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Entrepreneurs who pay the help with their own hard-earned dollars have every right to expect the most bang for their buck
— even in the tightest job market in 30 years. Take accountants. The guys in green eyeshades never had to be charming
before, just great with numbers. No more.
It seems that the most important interpersonal skill for an accountant isn't the ability to make CEOs understand why they
can't deduct kitchen renovations as home-office expenses. According to Accountemps, a unit of Robert Half International, a
staffing group, it's a positive attitude. The company surveyed 1,400 chief financial officers at companies with as few as 20
employees. Nearly 40% of the CFOs rated a sunny outlook as the most valued skill. Thirty percent rated the ability to be a
team player as the No. 1 interpersonal trait. Another 16% said the ability to speak well was tops, with 8% valuing written
communication skills most.
There is one sign that companies haven't entirely lost their sense of priorities — only 1% said an accountant's sense of
humor was the most valued trait. Did you hear the one about the accountant who went to an Internal Revenue Service audit
wearing a Groucho Marx getup?
julia_lichtblau@businessweek.com
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