Organizations are automating many of their accounting functions or upgrading their information systems to improve efficiencies and financial reporting processes. As a result, accounting professionals with a demonstrated aptitude for technology-related projects are at an advantage in a competitive employment market.

Business acumen also remains critical as accountants increasingly provide guidance on the financial impact of decisions ranging from information technology investments to corporate governance issues. This requires an understanding of broader business concerns as well as traditional finance and accounting skills.

For job seekers, temporary assignments that offer exposure to different applications and systems can be an excellent way to gain IT experience. This type of work also requires professionals to adapt to diverse management styles and office environments, which necessitates developing strong interpersonal abilities. To enhance your value to your current employer, consider pursuing educational opportunities such as additional coursework, seminars and online resources that enable you to develop your technical and general business skills.

ACCOUNTEMPS is a specialized temporary staffing service for accounting, finance and bookkeeping professionals. Accountemps provides support throughout an accounting department. Headquartered in Menlo Park, Calif., Accountemps and has more than 270 offices in North America, Europe and Australia. Accountemps' Career Counselor column, a SmartPros staple for over four years, is refreshed twice a month.