I am both astonished and disappointed by the number of people who assume accountants are boring. Some of them have accountants, but most I suspect, do not and are simply repeating the stereotyping they have heard others reference. This is evident from the increasing number of young people who routinely tweet variations on the idea that being an accountant is, in their view, the most boring job in the world.
Many of the people who don’t have an accountant but who think accountants are boring really mean either:
- I don’t understand what it is they are going on about;
- I have heard other people say accountants are boring so it must be true;
- I saw that old Monty Python sketch about a boring accountant who wanted to be a lion tamer and it had a ring of truth about it;
- All that accounting stuff sounds boring as it doesn’t interest me;
- Accountants are more intelligent than me so must be boring in comparison; or
- Anyone who talks about something other than me is boring.
It’s probably true that sometimes, some accountants are boring. But most are not. However the prevailing view that accountants are boring cannot be good for the profession as a whole or for individual accountants specifically.
What can we do to change the general perception?
[Edited June 2014] In 2012 I made a start with my ‘Boring Is Optional‘ campaign and my INABA awards (I‘m Not A Boring Accountant). I have since moved on as neither idea won widespread interest or support within the profession.
My other contribution has been to focus on helping accountants to STAND OUT and to be more successful. Please get in touch or share your ideas below as to what we can do to change the stereotypical perception.
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What about the way stereotypical accountants dress? The public perception of “accountant” probably involves a grey or black suit somewhere along the line. If accountants were to dress a bit more colourfully then they might look less boring – if you must wear a grey or black suit for work, why not couple it with a blouse or shirt in green, pink, blue or red? Or even a colourful tie or scarf?
Tomorrow I’m giving a presentation at The Royal Opera House (OK, I know I’m showing off now 🙂 ) on the subject of “Refreshingly simple small business accounting”, and to add to the “refreshing” theme I will be proudly wearing green!
Emily interesting you mention dress. I now always wear smart jeans/ trousers and a branded polo top, or jumper in the winter. It makes me stand out from the crowd and works really well for my target market which is small, owner managed businesses.
Good article Mark regarding public perception. I think you are right that it is definitely relevant to people who do not have an accountant and more importantly don’t understand what an accountant does. The amount of times I have heard ‘oh, you shuffle paper around’ drives me nuts!
I saw that old Monty Python sketch about a boring accountant who wanted to be a lion tamer and it had a ring of truth about it;
HMRC this year fined 3 of my clients, citing late SA returns After a few letters setting them straight, they admitted they were wrong.
Much more rewarding than taming a boring old lion.
Funny article however i did think you were going to elaborate on accountants dealing with maths, thus people that like maths are geeks or boring. the fact of the matter is people can be boring and people can be accountants, its a old washed out stereotype. I myself am an accountant and i can assure you i would refuse to employ boring people (unless they are brilliant at there job;)
Good Post
John Carpenter Box
Accounting is not an end in itself; it is a means to an end. Accountants perform a service by providing quantitative financial information that helps the users make better business decisions.
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I’m an accountant – and sadly many, many accountants are boring. I went to one accounting seminar when first out of uni – never been so bored in my life – so never went to another one again. It was boring becuase the attendees were boring. I enjoy my accounting role but the profession does attract some very ordinary personalities. Mixing with accountants is fine in the office but I prefer to mix with non-accounting people outside work.
The public didn’t draw this perception of accountants from Monty Python – they have drawn it from personal experience and word of mouth from others who have dealt with accountants. If you want to truly help, suggest to accountants that they get some (ongoing) presentation and communication skills training for starters. Wearing a bright tie or scarf is not going to give them confidence, social skills and personality – but communications training will help.
Sorry for the lack of tact – but let’s be real about accountants in general and do something about acknowledging it exists and how to improve their lack of social skills. You can’t help an alcoholic until the admit they have a problem.
1) nothing really wrong with being boring…embrace it, make sweet love to it.
2) I don’t think the best way to fight a boring image is to say ‘I’m not boring!’ (Show, don’t tell). It’s like saying, ‘I’m cool.’ If you have to tell people it…it may be true. How about ‘Boring Accounting Awards’? Irony isn’t boring…
3) INABA awards could actually perpetuate the idea of being boring. The name itself sounds boring. But nice intention.
Thanks Jim. I agree re your points 2 and 3 above. The INABA awards seemed like a good idea at the time but I have since abandoned the concept as it was evidently not very popular. I suspect your views are quite widespread.
I have now moved on to talk about things from the opposite perspective. ie; How to STAND OUT and be seen to be more than ‘just another accountant’.
[…] time you saw your accountant (hopefully in the last few months!), did he or she seem boring to you? In this article, you’ll find out why the average Joe tends to think of accounting in terms of this […]
Hi Mark – I just stumbled across this article, its interesting I decided to pose this question to 44,000 finance professionals….are accountants boring? and got an amazing response https://fsnelite.com/blog/accountants-boring-/184
In the group, there was everything from people that had done skydiving, bungee jumping, climbed mountains, raced motorbikes…..It’s a shame that accountants are stereotyped so much.
I agree Michelle. Love your blog post. Thanks for the sharing the link.