In a Robert Half Management Resources survey of CFOs, keeping pace with changing technology was the top response when executives were asked about the biggest challenge facing their teams.
Tech tools such as enterprise resource planning (ERP) and big data systems are a critical part of modern accounting and finance departments, making it vital for your team to be comfortable working with these systems. Here are some ways to help your employees grow their tech skills.
- Start with an assessment
Find out what technical skills and knowledge your team members already have and compare them to your needs. You may find that they have expertise not currently being used but that could come in handy when the need arises.
- Support education
Many accounting and finance employees are happy to pursue continuing education if they receive encouragement and support from their employer. Give them time to get extra technical training and reimburse them for costs upon successful completion of the program.
Here are some technology training options your team may find helpful:
- Certification programs, such as those from SAP or Oracle
- Courses at a local community college or university
- Vendor-provided training programs
- Conferences and other off-site events
- “Lunch-and-learn” seminars and other in-house training opportunities
- Webinars and online courses
- Mentoring
Establishing
mentoring relationships between select staff members and tech-savvy employees is often beneficial. These mentors can be experienced accounting and finance specialists or members of the IT department. A
good working relationship with your organization’s CIO can be helpful in identifying the best mentors for your team. Another productive relationship is
reverse mentoring, which gives an experienced employee the chance to learn from a junior colleague who may be more savvy about communication via social media. However, beware of reinforcing stereotypes. Less-tenured employees can offer more than just technology expertise; they also bring different perspectives on the world and different approaches to problem-solving the rest of the team may not be familiar with.
- Give them a chance to grow
Many accounting and finance professionals have not expanded their knowledge of technology simply because they have not had an opportunity to do so. With their daily workload, there isn’t much time left over to stay current with new technology. It’s up to you to make this a priority. Talk to your team and discover who would like to help with a tech initiative, such as migrating to a cloud service or
implementing or
upgrading an ERP system.
Your support is the critical ingredient to helping employees stay current with new and evolving technology. Those who have the desire and aptitude, in particular, can benefit from your help and direction.
You might find this Robert Half infographic timeline of tech milestones helpful when encouraging personnel to consider a broader technological orientation.
This article is provided courtesy of Robert Half Management Resources. Follow our blog at blog.roberthalfmr.com.
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