Best accountancy disciplines for aspergers sufferers?

Best accountancy disciplines for aspergers...

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Hi,

I've been told that technical specialisms within accountancy are good for Aspergers sufferers (i.e. people who may be perfectly intelligent but struggle with social interactions). In particular I've been told that specialising in a tax specialism such as income tax or VAT is to be recommended.

I was wondering what your take on this is? As I understand it a tax career requires a year or two in practice (lots of dealings with clients so tough for the 'Aspie'?)  before being able to move into the maybe more Aspegers friendly industry roles?

I'd be greatful if anyone has any opinions on this...

Thanks,

MrA

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By southgirlaccountant
30th Sep 2013 20:48

From my training in a large accountancy firm....

I trained in audit, and spent most of my life out on the road at client premises hiding in an audit room...ahem, I mean dealing directly with the client (so perhaps not best for an Aspie), however tax colleagues spent much of their time back in the office (I was supremely jealous, hated client sites!). They obviously did have client meetings, but were far less face-to-face with the client than us auditors.

How about actuarial work? Uber-technical, and presumably not much client interaction at all?

Hope that helps (I write this as a gal who has a close friend with a teenage son just diagnosed Asperger and is pondering particular careers for her son). 

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Replying to ms998:
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By Catherine123456
30th Sep 2013 22:19

Its a "no" to tax from me!

Another vote for actuarial work here (my first career before switching to accountancy). Perhaps one of the big life assurance companies to minimize client contact. The exams are absolute hell though! My brother has Aspergers (he's in his 30's now); he's brilliant at maths and IT but he absolutely has to have structure and likes things that are black-and-white. Uncertainty, ambiguity and rule changes really upset him! He would absolutely hate working in tax. Mind you, as you most likely know, Aspergers is on a spectrum and there is a huge difference between those at each end of it. What suits one person may not suit another. A few of my brother's friends are in IT which also seems to suit many people with Aspergers.

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By User deleted
30th Sep 2013 22:53

Struggling with social interactions

For someone who struggles with social interactions I'd recommend their own general practice at home, with all client dealings by email. I only have one client that I speak to (and that not often). No meetings at all. Bliss if you don't want to talk to people! 

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By mr_accountant
02nd Oct 2013 03:24

Great, thanks all.

 

I'm probably at the 'light end' so the ambiguity of tax / law isn't a major problem (unless people tend to get fired if they interpret an ambiguous law differently to a judge/HMRC?!). I quite like talking to people on a specific topic that I'm knowledgable about but am useless at networking and charming.

 

I'm ACCA qualifed in management accounting (way too much soft 'chatting' about actuals, budgets, forecasts and variances) at the moment so a switch to tax looks the easiest (and maybe I wouldn't have to start at the very bottom?). Whereas I've looked at actuarial past papers and I think it's just too hard unfortunately, and I think I would have to start at the bottom.

 

I think I'll start CTA to show willing, and then apply to both industry and practice tax positions. I guess it's likely I'll have to do practice for a year or two if no-one from industry takes me directly :-)

 

Thanks,

 

MrA

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By Ken Howard
02nd Oct 2013 08:21

Shop around for the right job

I've been in various practices for 30 years and seen my fair share of aspie sufferers (myself included), not that I knew it at the time - it's only recently that I've become aware of the syndrome and immediately recognised it in myself and many others.

The smaller practices, in particular, are where the aspie's find their niche. The senior partners are usually the socialites who do the meeting & greeting, chamber of commerce dinner dances, etc., but they're usually backed up by the technical bods who often (literally) sit in darkened offices in the far flung corners of the office building.

I really suffered and performed badly in the two larger firms where I worked - the kind of firm with their "cliques", own football team, etc., due to the need to socialise within the firm.  It was a breeding ground to bullying behaviour, and I quickly moved on from both.

All the smaller firms (under 10 staff) were much better, and in each, I was allowed to find my own niche as they're usually a lot more flexible and can adapt more readily to each employee's own strengths & weaknesses.

In my case, I'm fine, if not actually very good, at dealing with people one-to-one when there is a particular subject/topic to deal with.  I can happily have meetings with clients, in either the office or their premises, or work at their premises, but only on a one to one basis.  When I end up in a meeting with two partners/directors, then I fall apart, likewise in any social situation with a room full of people.  I just don't "do" small talk!

Once I realised this, I've been able to adapt and have now been running my own practice for 13 years.  I get lots of client referrals, so must be doing something right.  I've never been to any business networking events - none at all.  I'm happy enough talking to clients on the phone or across a desk.  I certainly don't shy away from human contact and whilst I do a lot of communication by email, it's certainly not the only way.  

I think a lot of it is realising your strengths & weaknesses and finding your own niche - you certainly don't have to become a hermit just because you've got aspies, but likewise, you're never going to feel comfortable in social situations (whether in or out of the office).  What I'd also say is that it definitely gets better with time and practice!

 

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By ireallyshouldknowthisbut
02nd Oct 2013 09:02

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As Ken says play to your strengths and find your own niche. 

A good route in tax is "advise the advisors",  if you do your CTA and work for a firm of tax consultants (or indeed your own firm) who's clients are small practices like mine, accountants wont really care if you are a bit of a "shoe gazer" we want to know the right answers and get down to it - especially if the £300PH clock is ticking, not talk about the football. 

Most of it would be over the phone or via email, or a bit of both. 

VAT is a good area for example as its (a) huge and (b) full of obscure rules (c) lots of small prac's shy away from it!

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By mr_accountant
02nd Oct 2013 22:34

Great, thanks both. This thread is great.

 

Kicking myself that I didn't address this face on when I left school more than a decade ago but thankfully it's probably not too late.

 

Would you say a small practice is OK for learning tax? Or is a bigger practice better geared up for it? If it's important for the CV then I'm happy to stomach it for a year or two. Could I work completely independently in a small firm of accountants as the only 'tax guy' relying soley on CTA training? Or is it important to work under a senior tax specialist?

 

I looked into VAT consultancy but discounted it after assuming it would need a lot of networking and smoozing directly with businesses to build up a fee following big enough to meet fee targets, so many thanks for your post - I'll take a second look after your comments. Is it possible to join a VAT consultancy as a 'newbie' and still be able to switch into a VAT practice role later on if I changed my mind?

 

With respect to the glass ceiling for aspies (i.e. not bringing in new business at networking events, and just relying on referrals) would you say it's possible to progress further in consultancy than practice? (that's the feeling I got reading the above posts)

 

Thanks a lot,

 

MrA

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By ireallyshouldknowthisbut
03rd Oct 2013 09:03

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in terms of "how far", its up to you.  In your own firm you set the rules, so you can plan around your weaknesses, and play to what you are good at. I don't ever network in person and I am in general practice, albeit I am good on the phone in terms of converting leads. 

It may not be necessary for you to bring in work depending on the set up, you can be the "goto man" if when people come to you, you know the answers....and if you are spending the time reading up on obscure tax rules the other partners are networking and running their business you can be head and shoulders over them in terms of your knowledge. Its about specialisation and your being part of the whole. Each firm is different, and you need to find the right one for you.  

In terms of training, its always better to have someone to learn from, but it depends on you and how you learn, and from a 'who will train me' point of view, go fishing. If you have a clear idea of what you want to do and a strong CV many good firms are often on the look out for talent.

Dropping a well written cover letter and strong CV to a specific and thought out partner (spend time looking at their website, and write something unique to that company, not a generic 'dear sir, gizza job', also potentially talk to the admin/office manager type person they will know who to write to) can work. 

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