drive you, and your team, toward your vision.

3. Team Leader

Theodore Roosevelt once said, “The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint to keep from meddling with them while they do it.” Remember that you’re trying to lead employees in the direction you would have them go, not push them. We trust that you’ve already hired competent individuals who you trust to do the work you assign. You should do the best you can to motivate and inspire your employees with clear direction, and then let them do their work. Also remember that some of the best ideas will come from your own employees. Be open to their feedback and willing to learn from what they share.

4. Character

Employees are more likely to follow leaders they respect. And employees respect leaders with good character. In all that you do see that you’re honest, hard-working, reliable, equitable, and trustworthy.

While you may not feel like a leader right now, you can become one that employees would be proud to follow. Evaluate your current leadership style and see how you might implement two or more of the above traits. And give yourself the time to learn and improve. You may be surprised at the natural leadership instinct within you.

The Value of a Good Accountant:

How to Recognize Your Potential and Become a Priceless Employee

“It has been my experience that competency in mathematics, both in numerical manipulations and in understanding its conceptual foundations, enhances a person’s ability to handle the more ambiguous and qualitative relationships that dominate our day-to-day financial decision-making.” –Alan Greenspan

Look in the mirror and tell yourself, “I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and doggone it, people like me.” We promise this article won’t be a humorless version of Stuart Smalley’s SNL’s daily affirmations. But sometimes it’s good to recognize your value, and accountants are valuable employees. But recognizing your value alone is not enough; accountants generally have untapped potential that can turn them into their employer’s best friend. How? Here are just five things that can turn you into a priceless employee.

1. Become the Profit Center Expert
What if you became the local expert on company profit? What if you were the employee coworkers and supervisors went to in order to find out what was working and what wasn’t? That’s an enviable position most would love to have. And as an accountant you are perfectly suited to become that Profit Expert.

You probably already know that accounting, marketing, and production are the three functions that must work well together to ensure business success. Any business function that acts independently of the other two can doom a company. For example, if production has not told marketing what it currently produces, marketing dollars are wasted. Likewise, if accounting does not tell production what products are profitable, the company losses money. The more closely these three functions work together, the more profitable the company will be. And because you are an accountant with access to crucial financial information, you can become the go-to person when it comes to profit. But the key here is you don’t want to wait until people come to you; begin communicating with marketing and production today! That will increase the profitability that you as an accountant are expected to monitor.

2. Practice Effective Communication
And that brings us to number two. Without effective communication skills, it’s fairly difficult to become the profit center expert. Unfortunately, accountants are stereotyped as quiet bean-counters who hide in back offices. In order to break that stereotype and become a more dynamic employee, you need to practice effective communication. Mingle around the water cooler, get to know your coworkers, and determine the best methods for sharing information with crucial players in the business.

3. Learn How to Use Accounting Software
If you haven’t t already, you should research different types of accounting software that would help you record and track crucial financial information. Finding the right software could help you be more efficient and, perhaps, more accurate. It could also help you produce valuable reports, thus encouraging your position as Profit Center Expert. Intuit’s QuickBooks Pro is the leading software used by small businesses. If your employer hasn’t yet purchased accounting software, you should suggest they do. And if possible, see if your employer will pay for software training.

4. Acquire Tax Knowledge
Accounting and tax services are no longer expected to be performed by the same person. Accountants don’t necessarily offer tax services and tax preparers don’t necessarily offer accounting services. But you increase your value when you can offer both. By acquiring tax knowledge you accomplish two things: one, you have more to offer your employer, and two; you can become a freelance tax preparer in your spare time.

Universal Accounting Center Can Help You Tap Your Potential
Universal Accounting Center (UAC) can help you accomplish all of the above, and it won’t take you years to do it. Learn more about training to become a Professional Tax Preparer, a QuickBooks Specialist, and a Profit Center Expert. In fact, UAC is currently offering a year-end special where all three training packages are bundled together for one low price. Increase your value as an employee and learn more today!

“I can’t understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I’m frightened of the old ones.” - John Cage

In 2003, the Washington Post ran a story on the value of employees who take risks and share ideas for company improvement and growth. Randall Thacker, a 30-year old MBA student intern became an idea person for Morris Associates, Inc., a career management and outsourcing firm in the District of Columbia. Originally hired to explore growth options, Thacker’s ideas have gotten him noticed by the company president who says Thacker, “I’ll listen to a lot of what he thinks.”

Wouldn’t you like to be an employee whose boss listen s to a lot of what you think? It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to determine that an employee who captures his boss’s attention is valued. And while most employees have ideas, some more outlandish than others, that’s not all it takes to become an idea person. Here are five tips for coming up with good ideas and presenting them in just the right way to get your boss’s attention.

1. Take Risks

“Risk-taking is the essence of innovation.” - Herman Kahn

To become the idea person you must take risks. Sharing your brilliant ideas with management can be an intimidating and even frightening task. But if you’ve done your homework, and believe your idea can positively impact your organization, the risk is minimal compared to the potential reward.

2. Educate Yourself

Once you’ve decided to become an idea person, you’ll be surprised at how quickly you’ll begin coming up with ideas. But just wanting to come up with ideas isn’t always enough. You;ve got to educate yourself.

Read Widely - Everything from academic journals to pop-culture magazines can expose you to fresh ideas that can positively impact your organization

Attend Conferences - This will expose you to hot topics and new trends. You may find that your greatest aspiration is in listening to others share their great ideas.

3. Listen and Observe

“We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.” - Epictetus

We’ve all been in meetings with the self-proclaimed “idea person” who does all the talking and none of the listening. Inspiration often comes with the exchange of ideas, and that requires one to listen and observe. What are some issues that need special attention? Is there a current problem that needs a solution? What division needs the most help? You can’t come up with any answers until you’ve heard the questions. You can’t provide any solutions until you’ve seen the problems. And don’t be afraid of other idea people - they can be your greatest source of insight.

4. Identify Idea-Shapers, Those Who Can Help Tailor An Idea For Your Organization

You may have an award-winning idea in your back pocket, but it does no good if not catered to your organization’s needs. In order to fime-tune even the best idea, you shoul look to idea-shapers within your organization. Senior employees, or even management-savvy individuals can often help you tailor your idea and your presentation of that idea to your boss and his/her interests.

5. Determine The Best Approach For “Idea Delivery”

Sometimes politics determine how well an idea is received. Does management expect senior officials to deliver the “ideas,” or does it appreciate input from all employees? You should also consider the best nethod for idea-delivery. Should it be presented in an email or memo, a powerpoint presentation in staff meeting or possibly a private meeting with your boss. The more you listen and observe, the better prepared you’ll be to give your idea the packaging it deserves.

Don’t be afraid to share your ideas. Randall Thacker, the intern showcased in the Washington Post, said, “You’ve got to be willing to take the risk that not all your ideas are going to be accepted. If you’re not honest with yourself, you’re useless.” you’ll find that some won’t be well-received, but as Robert H Schuller once said, ” Success is a matter of not quitting and failure is a matter of giving up too soon.” Even if one idea of every ten that you share produces positive results, you’re contributing to the success of your organization. And that alone make any employee valuable.

If you are searching for more to ingratiate yourself into your company mix, consider the education you will receive with Universal’s Professional Bookkeeper’s Program. Gain the knowledge of how it all works in the industry so you can better address those challenges that arise in your department. Check us out by clicking here.