The story of the accountant who became an olympic champion inspired this question. Even though he left the profession to pursue his rowing goals, he said he would like to return.
So I wondered, why do you love being an accountant (if you do!) and was there one 'defining' moment where you just thought, "Yep - this is the job for me".
Bit of a Friday topic - very interested in finding out why you love doing what you do!
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Clients, clients, clients!
The big thing for me is the diverse nature of the people you come across.
Being able to problem solve and help people from all walks of life is why I do this. If it weren't for them the back office spreadsheets and TB's wouldn't be worth it at all!
Every man in my family is a tradesman. On leaving school I secured an interview with a national utility company as an apprentice ground worker.
I remember coming out of the interview, rain was pouring and seeing a man in his 50's digging a trench. I knew then that it wasn't for me.
In the meantime, I had secured a part-time job working in a local practice. It didn't work out (working for an alcoholic at 16 isn't ideal). But I knew it was the job for me. I now work in industry - I'd like to go back to practice but I can't ever see that happening as I don't have relevant practice experience.
Overall, I think I made the right decision to train to become an accountant.
P.s If anyone in West Yorkshire is willing to give me chance in their practice, get in touch ;-)
Never held me back
My accountancy qualification has never been a problem to me. Perhaps that's why I now work in local government managing 39,000 street lights...
When I went self-employed and no longer had to put up with people, a boss, working 7 days a week with no thanks, being close to a breakdown....
I sat in the garden and counted my lucky stars (no pun intended). Admittedly I then discovered the drawback - clients - but being able to have a dog (and two cats) has countered that pretty well.
But I do still wonder if I'd have made it as a mechanic....
I love
problem solving ! tax and working on my own.
But I do wonder whether I could have used my Biology and Geography A levels anywhere in life.
Following the death...
... of my 37th lobotomy patient, I had to concede that brain surgery wasn't really my forté, and you've got no chance at getting into rocket science without an SPT doctorate, so I unwittingly stumbled into this malarkey. I've yet to be defined though.
.
Because there are few jobs when being a grumpy fussy nerd is a good thing.
I do also think starting by own prac (through accident not design) is the best outcome I have ever had. Its great for family life (I get to read the bedtime stories every night), its great for not commuting, its great to be in control. I make a poor employee!
Those factors aside, I get a real kick out of giving advice to someone who is struggling with their business or even just the bookkeeping and coming back 12 months later and see things have snapped into place and knowing you have helped with that.
And when they say "thanks for the chat last year, that really helped" you know you have nailed it.
Wanted to be a pro cricketer
then I realised that you have to do something in life that pays the bills and the fact that it doesn't require back braking effort is a massive bonus. Although It has made me incredibly lazy from a career point of view cos its very easy doing simple tasks for people without effort and picking up a fair enough salary for it.
Once I wanted to be an RAF pilot...
...then 5 years in the air cadets dissuaded me from any thoughts of military life!
After that I sought a career in computer programming as that's a hobby of mine...2 years part-time studying a Computer Science degree made me realise how much IT bores the hell out of me (I'm interested in computers insofar as I can use them. I'm less interested in such concepts as black box or white box testing or whatever it was they taught me in the first year, obviously hasn't stuck!). So when reconsidering my options I thought back to the basic accountancy experience I had earlier in my job (mainly inputting invoices into Sage) and decided to study a basic bookkeeping course at a local college.
Well I've since finished AAT and am currently sat in the office of a large corporation, typing a brief extract of my life history on AccountingWEB because we've finished our month end processes and currently have nothing to do. All while getting paid what, to me, is a very reasonable wage indeed.
Yep, I've made the right decision :D
As it is Friday
easy money
Now look at them yo-yo's that's the way you do it
You use your excel for the ETB
That ain't workin' that's the way you do it
Money for nothin' and you issue a fee
Now that ain't workin' that's the way you do it
Lemme tell ya them guys ain't dumb
Maybe get depressed around January time
Maybe then its all done
We gotta set up Limited Companies
Capital allowance, inconsistencies
We gotta choose the basis period
We gotta sort these LLPs, yeah
See the Tax Partner with the earnings and a briefcase
Yeah buddy that's his own hair
That Tax Partner got his own set Simons
That Tax Partner he's a millionaire
I shoulda learned to balance the books
I shoulda learned to cite a case
Look at that Tolleys she’s got in her briefcase
Man we could have some fun
And he's up there, what's that? EBT’s?
Bangin' on bout cases like an Attorney
That ain't workin' that's the way you do it
Get your money for nothin' when you issue a fee
We gotta set up Limited Companies
Capital allowance, inconsistencies
We gotta choose the basis period
We gotta sort these LLPs, yeah
Now that ain't workin' that's the way you do it
You use your excel for the ETB
That ain't workin' that's the way you do it
Money for nothin' and you issue a fee
Money for nothin' and issue a fee
(apologies to Dire Straits, made my lunch break go faster)
Tax return season!
I wanted to be an accountant from a young age, (even before I knew what it entailed!)
There's been several days (mainly Monday mornings) when I have mentally applied for jobs in several other fields, but I've stuck at it because I couldn't imagine doing anything else. You don't have to love your job in order for it to pay the bills but it definitely helps!
There's a great sense of satisfaction when a client actually understands what you're trying to explain to them, rather than just asking how much tax they have to pay compared with last year. Knowing that they're taking on board your comments and trying to grow their business in the same way you're trying to grow yours is definitely one of the high points.
Although, I have to admit that I'm one of those accountants who works better under pressure, and my defining moment had to be at 5pm on 31 January following the takeover of our second office. I was unofficially put in charge of the filing deadline for the first time, and whilst my first feeling was relief that it was all over, that was also the first time I thought "yep I can do this!"
Working for a tax charity
Most defining moment for me in my career was the decision to work with a tax charity.
Its been the most worthwhile job I have ever done. Literally put the phone down every time I speak to someone and feel I have made a difference, without exaggeration sometimes changing their lives.
Here's another lament for a Friday ...The Accountants Lament
check out Jennifer's blog
https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/blog-post/accountants-lament-your-brain-...
Starts with:
IS YOUR BRAIN OVERTAXED?
I am a tax consultant, with
A deep and devious mind,
I drive a motor car which is
A benefit in kind.
6 verses later it ends with....
So if you should disturb my peace
There's one thing sure as sin
You'll go out even more confused
Than when you first came in
For simple words of straight advice
Are very hard to find
When you're a tax consultant with
A deep and devious mind
Read the post
I note the admission in your post at 12.22 today :-
"Following the death of my 37th lobotomy patient, I had to concede that brain surgery wasn't really my forte . . . "
Good gracious me ! . . . . thirty-seven clangers - what a confession ! - that's more errors of judgment than you have made in all your AWEB posts since last Tuesday :)
Regards.
Basil.
He didn't say he'd had 37 deaths. He said his 37th patient had died.
Very different.
Defining moment
Combining the theorems of Luca Pacioli and Hugh Everett, I discovered an accounting system where differences always disappear, disclosures are always correct, butterflies are not allowed to start tidal waves and the world is a happy place.*
*except for cats, who have an aversion to locked boxes for some reason.
I was intending...
... to imply that my first 36 lobotomy victims, er, I mean patients, had also died.
Steve
... to imply that my first 36 lobotomy victims, er, I mean patients, had also died.
I do apologise.
No problem
It was my ambiguity, and I managed to get over the 37 deaths surprisingly quickly.