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Job Profiles

The most researched job profiles have been identified in 6 countries. For every profile, the related skills have been listed.

Teachers and school counsellors should use the information provided to enhance students' motivation underlining the consistency between what is learnt at school and the skills required by the labour market.

For every country the most researched job profiles are presented providing information on the related qualifications, knowledge, skills, competences and personal attitude.

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NAME OF THE JOB PROFILE:
Accountant
Description of the job profile
The accountant records and processes all the information relating to financial transactions of the company. He reports in monetary and financial terms the economic activity of the company, such as the corporate tax regulations or the social labour legislation (payrolls, journals, operating account). He collects, classifies, analyses the encrypted information (cost, profitability), to optimise or to forecast the corporate management.
The conditions to practice the profession vary according to industry and company size.
We can distinguish two types of accounting:
• The "internal" accountant, employed by a company and bound by a contract of employment.
• The "external" or "approved" accountant, who practices independently both principally or secondary.
The main mission of an "internal" accountant, accounting team or department (in larger companies) is to produce legal and regulatory documents of the accounting statement of the company (accounting records, preparation of summary documents, writing documents for the tax authorities and so on).
In large companies, the accountants are distinguished depending on different specialised activities, including:
• General accounting, which gathers and summarises customers’ accounting documents (such as invoices and collections), accounts payable (such as treatment and checking invoices), payroll accounting (such as salaries)...
• Analytic accounting, which establishes the financial plan and control procedures.
To sum up, the accountant or the accounting department is responsible for organising, operating, controlling, opening and closing all accounts and financial transactions of the company. This makes it possible in particular to provide reliable information on the economic situation of the company.
The size of the accounting department can vary from a small team (1-5 people) to a staff of hundreds of people.
From the perspective of the communication of results, the accountant is directly related to the tax system (if the company is large enough). These activities are done using software, depending on the level of technology.
Relationships with customers and departments are fundamental to disseminate information.
The working time is regular.
Economical sector
Tertiary
Country
Belgium
Qualifications required
The “internal” or “employed” accountant is a graduated from the accounting higher education (three year baccalaureate) or of the Belgian Chamber of Commerce or of the Chartered Accountants (Brussels or Liege), curriculum “chartered accountant” or “tax advisor”, three years, or four in evening classes.
Knowledge
Knowledge Description Level
Accounting To know the chart of account; Accounting transactions related to import/export; Different VAT rates and the categories to which they apply; To know the cost accounting Level 6
Business and Economics Background in Economics and business Law. Level 6
Computer Skills Management software. Level 6
Law Specific knowledge in tax system Level 6
Skills
Skill Description Level
Accounting Research and production of information: collecting and publishing position papers regarding financial information of the company (depreciations, forecasts, regulations, taxes on profits ...) Level 6
Analytical thinking Analytical thinking (core skills) Level 6
Critical thinking Clerical skills: spotting errors, vigilance and critical thinking Level 6
Graphics Graphic Dexterity: presenting/decoding an accounting situation with diagrams and graphs ... Level 6
Languages Verbal reasoning: excellent skills in written and oral communication Level 6
Mathematical skills Mathematical Reasoning (core skills) Level 6
Time management skills Observation of deadlines Level 6
Competences
Competence Description Level
Accounting Accounting (core competences) Level 6
Analytical thinking Analytical thinking (core competences) Level 6
Communication competences Social and civic competences: good communication with the other members of the accounting department, with the other services of the company; customers and tax specialist… Level 6
Initiative/entrepreneurship Sense of initiative and entrepreneurship: being able to make decisions within his limits of authority. Many “external\\\" or “employed” accountants are independent and they work with a principal or secondary role. Level 6
Computer Skills Digital Competence: excellent knowledge of management software ( accounting, inventory, salaries ... ) Level 6
Languages Communication: fluent in French language (both oral and written); the knowledge of other foreign languages is an asset. Level 6
Sciences and Mathematics Mathematics (core competences) Level 6
Self-development Self-development: being curious and regularly catching up on the knowledge in the field. Level 6
Personal Attitude
• Ability in working with numbers
• Method and rigor
• Respect of the confidentiality of processed information
• Overall perception of situations or problems, excellent analysis and interpretation skills
• Versatility (Multitasking)
• Honesty
• Ability to manage an additional activity during the fiscal period from January to late April every year.
Job Profile in national language

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This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This web site reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.