As technology continues to drive businesses forward, an increasing number of organizations have begun to transition to new enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems in order to improve their inefficiencies. These transitions have subsequently resulted in a rise in demand for professionals with specialized knowledge of these technologies, creating new opportunities for accounting/finance professionals to cross over into different industries if they have the necessary skill set.

“Upgrading to a new system can prove to be an enormous undertaking for an organization, especially when they do not have someone on staff who has been through a similar implementation or has experience with the new software,” explains Alex Wright, Managing Director of The Execu|Search Group’s Accounting/Finance division. “As a result, an increasing number of our clients, ranging from multinational organizations to small companies, have begun to prioritize practical hands-on software experience over industry experience when hiring.”

From this, it is clear that if you are a systems-savvy accounting professional looking to make a change, now is the perfect time to either bring your skills to a new industry or become proficient in a new program in order to make yourself more marketable as a candidate. Here is a list of various industries, with the software skills and experience that are in highest demand:

Finance

• Microsoft Dynamics
• PeopleSoft
• SAP
• Mas 500
• Great Plains

Media and Digital Advertising

• SAP
• Microsoft Dynamics
• Oracle
• JD Edwards

Nonprofit

• MIP
• Black Baud Financial Edge
• PeopleSoft
• SAP

Retail

• SAP
• Oracle
• Blue Cherry
• Microsoft Dynamics

Whether you are pursuing an opportunity at an international media and advertising agency or a smaller nonprofit, Alex stresses the importance of highlighting your systems skills and experience in addition to certain soft skills during the job search process.

“In order to give yourself a competitive advantage over other job seekers, it’s important to show employers how you can help push their business forward,” says Alex. “Part of that involves highlighting your technical skills, while another part involves emphasizing your ability to adapt to change, along with other strong soft skills (i.e., communication skills, problem-solving ability, etc.), which will showcase your value as a professional in a field that is constantly changing.”