The Power of Integrity in Accounting: Why It's a Non-Negotiable Trait

In the world of business, finding exceptional talent to join your team is no easy task. When it comes to hiring accountants and bookkeepers, the stakes are even higher. What is the one trait that you absolutely must look for when hiring new employees in these roles? The answer is simple: integrity. 

While intelligence and technical skills are important, the value of integrity can also not be overstated. Hiring individuals with unwavering integrity brings a whole new level of excellence to your accounting and bookkeeping team. Here's why: 

1. A Trustworthy Foundation for Success

When you hire accountants and bookkeepers with integrity, you lay the foundation for a trustworthy and reliable work environment. These individuals act ethically, keep their promises, ensure transparency, and take responsibility for their actions. Their unwavering integrity inspires trust, confidence, and dependability among team members, clients, and partners, creating a strong foundation for your business to soar. 

2. Expert Conflict Resolution

In any workplace, conflict is inevitable. However, not everyone possesses the courage or emotional intelligence to address conflicts head-on. This is where integrity truly shines. Accountants and bookkeepers who exhibit integrity understand how to navigate conflicts for the betterment of the team with fairness and determination. They listen, consider different perspectives, ask clarifying questions, and show empathy to fully understand a situation before making decisions. By managing conflicts effectively, they provide faster resolutions and prevent issues from escalating. 

3. Sound Decision-Making

Integrity and sound decision-making go hand in hand. Accountants and bookkeepers with integrity consistently make reliable choices, even in challenging situations. They refuse to compromise their values or engage in sneaky practices that could harm your business's reputation. By hiring individuals with integrity, you ensure that your team makes principled decisions that benefit the business in the long run. 

4. Fostering a Positive Team Culture

Accountants and bookkeepers with integrity not only excel at their individual roles but also contribute to a positive team culture. These individuals serve as role models, inspiring others to be their best selves. They promote teamwork, fairness, and respect, strengthening your team dynamics. With a robust team culture, you'll attract more employees who share the same values, creating a superhero culture like no other. 

5. Safeguarding Your Business Reputation

Making integrity a central criterion in your hiring process can serve as a competitive advantage. It not only ensures the smooth running of your business operations but also protects your company's reputation in the industry and the market at large. 

So How Do You Identify Integrity? 

A good personality profile will go a long way to help you assess a candidates integrity score.  For example, our Accountants Personality Profile “APPQ” is a specialized psychometric test designed specifically for assessing key integrity traits of accountants and bookkeepers such as conscientiousness, trustworthiness, and self-discipline. 

Utilizing the APPQ in your hiring process allows you to gauge these traits before making a hiring decision by providing a comprehensive evaluation of a candidate’s ethical stance, dedication to their responsibilities, and their ability to maintain trust in challenging situations. This insight is invaluable, as it gives you the knowledge needed to make informed decisions about who is most likely to uphold the values and integrity of your business, ensuring the accountants and bookkeepers you bring into your team are not only competent but also will act with integrity. 

As a leader or hiring manager, it's essential to recognize that integrity is the competitive advantage that sets accountants and bookkeepers apart. By prioritizing this trait in your hiring process, you ensure that your business is built on a foundation of trust, reliability, and ethical conduct.

Want to see if Accountests will work for your firm? Click on the button for a FREE trial test - use it on a candidate or get one of your staff to give it a go and see what they think.  

About the Authors

Giles Pearson FCA was a PwC Partner for 18 years before jointly setting up Accountests.  

Steve Evans has a whole career dedicated to enabling employers to attract, recruit, develop and retain talented individuals and teams, with particular expertise in candidate testing and assessment before setting up Accountests.

Accountests deliver the world’s only online suite of annually updated and country-specific technical knowledge tests designed by accountants for accountants and bookkeepers.