Skills needed for entry-level management accounting positions

Grades. For many companies, grades come first. "Typically, we've got a grade point cutoff," a Caterpillar accountant explained. "When we start flipping through resumes, we will look at only the best because we want people who could be a business manager some day."

But according to a US West financial executive, being a good student isn't enough. You must be able to express yourself and understand areas outside accounting, especially those that relate to your business, such as engineering or manufacturing.

Self Confidence and Self Assurance. Several management accountants mentioned the confidence factor. "The entrylevel people are not very assertive. They are so timid and scared," observed a Hewlett-Packard accountant. An accountant at a Caterpillar production facility cited universities as the problem. "I think that schools could better prepare people for the work environment . . . they have to teach students how to talk to people and not step on their feet."