5 Great Specialized Human Resources Careers

5 Great Specialized Human Resources Careers

/in /by

Human resources is often thought of as the department that’s all about people. While obviously true, there is plenty more that goes on behind the scenes in this essential field. In today’s changing world, the HR department is moving faster than ever to ensure employee and organizational needs are met. People are always at the core, but sometimes the work includes analysis and data mining, while other times it includes data entry and reporting.  

The fact is that HR takes a complete team of both generalists and specialists. Some may have taken a human resources program and spend their days completing the stereotypical tasks. Others may have more technical work that is a far cry from the image of interviews, onboarding and providing support when employees have challenges. It comes down to what is needed for the organization to move forward positively. 

It’s an exciting department to be part of and the job diversity is vast. Consider these 5 growing specialized HR roles: 

  1. Employee relations manager

This is the ideal job for someone who likes to create harmony between two parties within the organization. An employee relations manager facilitates positive relationships between employees and the management team. While this is sometimes done at a group level (think union and management) this HR specialist also intervenes to improve relationships between individuals (think supervisor and employee on the same team, or co-workers having a conflict). Training, like a conflict resolution certificate, can help them identify, de-escalate and resolve. Additionally, they may also have a mediation certificate which helps in negotiating contracts and procedures and they will also have advanced knowledge in applicable labour laws.  

  1. Manager of employee experience

This role is all about creating a more enjoyable, inclusive workplace that ensures happiness and job satisfaction are on everyone’s minds. Diversity and inclusion training are essential for this job (although most HR jobs will require this kind of training) as are other elements to consider when creating programs and activities that create a positive company culture. There may be an employee committee that works with this individual while other tools like surveys and random informal interviews may contribute to organizational knowledge.  

  1. Change management specialist

As economies, markets and regions shift, organizations will also need to change. It’s no doubt that change can be harder for some than others and many organizations turn to a specialist to help employees with the preparation and outcomes. No matter what the project is – a new internal communication system, blending of departments, re-alignment of the workforce to meet new needs – people will need assistance understanding how they fit into something new. A change management specialist will likely have change management certification and will work closely with all project stakeholders to understand the situation, suggest opportunities and implement solutions to minimize negative outcomes.  

  1. Compensation and benefits manager

One of the primary elements of a job offer is the compensation package. Compensation and benefits managers assist with organizational success by ensuring these packages are competitive and able to attract (and retain) the best talent possible. This is a more detailed role that gets into the nitty-gritty of salary ranges, market standards, benefit programs and how these fit within organizational budgets, needs and structure. There are a lot of spreadsheets and data mining for this individual to tackle. A compensation and benefits manager will also work in an educator role to help managers and supervisors understand regulations around compensation as well as assessments of changes.  

  1. Remote work advisor

While not quite a commonplace job title, the remote work advisor (also known by flexible workforce advisor or other titles) is exactly what you’d assume from the job title. This individual liaises with employees, managers and team members to identify needs and opportunities for a remote work force. This may include ensuring equipment and safe work environments are in place outside of the traditional office space, but it may also look at tools for interactivity, work hours and structure of a remote employee’s role. With COVID forcing many employees to find new places and ways to work, the move to more of a remote workforce is likely to continue and a remote work advisor will be a key part of facilitating that positively. 

HR is all about people, but in different roles, the amount of human interaction varies. Depending upon what you like to do, you may feel excited by one of these, or another new and growing role in HR. 

The Best Way to Become an Accountant

The Best Way to Become an Accountant

/in /by

There are a lot of accounting designations and training programs available in the world, but some rise above others when it comes to being recognized on a global level of business acumen, experience and strategic vision. Accountants who invest in their continuing education will stand out from the crowd because their efforts prove to others that they know dollars and cents as well as leadership and how to create a positive impact on a business. Read on to learn about the importance of continuing education in accounting and financial services and how ongoing learning will make you better at your job.  

Moving Beyond the Basics 

So where should you start? Employers and clients look for accountants who can their knowledge of finance and extend it to all areas of the business to connect departments and activities for efficiency and effectiveness. This goes far beyond overseeing an accounting team and the creation of financial statements. People value working professionals who have their financial planner certification training or who have invested their time in ongoing learning. You can bolster your resume through a Canadian taxation course, Canadian Securities course or administrative payroll courses. Remember that your software proficiency matters too, so look into Sage or Quickbooks training and be sure to build your foundation the right way. 

An accounting certificate is ideal for those in finance or accounting who want to be recognized for their skills and expertise on a global and wide-scope level. Moving through the Ashton College accounting program will be faster for some individuals based on their previous knowledge and education. First, you must focus on adding to your core knowledge and short-term decision making. Students will then study taking the long-term decisions made by executives about the future of an organization into mid-range plans. This will include an understanding of financial statement analysis, business modelling, organizational performance and other factors that make a difference to the over-all operation of a business. You will also study the unique features of Canadian accounting, which will make you invaluable to future employers. 

Why an Accounting Certificate is Right for You  

Like all certifications or designations, earning one takes time and money. It has to return benefits to you in order for it to be worthwhile. Fortunately, your Canadian accounting education will be recognized across the country in every industry. This puts you among the leaders in the accounting field regardless of where you choose to apply your time and talents. With proven education comes the ability to command a higher salary because of the contributions you will be able to make to an organization. 

With the training and skills you will earn from the Ashton College Certificate in Accounting Program, you will be able to become part of an organization’s leadership team. You’ll bring a strategic point of view with an eye to both the financial side of the business as well as an awareness of how the financial aspect ripples into all other areas of the organization. This allows you to give other leaders greater information to make beneficial decisions to connect all aspects of the organization and positions you as an ally to others on your team. You will be making a significant contribution to an organization each and every day giving you the opportunity to accelerate your career towards the executive level or even leading your own business to great success.  

Conclusion 

If you are ready to take your accounting career to the top of the ladder on a world-wide level, you will want to check out the Ashton College accounting program as a way to get there. You will be joining others who are leading some of the most recognized and successful organizations around the globe.

What You Should Know About Cybersecurity and the Cloud

What You Should Know About Cybersecurity and the Cloud

/in /by

As of 2020, the cloud computing market reached 371.4 billion dollars worldwide, with 94% of enterprises using the cloud in at least some aspects of their business. More and more medium and small-sized businesses have migrated to the cloud with the Covid 19 pandemic accelerating the adoption of the cloud. As time moves on, some of these businesses that initially felt the need to quickly adjust are now asking themselves, “Did I make the right choice? Or do I want to continue to use the cloud?” We thought we would help out these decision-makers by sharing some of the risks, benefits and tips to securing the cloud.  

Risks of Doing Business on the Cloud 

One of the greatest concerns when evaluating the use of various cloud services is confidentiality. Specifically, unauthorized access of company data and client information. Since third-party providers have access to your data, the risk of insider threats is a consideration. Unauthorized access also includes external cyberthreats. These cyberthreats take advantage of any vulnerabilities and security defects in the cloud. Finally, when considering transitioning to the cloud, disaster recovery should be considered. Migration to the cloud results in loss of control over disaster recovery. The speed and ability to respond to a disaster are limited by your cloud service provider. 

Why Use the Cloud?  

Since using the cloud may increase risks, why would a business want to use it? Businesses need to use the cloud in many cases to compete and operate efficiently. The increase in work from home and project sharing makes the remote accessibility of the cloud appealing. The ability to quickly scale up or down allows for the flexibility many businesses require. Many cloud providers include automatic updates to the most up to date software and servers, which means one less item for the IT team to manage. Believe it or not, security may also be one benefit to consider when migrating to the cloud. Depending on your business, size and your security model, you may find your cloud service has greater security than what you currently have in place. For example, some cloud providers backup your data at different data centres, ensuring that if your original data is lost or corrupted then you have access to the backup data. Of course one of the greatest influencers when considering business decisions is managing costs. Some small and medium-sized businesses will find renting added server space may be more economical as they can adjust to peak times and lower revenue making times in their business.  

Tips to Securing the Cloud 

  1. Use multi-factor authentication for all usernames and passwords. Stolen credentials is one of the main ways that hackers are able to gain access to your company data. 
  2. Ensure your cloud system uses encryption.  
  3. Minimize user access. Users generally do not need access to every part of your cloud infrastructure. Only providing access to the relevant content for each user ensures that there are less chances of user credential theft affecting cloud security.  
  4. Backup your cloud system. Backups may be done directly on the cloud, but you may also do it manually on your own server, a secondary cloud server or a portable device like a portable hard drive.   
  5. Ensure your team is trained on cloud security. Cybersecurity training for cloud computing such as the Arcitura Cloud Certified Technology Professional and CompTIA Cloud+ include training that focus on understanding and comparing cloud platforms and cloud security from a vendor-neutral perspective.  
  6. Test your system using a cloud penetration tester. Penetration testing, or pentesting, will help to identify risks, gaps and vulnerabilities in your cloud infrastructure.  
  7. Consider using an MSP provider to help manage your cloud services if your resources are limited. Ensure that your MSP provider has staff that are trained and regularly take cybersecurity courses to keep up to date on the current threat landscape.  
  8. Ensure your onboarding and off-boarding processes address cloud security. New employees should be granted only the access that is required. Off-boarding processes should include restricting access immediately to protect against disgruntled past employees.  
  9. Read all privacy policies when signing up for cloud services. You should also immediately set up your privacy settings to reflect your company needs.  
  10. Use strong passwords. Password management is something that cybersecurity professionals have been raising awareness about for years. Passwords need to be unique, have numbers and letters and are longer than 15 characters. To do this effectively, many use a passphrase or password manager to help them remember.  

If you are a decision-maker and want to learn more about the cloud, but don’t feel you have the IT skills for some of the more advanced courses, you could take the CompTIA Cloud Essentials+ course. This course will help you to understand the basics of the cloud and provide insight into questions and considerations when considering your cloud or multi-cloud strategy.