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It must be August: Born Dull?! cliche rides again

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26th Aug 2005
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The dread image of the terminally dull accountant reared its grey head in the pages of the Daily Telegraph this week with coverage of a linguistic study from Hong Kong that criticised accountants for their "dull and uninspired, jargon-heavy language".

Yes folks, the August bank holiday is looming and silly season is in full swing. With hard news in short supply, what can a poor a writer to do but zero in on a vulnerable social group and humiliate it with spurious citations from obscure academic research?

Let's name names, shall we? The piece is called It's official: scientists prove why accountants are boring; the writer is Celia Hall and the person behind this calumny is professor John Flowerdew of the City University of Hong Kong's department of English and communication.

For an academic article, Flowerdew analysed the internal communications of a corporate tax accounts department.

"The accountants started their morning by checking e-mail and quietly eating their breakfast at their desk," he observed.

For the first hour the accountants worked quietly at their desks, seemingly unaware of each other, busy computing through tax computation schedules, fidgeting with calculators and putting data into their computers.

Then the excitement started: "The manager appeared in the second hour, did not address the group but spoke to one tax accountant about a client's provisional tax liability. She then raised another issue with the accountant at the next desk and left for her office.

"There were continuous nods of acceptance and very few words from the tax accountant. The room once again was filled only with the noise of clicking keys on the computer keyboard or the calculator."

Rather than communicating via email with clients, the accountants used letters and faxes because they were more formal and appropriate to their business communications, Flowerdew said.

Ernst & Young media manager Morten Hussman was quoted in defence of the jargon-prone beancounters, as was an ICAEW spokesman, who commented: "The area of tax accountancy is anything but dull. Our members get to work in all sectors of the economy, including small businesses and the media and entertainment industries.

"Many of our members lead varied and interesting lives, taking part in activities such as trekking around the Alps for charity and being involved in local community projects, such as working in deprived areas."

Brave words indeed, but we've all been here before. Who can forget the original Independent-inspired article, Accountants 'born dull' - it's official?

Published exactly five years ago - during August since you ask - this was the item that triggered the Born Dull?! phenomenon on AccountingWEB. We're sad to report that our campaign to promote the charisma and cachet of accountancy appears to have made little ground. Should we shrug our shoulders and give up? Or get more militant and stage public actions and stunts to overthrown this fetid, threadbare clich©?

As always, your comments and suggestions are welcomed - click the Post a Comment button to reply.

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John Stokdyk, AccountingWEB head of insight
By John Stokdyk
31st Aug 2005 13:24

Alton Towers to the rescue!
In a nifty piece of PR opportunism, the Alton Towers theme park has come to the aid of the profession with the offer of free rides on its scariest attractions for qualified accountants.

"We all know that accountants work extremely hard in highly demanding business environments, but we're equally sure that many of them would thoroughly enjoy a day at Alton Towers," commented Alton Towers marketing manager Mike Lorimer.

"We hope they'll recognise a good deal when they see one and give themselves a break this September!"

The terms and conditions are as follows - the offer is open to any qualified accountant, as long as they are accompanied by a fee-paying adult and can produce a photo ID along with the appropriate professional membership card.

"Pinstripes optional," says the Alton Towers press release. Ho! Ho!

So, it continues, prove you are up for a thrill by escaping the monotony of spreadsheets, and checking out the G-forces on rides like Rita, Queen of Speed, Oblivion and Nemesis.

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By Joy Eziefula
01st Sep 2005 20:52

Professional membership card??
Do qualified accountants carry membership cards confirming their qualified status? The ACCA haven't given me one. Do you think they'll le me ride if I produce my framed A4 sized practising certificate?

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By User deleted
26th Aug 2005 10:31

I think I’ve heard this one before
It’s an old and rather worn stereotype, much like the character it’s trying to portray.

This stereotype is set to change. The entire accounting arena is going through the biggest cultural upheaval in decades; social, political and technological factors all impacting on the accountant’s role. If accountants are boring because of their environment, severe changes in this environment will certainly impact on their stereotype.

New advances in accounting technology is one key factor set to alter the environment of accountancy firms. Reduction of paperwork on desks is one obvious benefit and lengthy retrieval of hard copies from archaic filing systems is no longer necessary. Technology is also an enabler for effective and efficient communications, improving the way an accountant interacts with their colleagues and clients.

But in order to say a long delayed goodbye to the old accounting stereotype, today’s accountant needs to embrace and not fight the changes to their environment.

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