Feel like the work you do now is more complicated than it was five or 10 years ago? You’re right.

Between current economic conditions, increased regulation, and technological changes, Accounting has gone way beyond inputting credits and debits. No wonder it often feels like you have to sprint just to stay even with the rest of the field.

To keep yourself up-to-date and make the most out of challenging times, focus on these three goals:

1. Be strategic. Upper management is growing more reliant on your expertise in decision-making — which makes you all the more valuable. Look for ways to leverage your know-how into larger company initiatives. If you have ideas to get better vendor discounts, or trim payroll costs, now’s the time to share ‘em.
2. Keep up your standards. It’s tempting to cut certain corners when time is tight. But seemingly innocent steps like self-auditing less frequently can come back to haunt you. Today’s more complex field makes mistakes all the more likely — and harder to solve.
3. Build up your “soft skills.” They’re more important than ever as you deal with people in other departments and communicate strategy.

Tags: Career outlook, Communication, Financial regulation, Technology