When most people think of finance and accounting, technical expertise comes to mind first. Certifications, GAAP knowledge, compliance, and accuracy. These skills are essential, but they’re only part of the equation. Increasingly, employers recognize that soft skills are just as critical to long-term success in these fields.

In fact, 92% of talent professionals and hiring managers say soft skills are equally or more important than hard skills, and 89% agree that when a new hire doesn’t work out, it’s usually because of a lack of soft skills, not technical ability.

For finance and accounting professionals, this reality is especially true. These roles no longer function in isolation; they sit at the intersection of strategy, data, and decision-making where technical expertise must meet communication, influence, and judgment.

Why Soft Skills Matter in Finance and Accounting

The role of finance teams has evolved. Professionals are expected to interpret data, advise leadership, and collaborate across departments. That shift makes soft skills a necessity.

Some of the most valuable soft skills for these professionals include:

• Communication: Clearly explaining complex financial concepts to non-financial colleagues.
• Collaboration: Working across teams to align budgets, forecasts, and strategic goals.
• Adaptability: Navigating new regulations, technologies, or market changes with agility.
• Ethical judgment: Making decisions that uphold compliance and organizational integrity.
• Problem-solving: Going beyond reporting to recommend actionable strategies.

Soft skills are essential for the future of finance, particularly as automation reduces time spent on routine tasks and increases the need for strategic input.

Challenges in Assessing Soft Skills

Unlike technical qualifications, soft skills are harder to measure. A CPA certification or audit experience is straightforward to validate, but how do you evaluate whether someone is an effective communicator or a resilient problem-solver?

Common challenges in assessing soft skills include interview bias, where candidates may exaggerate their strengths or rely on rehearsed answers; subjectivity, since different interviewers may interpret responses in inconsistent ways; and time constraints, as hiring processes often emphasize technical assessments while leaving little opportunity to thoroughly evaluate interpersonal abilities.

That’s why organizations need intentional strategies to assess soft skills in a consistent, meaningful way.

Strategies to Evaluate Soft Skills Effectively

The good news is that soft skills can be assessed when the right tools and approaches are used. Consider these strategies:

1. Behavioral Interviewing
   Ask candidates to share real-life examples of how they handled situations requiring collaboration, problem-solving, or communication.
2. Situational Judgment Tests
   Present candidates with realistic workplace scenarios and ask how they would respond. This helps reveal problem-solving approaches and ethical decision-making.
3. Case Studies and Role-Play
   Provide a financial scenario that requires both analysis and communication. For example, asking candidates to present budget recommendations to a mock leadership panel can show how they balance technical insight with communication skills.
4. Peer or Panel Interviews
   Involving multiple stakeholders in the process offers different perspectives on how candidates interact, listen, and respond.
5. Reference Checks with a Focus on Soft Skills
   Instead of only verifying employment history, ask past supervisors specific questions about collaboration, adaptability, and leadership potential.

The Business Case for Hiring Soft Skills

Investing in soft skills during hiring pays back. Soft skills training increases productivity and retention and has the potential to deliver a huge return on investment. This highlights the value organizations gain from prioritizing these attributes from the start.

For finance and accounting professionals, hiring with soft skills in mind ensures smoother team dynamics and it also has the added benefit of creating future leaders who can bridge the gap between data and decision-making.

Shaping the Future of Finance Teams

Technical expertise will always be non-negotiable in finance and accounting roles, but it’s the soft skills that separate good hires from exceptional ones. Communication, adaptability, and problem-solving enable finance professionals to drive strategy and influence outcomes across an organization.

If your organization is looking to strengthen its team, partner with ATHENA Consulting to create a workforce strategy designed for long-term success.