Digital Disruption to Accountancy – Which IT skills are necessary?

Hi, I’m writing this as you might have read numerous times across the media and articles about job restructing in large/medium companies (e.g Nestle), mainly Accounting jobs was one of the most affected. I live in Singapore and previously received retrenchment package after AP/AR job outsourcing to an country with lower cost of labour, and recently the current employer in shipping industry has going concern issue (high gearing, revenue/earnings, turnoff rate peaking up, Altman Z Score 1.2 consecutive 2 years).

The above some people might be thinking of pleading with their employer to increase their workload and job scope to protect their employability by making themselves “more useful”. In my opinion this might only be a short term solution.

Being working 8 years in Finance, I am not planning to do a career switch to a different profession, but what IT/digital or software skills in addition do you think would be helpful enough to aid Accounting? considering many people are working adults with family commitment, do not have all the time in the world to learn every skills.

Any input would be nice. Thanks 🙂