Training Plan for Accounting Department: A Practical Approach

In a finance function, one underappreciated truth is this: your department is only as strong as its people. While tools, deadlines, and systems matter — it’s the knowledge, skill, and confidence of your accountants that drive reporting quality, compliance, and strategic decisions.

Yet many accounting departments still treat training as a box-ticking exercise: a once-a-year workshop or a mad rush to complete CPD hours. The reality is more nuanced. A proper training plan isn’t just about regulatory requirements. It’s about making your team faster, more accurate, and ready for change.

In this blog, we’ll show you how to build a training plan tailored for different types of accounting teams, what to prioritise, how to track progress, and where tools like Learnsignal can help you deliver consistent, cost-effective learning.

Step 1: Understand the Type of Accounting Team You Have

Not every accounting team operates the same way. The kind of training you need depends on the type of team you lead. Below are four common types of accounting departments — and what each typically needs from a training plan for accounting department

1. General Ledger and Compliance Teams

These teams ensure the books are accurate and compliant with accounting standards.

Common pain points: closing delays, reconciliation errors, lack of regulatory updates.

Training focus:

• IFRS/GAAP updates
  
• Financial controls
  
• Excel efficiency
  
• Ethics and professional standards (e.g., ACCA Code of Ethics)
  

2. AP/AR Teams

Focused on cashflow, vendor payments, and receivables.

Common pain points: duplicate invoices, manual processing, communication breakdowns.

Training focus:

• ERP system training
  
• Fraud detection and prevention
  
• Email etiquette and stakeholder communication
  
• Cybersecurity basics (e.g., phishing awareness)
  

3. Management Accounting or FP&A Teams

These teams provide insights, forecasts, and analysis to help leadership make decisions.

Common pain points: lack of storytelling in reports, poor Excel/PPT skills.

Training focus:

• Data visualisation (Excel dashboards, Power BI)
  
• Forecasting methods and scenario analysis
  
• Business partnering and communication skills
  

4. Hybrid or Remote Teams

Modern finance departments are often spread across regions and time zones.

Common pain points: collaboration gaps, inconsistent processes, reduced visibility.

Training focus:

• Remote work tools (e.g., Google Sheets, Teams)
  
• Asynchronous communication
  
• Documented SOPs and shared workflows
  

📝 Tip: Map your training content based on the actual work each team does. No two finance functions are identical.

Step 2: Conduct a Skills Audit

Before jumping into solutions, assess where your team stands.

Try these quick methods:

• Ask team members to self-rate confidence on Excel, financial standards, systems, etc.
  
• Review common mistakes (e.g., rework needed in journals or reports)
  
• Look at upcoming business needs — will they need to learn Power BI, IFRS updates, or automation tools?

Step 3: Define Training Objectives for Each Quarter

To stay focused, break your training into quarters. Each quarter should have:

• A team-wide objective (e.g., “Improve Excel speed by 30%”)
  
• Individual learning goals (e.g., “Jane to complete Advanced IFRS by end of Q2”)
  
• Compliance goals (e.g., “All team members to complete 20 CPD hours by Dec 31”)

Step 4: Pick the Right Training Formats

Not every training method suits every skill. Choose formats based on your team’s needs, time, and learning styles:

1. Self-Paced Online Learning – Great for technical skills, CPD, and exam prep. It’s flexible and allows team members to learn anytime.

2. Live Webinars & Virtual Workshops – Best for soft skills and updates on standards. Interactive sessions allow questions and real-time discussion.

3. On-the-Job Training – Ideal for hands-on skills like using ERP tools, closing month-end, or real-world analysis.
4. Microlearning – Short, focused content (5–10 minutes) works well during busy seasons.

Mix formats to keep training engaging, efficient, and tailored to what your accounting team really needs.

Step 5: Create a Training Calendar

A training calendar should include what is being taught, who it’s for, and when it’s due.

Here’s a sample calendar:

Q1

• Excel Power User Series (Pivot Tables, Lookup functions)
  
• Learnsignal’s Ethics in Finance module
  
• Weekly Excel tip shared in team Slack
  

Q2

• Management Reporting with Dashboards
  
• Cybersecurity awareness for all finance users
  
• Start Learnsignal CPD path for all team members
  

Q3

• Mock Exams for ACCA students
  
• Storytelling in Reporting (PowerPoint + Finance Narrative)
  
• In-house session on SOP updates
  

Q4

• CPD wrap-up sessions on Learnsignal
  
• Internal presentations by team members
  
• Year-end compliance refresher
  

Use a shared calendar or dashboard to keep the team on track. Learnsignal lets you track course completions and CPD hours for each staff member, so nothing falls through the cracks.

Step 6: Make Managers Accountable

Training won’t stick unless it’s supported by team leads and finance managers.

• Add training goals to performance reviews
  
• Review training progress monthly in 1:1s
  
• Reward early course completions or certifications

Learnsignal offers a manager dashboard that shows progress by learner — perfect for monthly updates and team reporting.

Step 7: Protect Time for Learning

The biggest excuse? “I don’t have time.”

Here’s how to tackle that:

• Block one hour per week for learning
  
• Make it part of work — not homework
  
• Share “what I learned this week” in Friday meetings
  
• Give shoutouts to those who complete difficult modules

Try setting up a “CPD Wednesday” – where the team focuses on structured training for one hour each week using Learnsignal.

Step 8: Monitor, Measure, and Iterate

Don’t wait till year-end to see if the plan worked.

Track:

• Completion of CPD hours
  
• Improvement in metrics (fewer errors, faster closings)
  
• Confidence (via quarterly pulse surveys)
  
• Feedback: what worked, what didn’t?

Then improve. Drop what wasn’t useful, double down on what was.

Why Use Learnsignal for Your Accounting Department’s Training?

Learnsignal is designed specifically for finance professionals — from entry-level accountants to experienced managers. Here’s why it fits perfectly into your department’s training plan:

• CPD-Compliant withACCA, CIMA and AAT
• Mock exams, study plans, and exam technique lessons for ACCA, AAT, and CIMA
• Manager dashboard to track team progress
• Flexible learning with downloadable notes, on-demand videos, and microlearning
• Cost-effective team plans

Whether your team is chasing CPD deadlines or preparing for exams — Learnsignal gives you structure, insight, and peace of mind.

Conclusion

A great accounting department doesn’t just process numbers — it improves how the business thinks, plans, and grows. But that only happens when your team grows too.

Building a training plan isn’t just good HR. It’s a smart business strategy. Start small. Pick one learning goal this week. Book an hour on Friday. Choose one Learnsignal course to kick off. And keep building from there.

Want to explore team training plans with Learnsignal? Get In Touch With Us!