Assess First; Train Second

With the AICPA Competency Assessment Tool (CAT) you can assess the skills of your staff, identify where they are today, where they should be tomorrow and how to help them get there.

AICPA Competency Assessment Tool
The challenge for any financial professional is to recognize when new competencies need to be learned — as well as make sure that core competencies continue to meet the needs of the marketplace.

With this online tool, training directors can measure how well their organization’s overall skills and proficiency levels compare against the highest and most valued in their specific area. CAT identifies where growth is needed, and what new skills will increase an employee’s value.

CAT quickly helps you gain knowledge, by:

  • Providing a complete list of competencies relevant to a specific area
  • Evaluating proficiency levels in those competencies
  • Highlighting specific areas where development is needed
  • Recommending strategies for education and growth

CAT was developed by CPA’s and other professionals in the accounting and finance industry. Its competency lists, or specific models are tailored according to several specific areas with new models added continually. Currently available are:

  • Audit
  • Business and Industry/New Finance
  • Business Valuation, Forensics and Litigation Services
  • PrimePlus/ElderCare
  • Employee Benefit Plan Audit
  • Fraud Prevention, Detection & Investigation
  • Government
  • Personal Financial Planning
  • Tax

No matter which model is selected, assessment of strengths and areas for development is based on four key areas, including

  • Broad Business Perspective
    This is the body of knowledge that encompasses an understanding of an organization, its industry and management practices and their applicability to the organization.
  • Functional Specialty
    Refers to the technical skills that CPAs possess and which form the basis for their understanding of the organization from their unique perspectives.
  • Leadership Qualities
    These are the skills that enable the CPA to assume a position of influence by assembling and leveraging resources to address problems and maximize opportunities throughout the organization.
  • Personal Attributes.
    Pertains to the characteristics that enable the professional to relate and communicate effectively with a variety of personality types, attracting others to well-reasoned and logical points of view.
Feedback in those and other areas will help determine what actions are needed to achieve specific goals. Insights gained can be especially helpful which is why CAT should be administered annually.

Find out more about these and other AICPA Learning opportunities.