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The Typical Accountant - Did Monty Python Get It Right?

25th Apr 2012
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According to Monty Python, all accountants are boring and even lion taming is more exciting.

Everybody in the profession knows that this image is completely wrong, ignoring the inherent glamour that inevitably comes with an auditor's sharply-cut, (15-year-old) charcoal grey suit and ready wit as they reduce their client's junior staff to tears of frustration for the third day in a row, but what do the young of today have to say about the subject?

As part of the PKF Experience, a two day work experience workshop run regularly for school leavers and recent graduates to get a feel for this exciting profession, the latest group of youngsters was asked to "Describe the personality & appearance of a ‘typical’ accountant".

As this survey was anonymised, their answers are particularly revealing about the profile of today's accountants.

Strangely, the results fall into two very distinct groupings. The cynical might suggest that those who wish to become accountants would fit the second profile here, while the potential actors, journalists, actuaries and sportspersons had a more jaundiced view.

Profile 1

An accountant is grey-haired with glasses and a formal suit that doesn't fit. They are square, boring and speak in a monotone but always behave in a manner that is precise, logical and money orientated, aided by the fact that the typical accountant will be good at maths.

Profile 2

An accountant is smartly dressed with a nice car but still old I'm afraid - it seems that the young cannot conceive that younger people could be members of this exciting profession. In personality terms, they are smart, analytical, intellectual, hard-working and organised as well as being efficient, well-educated and professional but best of all, personable - easy to talk to. One wonders whether the person who made that last statement was dropped a fiver to do so, since one of the other traits of a typical accountant is that he or she is rich.

As some of my best friends are accountants, I would naturally tend towards a belief that the second profile is pretty much correct, although it misses out on the kindness, sensitivity and generosity that characterises every bean counter that I know.

Can you recognise yourself in either of the profiles?

In any event, it would be good to get some feedback as to whether the respondents to the survey have got it right either reflecting the views of young people that you know or your own perception of our gloriously varied profession.

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Replies (13)

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By ShirleyM
25th Apr 2012 08:14

This could be fun :)
I have never been a typical accountant. I hate suits, I am not fashion conscious, and I prefer comfort over style.

I do fit the 'old' part, though!

Sad to say ... but I don't agree with the 'easy to talk to' part. A lot of the accountants I have met at seminars, etc. do tend to be gushing and over-friendly (like a bad salesman!) .... or a little arrogant and snooty and think they are something special. They could well be something special and easy to talk to ... but their attitude deters me from finding out.

The accountants I like, and know well, are all similar to myself in outlook and attitude.

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By jimwatson
27th Apr 2012 11:25

Types of Accountant

Everyone knows that there are three types of accountant - those that can count and those that cannot|

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7om
By Tom 7000
27th Apr 2012 14:17

surely...there are 4

1) Those who can count

b) Those who cannot

iii) Those that get the staff to do the counting whilst they play golf with the bank manager

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By stanbu
27th Apr 2012 15:12

Untypical

I was once told by a client that I was unlike any other accountant that he had ever met. I took it as a compliment, but maybe he didn't get out much!

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Philip Fisher
By Philip Fisher
30th Apr 2012 16:45

The Image

I am stunned by the response to the views of a small group of wannabe accountants. It is also interesting to note that nobody seems willing to stand up for the image of accountants as highly-valued and respected members of society.

This has been so popular that I will come back to the subject some time in the next few weeks.

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By justsotax
30th Apr 2012 14:56

I should just add I met a

potential client last week - the background was that I had actually arranged to have an informal meeting with one of the guys I network with, however he had decided to bring along his business partner to discuss their requirements with a view to engaging my services.

 

So I turned up in my jeans, casual shirt and jacket.....not my normal dress code for a potential client....we sat down and had a good chat...at the end I happened to mention that I didn't think I was your normal adviser (suggesting I try to work alongside the client/help/provide options etc).....he said without hesitation....'no you are not....you have a personality'......not really sure if that was quite what I was trying to get across....but took it as some sort of compliment......

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Teignmouth
By Paul Scholes
01st May 2012 00:47

Chicken &/or egg?

I read not so long ago that the average age of accountants in practice was now >50 and so, if correct (and it's the ones in practice who tend to be spoken about), then perhaps the old grey haired stuff is correct?

Being one of those who keeps the average age well above 50, my experience of most accountants I meet (in practice) is that they were born that way anyway and so they would be drawn to accountancy wouldn't they, if you get my drift, ie rather then starting with a clean slate and thinking "The world's my oyster maybe I should try that accountancy stuff"

In my youth I was off to start a degree in engineering until my dear old Dad told me engineering was a dead end and I'd be better off getting a job in an office, I seem to have been fighting him ever since (even though he died 10 years ago).

The main difference between then and now is the weight of regulation and inability to use what spark of imagination, flair and creativeness many start out with, and so I'm very much of the opinion that accountancy will still only attract those who are born & bred to be accountants.  But who knows, the image industry may still pull off a con and generate some excitement into the role to attract aliens.

I remember John Cleese on a chat show, soon after the MP sketch had been aired, being asked how his own accountant had reacted to the sketch and he said that the next time he saw him nothing was mentioned thoughout the whole meeting and so he finally asked if the accountant had seen the sketch, answer "yes"...."so what did you think, hope you weren't insulted?"  Answer "No, not at all, it was about Chartered Accountants, I'm a Certified Accountant".

 

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By listerramjet
24th May 2012 14:09

thats one big chip you have on your shoulder!

The Month Python sketch was a joke, and an old one at that.  Time to get a life young man.

To most schoolchildren any accountant (even those fresh faced green ones) seem old.

In any case, accountants come in all shapes and sizes.  Its the perception of the job you should focus on rather than the individuals who do it.  I remember that as a spotty youth it was the money that was the attraction - my friends with accoutants as dads seemed to be wealthy, and fun!  The misconceptions of youth!!!

BTW I do hope my venerable, old and boring institution (pension fund deficit apart) don't use your diatribe as an excuse to produce any more stupid marketing videos.

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By Elektraman
02nd Jul 2012 20:33

Well, I for one wear a T Shirt and jeans in my office everyday, even for first time client meetings! To date, to the best of my knowledge, I have only lost 3 clients in 12 years by doing this.

I workout in the gym everyday and play electric rock guitar too....

I'm not sure I could ever be classed as "typical accountant"!

www.ontax.co.uk

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By listerramjet
03rd Jul 2012 08:58

t-shirt?

Electraman, I was impressed until I checked out your website.  That picture looks a lot like a shirt and tie to me?

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By Elektraman
03rd Jul 2012 09:06

Ah! I forgot about that picture! My only excuse is that I ran out of T-Shirts and Jeans!

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By Elektraman
03rd Jul 2012 09:12

New T-Shirt

In fact, I just bought a new "Superdry" t-shirt yesterday, gets me wondering whether we should have a blog where accountants can post up what they are wearing in the office each day, then we could all vote on the "best attire of the day"!

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By Rachael White
12th Apr 2013 10:25

Perhaps some of you who commented on this blog, may be interested in contributing to my discussion on accountants and fashion over in Any Answers.

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