Strategic Professional Development Plan for Accounting Professionals

This report presents a comprehensive personal development plan (PDP) tailored for accounting graduates aspiring to build a career in Big 4 accounting firms (Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG). The report begins with an assessment of personal and professional skills, including strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, crucial for the competitive Big 4 environment. It then delves into a skills audit to identify the strategic skills required for success, such as analytical skills, communication, teamwork, and leadership potential, along with an identification of the preferred learning style. The core of the report is the PDP, which outlines actionable steps, obstacles, and remedies using the SMART method to address skill gaps and achieve career objectives, including obtaining professional qualifications (CPA, CA, CIA, CFA, MBA) and advancing to managerial roles. The report also assesses the outcomes of the PDP against personal and professional objectives, emphasizing the importance of continuous learning and adaptation to achieve strategic goals and excel in the accounting profession. This document is contributed by a student to be published on the website Desklib, a platform which provides all the necessary AI based study tools for students.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR STRATEGIC MANAGERS
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Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction.............................................................................................................3
2.0 Personal and Professional Skills Assessment.......................................................3
2.1 Personal Skills Assessment................................................................................4
2.2 Professional Skills Assessment..........................................................................5
3.0 Skill Audit................................................................................................................6
3.1 Skill Audit for Leadership Requirement...............................................................6
3.2 Identification of Current and Preferred Learning Style........................................8
4.0 Personal Development Plan (PDP)........................................................................9
3.1 Construction of PDP............................................................................................9
3.2 Assessment of the Outcomes of PDP against Personal Objectives.................10
3.3 Assessment of Own Learning against Professional Objectives.......................11
5.0 Conclusion............................................................................................................11
References.................................................................................................................12
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1.0 Introduction
Self-assessment is one of the critical aspects in the study of business management
as self-reflection paper provides an insight into the person’s ability, professional and
personal skill sets and also future career prospect. The instant piece of paper is a
self-reflection paper of the researcher which will provide an insight into his
professional and personal skill in the backdrop of a chosen business organisation
where the researcher intends to work in. The entire paper has been prepared in a
report format and at the very beginning of the report, the theme of the paper has
been introduced to the reader in brief. Subsequently, the entire discussion has been
segregated in three parts. The first part provides a professional and personal skill
assessment as conducted by the researcher himself. Skill audit is being performed in
the second part of the paper considering the leadership requirement of the chosen
organisation as well as current or preferred learning style. In the third and last part, a
Personal Development Plan (PDP) has been prepared by the researcher considering
both personal as well as professional objectives. Finally, based on the discussion,
the researcher, at the last, concludes the paper through an ending note.
2.0 Personal and Professional Skills Assessment
I have a keen interest to work in Emirates which is an airline company based in the
United Arab Emirates. I want to work there as a customer sales and service agent. It
is subsidiary of The Emirates Group and the company has been significantly known
for its widespread customer base and excellent airline service not only in UAE but
also across the world. Being a management student, I always had Emirates as my
preferred employer and in this self-reflection paper, I would like to analyse my
professional and personal skill set including strength and weaknesses in my
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personality in the backdrop of a theoretical framework as well as the company’s best
fit requirement.
2.1 Personal Skills Assessment
I have always been an enthusiastic and extrovert student in my class and I may also
consider myself to be an observant as well. Below is a SWOT analysis conducted on
my skill.
Strength
I have always been very obedient to my parents as well as teachers and seniors
to me. I always try to listen and do what they say.
I have been an above-average student in my class securing sizeable marks in my
assignments and hence I can say that I understand my subjects especially
business management effectively.
Weakness
I fail to maintain a healthy lifestyle as I do smoke and drink. Also, I prefer partying
on weekends which affects my schedule the next day.
I am not an early riser and therefore my time management, at times, may get
adversely affected.
Opportunity
Since I study in one of the reputed universities in the country, I perceive the same
to be an opportunity for myself in order to shape up my career including my soft
skill as well as technical skills.
I have got few mentors in my family as well as in my University whom I can rely
on in terms of critical decision making for myself. I would like to utilise their
knowledge to hone my skill and personality for the future.
Threat
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My improper and unhealthy lifestyle may affect my health and that is one of the
biggest threats to my personality development process
My drinking habit may be perceived to be a threat for myself as I have been
caught by the police a few times for drinking and driving simultaneously.
2.2 Professional Skills Assessment
In terms of my professional skills, I would like to say that I am trying to focus on my
study and excel my skill sets and try to learn from my mistakes. Taking reference
from the previous note, assessment of my professional skill related to the Emirates’
requirement is being conducted as below:
Strength
 I consider myself to be a good speaker with my efficient communication and
interpersonal skill. I have observed that my written communication has always
been praised by the people, be it a letter-writing or an assignment writing at the
University. Therefore, I think the same would help me in my professional life as
well.
 I consider myself to be a good team player and I have been associated with
several team works in my University assignments
Weakness
 I generally talk much and for the reason, people may get agitated and I also
behave aggressively at times which creates an adverse impression on the other
party I am interacting with
 I generally rely on my intuition especially in complex situations and I have seen
several times that the same has gone wrong. Therefore, I will conclude that my
intuition and intuitive skill may need polishing
Opportunity
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 My technological skill has been fairly strong and I think in today's technology-
enabled world I can develop my skills sets through my technological skill and
thereby attain a competitive advantage over others
 My number-crunching ability has also been above average which I need to utilise
to get a competitive advantage over others
Threat
 My time management skill should be more efficient and I think the inability to
abide by the deadline has been regular for me. Such a phenomenon, I think, is
one of the biggest threats for me. In future, if I continue to do the same in my
professional career as well, the same will adversely affect my future.
 My aggressive behaviour is another threat for me for which I have lost friends and
the same may pose as a challenge or threat for me in my professional life as well
Based on the aforesaid skill assessment, I would like to provide solutions to
overcome the negativities in my personality, in my PDP report subsequently in the
paper, using the SMART method.
3.0 Skill Audit
3.1 Skill Audit for Leadership Requirement
Since Emirates belongs to the hospitality segment, polished and polite and subdued
behaviour assumes its importance in the employability skills set requirement as set
by the employer therein (Baumert et al, 2017). As a result, I would also have to
polish my interpersonal and communication skill to match the organisational
requirement of becoming a cabin crew or ground staff member. In this context, it may
be stated that a skill audit is an analysis of skill need within an organisation. The
audit enables an individual to understand the skill set requirement of the organisation
and the corresponding gap the organisation presently experiences. The primary
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theme of conducting a skill audit is to identify the developmental need of the
organisation in terms of manpower requirement. For the purpose, I need to conduct
a skill audit in the context of the cabin crew position as against my skill set and the
audit is as below, through the checklist format.
Skill Rating (on a scale of 10)
Teamwork 8
Time management 6
Numerical skill 8
Patience 7
Communication (Written and Oral) 8
Technology 8
Problem-solving 8
Networking 7
Confidence 8
Intuition 6
While browsing the website of Emirates, I have noticed that they have been looking
for a number of cabin crews (Search And Apply | Emirates Group Careers, 2020). I
have also observed that the jobs roles and salary review sites like Glassdoor contain
a review of working culture in Emirates. It is observed that there have been a few
allegations raised by employees in terms of extreme work pressure and stretched
working hours (Glassdoor Reviews - Emirates, 2020). If I can manage my time
management skill effectively, I think I will be able to meet the organisational need in
this respect and I can be employable in the company for the long term. I have also
seen that the business at times the main lack of employee motivation and morale
due to a lower compensation package as pointed out by the employees of the
company in different salary review websites. I think if I can manage the same
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considering my young age and diversified technical skills ranging from data
crunching ability to a soft-spoken personality, I can apply in different positions of the
company after spending considerable time with them. Also, I can handle my job roles
of cabin crew efficiently and still undertake certain works of accounting involving
number crunching within the operation to gain recognition and simultaneously
compensation from them
3.2 Identification of Current and Preferred Learning Style
Every individual learns in a different manner and I have identified my learning style
as well. As far as my current learning style is concerned, I have observed that the
class lectures enable me to grasp the topic more than that of reading. When I read
something, it gets registered in my brain in a less efficient manner as compared to
the situation when I interact with some people and take advice or notes from the
persons. In this context, it is wise to note that the researchers say people generally
remember most of the thing they see and listen instead of what they read (PDP and
Learning Style, 2020). In short, my visual memory is more efficient and that is why I
would like to continue the same in my future days as well.
In other words, my preferred learning style will be going through a mentorship
program formally or informally. I would like to focus more on lectures provided by the
professors; however, I would like to undergo an internship program as well where
hands-on experience will make me more knowledgeable and skilful that I will carry
with myself when I will be applying for Emirates. In this context, it is interesting to
note that leadership position in Emirates may require a balanced personality
comprising both technical as well as employability skill and therefore conducting
such skill audit as noted above is worth for me considering the gaps, I have noted in
my development process (Wrzus and Roberts, 2017). In this context, I would also
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like to state that my preferred learning style may be substantiated through the Kolbs'
Learning Cycle which is presented below:
Figure 1: Kolb's’ Learning Cycle
(Source: Mcleod, 2020)
The cycle shows that the personal experience follows the aforesaid four steps
through which an individual gains knowledge from the events.
4.0 Personal Development Plan (PDP)
The section below shows the PDP of the researcher and also the outcome of the
PDP has been corroborated against the personal and professional objectives of the
researcher.
3.1 Construction of PDP
Skill Need Actionable Obstacles Remedies
Time
management
 Specific: I need to be
punctual
 Measurable: I need to meet
the deadline
I may not be
able to adhere
to the target
because of my
I need to
balance
between
partying and
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 Achievable: It is very much
attainable
 Realistic: I will buy a clock
and make routine written on
my desk
 Timely: By June’20
lazy attitude and
unhealthy
lifestyle
doing work.
Interpersonal
skill
 Specific: I need to be soft-
spoken
 Measurable: I need to
count the people I am
losing contacts due to my
aggressive behaviour
 Achievable: I should
practice a “smiling face”
(Geukes, van Zalk and
Back, 2017)
 Realistic: I will attend a
crash course on “wearing a
smile”
 Timely: By June’20
I may lose
temper while
practising the
same. Also, I
may not be able
to change my
habit all on a
sudden just
attending a
crash course.
I need to
practice the
same
throughout and
consistently
and in my daily
routines
3.2 Assessment of the Outcomes of PDP against Personal Objectives
The above PDP shows that I can overcome my weaknesses of time management to
meet my objectives of being punctual if I can apply the SMART method, as noted
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above. In doing so, I will be able to shape up my personality as well. I realise that a
better employee needs to be a better human first in terms of skills sets and hence, I
need to overcome those challenges not only for my personal lives but also for my
career as well.
3.3 Assessment of Own Learning against Professional Objectives
On a similar note, the aforesaid PDP will help me to overcome my weakness of
aggressive behaviour and applying SMART method, I think, I can surely hone my
interpersonal and communication skill better. If I need to eye on the leadership
position of Emirates, 10 or 15 years down the line, I need to be attentive to the
environment, take every input that may come for my personality development, apply
the same using my intuition and thereby continuously evolve myself to accustom with
the business and environment. The process is continuous and the persistent effort
towards the same will help me to achieve my desired roles in the company in most
time-efficient fashion (Schöller, Viol, Aichhorn, Hütt and Schiepek, 2018).
5.0 Conclusion
The discussion performed herein shows my strengths and weakness in terms of
behavioural traits. I have identified curtained developmental needs in my PDP that I
need to take care for the betterment of my career in the future. If I can work on my
weaknesses to overcome the same and excel my strengths, I can be a good
resource for Emirates in the future. Finally, I would like to conclude by saying that a
well-planned PDP and self-assessment of skill set considering a specific business
organisation in mind may enable an individual to become a potentially efficient
employee for the chosen business in the most optimum manner (Geukes, van Zalk
and Back, 2018).
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References
Baumert, A., Schmitt, M., Perugini, M., Johnson, W., Blum, G., Borkenau, P.,
Costantini, G., Denissen, J.J., Fleeson, W., Grafton, B. and Jayawickreme, E.,
(2017). Integrating personality structure, personality process, and personality
development. European Journal of Personality, 31(5), pp.503-528.
Emiratesgroupcareers.com. 2020. Search And Apply | Emirates Group Careers.
[online] Available at: <https://www.emiratesgroupcareers.com/search-and-apply/?
brand=Emirates> [Accessed 5 April 2020].
Geukes, K., van Zalk, M. and Back, M.D., (2018). Understanding personality
development: An integrative state process model. International Journal of Behavioral
Development, 42(1), pp.43-51.
Geukes, K., van Zalk, M.H. and Back, M.D., (2017). Analyzing processes in
personality development. In Personality development across the lifespan (pp. 455-
472). Academic Press.
Glassdoor.co.in. (2020). Glassdoor Reviews - Emirates. [online] Available at:
<https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Reviews/Emirates-Reviews-E23433.htm> [Accessed 5
April 2020].
Highspeedtraining.co.uk. (2020). PDP And Learning Style. [online] Available at:
<https://www.highspeedtraining.co.uk/hub/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/
personal_development_plan_template.pdf> [Accessed 5 April 2020].
Mcleod, S., (2020). Kolbs’ Learning Cycle. [online] Simplypsychology.org. Available
at: <https://www.simplypsychology.org/learning-kolb.html> [Accessed 5 April 2020].
Schöller, H., Viol, K., Aichhorn, W., Hütt, M.T. and Schiepek, G., (2018). Personality
development in psychotherapy: a synergetic model of state-trait dynamics. Cognitive
neurodynamics, 12(5), pp.441-459.
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