Is there such a thing as an outgoing and creative accountant

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  • #178660
    Manuelo
    Member

    long story short, i “found” myself in the mid-20s, and now two years after graduating from college, i regret majoring in accounting. i can’t go back to college. i have other responsibilities now. so, can there be an outgoing and creative accountant? i find CPA (audit) so boring now and can’t concentrate well. god, i really hope there are fun things to work on in accounting firms.

    yesterday i was at a cpa networking event. i observed many things i hadn’t in the past. A LOT of students were stiff, rigid, closed-off, emotionless….while i was laughing, asking questions, talkative….i have a feeling that accounting firms like to hire the former type of students. most of my classmates who got placements with the big 4 or medium 10 are prime examples of this.

    i’ll give you guys an example about my thinking. so yesterday at the cpa event, when i arrived, the registration table guys forgot to create a name tag for me. the other 250 students already received a name tag each. so i took a blank sticky paper and wrote down: “I’m Manuelo and I’m awesome!” and stuck it to my shirt. i see nothing wrong with this. i’m being myself. and of course, i got a few laughs from the reps.

    another example: after about 10 minutes of introduction, the event was followed by a panel discussion on stage consisting of 4 reps and a host. at the end, the host asked us students if we had any questions to ask the reps. now, i’m looking for a firm that encourages employees to think outside the box, be creative, etc. so i raised my hand, went on stage, and in front of all the 250 students, asked the reps why the earth is round. i got no answer. blank stares. complete awkwardness. you could tell the reps were wondering “why is he asking this?” no big deal, i had a reason, i was comfortable with what i did because that’s who i am.

    i’ve changed drastically over the past 2 years. now i’m wondering if there is such a thing as an accountant who has similar personality as mine. i hope you guys understand what i’m trying to say. i want to finish my cpa designation, but i don’t know if i want to be a cpa forever. i used to like accounting in college, but now i don’t understand why i have to study all the rules when i’m starting to act against the rules.

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 52 total)
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  • #425959

    Frankly, I don't think this post deserves a response. From the two examples you provided, it seems to me that you crave attention, and this post is just another way to get attention.

    But I do want to ask: It sounds to me like you don't really respect the accounting industry and have no interest in accounting, so why are you bothering to get a certification in the industry? I'm also confused about this statement: “why i have to study all the rules when i'm starting to act against the rules.” What rules specifically are you acting against?

    #425960
    MCLKT
    Participant

    @mattz, if you personally don't feel a post deserves a response… don't respond.

    This forum is for accountants of all makes and models to be able to reach out to others in the industry for honest advice and support. No personal attacks allowed. Cool? Cool.

    Manuelo- there are accountants with outgoing and energetic personalities (hello??? I was voted most outgoing of my senior class, lol). My department is full of energy, enthusiasm and attitude. Maybe it's more common in private accounting though?

    In public you are working mostly with other CPAs while in industry we have to interact with all of the other departments within an organization, so I think having a more open personality is beneficial.

    I didn't get the whole Earth is round question though, so I probably would have been like, what is this dude on? But… if you had your reasons, hopefully you got the answer you were looking for.

    A:[73]97 F:[74]85 R:86 B:[74]82
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    #425961
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Manuelo, it sounds to me (and please don't read into my tone) that you are maturing, specifically in the field of accounting.

    It took me some time to understand the ideal mix between professionalism and fun and I am still learning it to this day. No accountants don't have to be boring, square individuals who have pocket protectors, glasses and are boring and otherwise dull. al contraire voltare. But the field of accounting is one that requires a certain level of seriousness, after all you are representing something to someone financially, whether it be in an audit, to the IRS or in giving a client advice on decision making. The point is finances are very personal and to some volatile, so when they think of an accountant, they think of a person who is serious about financial matters and is professional.

    That being said, their also is nothing wrong with being a normal person, who cracks jokes, laughs at things and aims to cause people to smile…..however, not at the level you described in both examples, those examples speak more to your lack of maturity at the time than anything else. Please don't take that as an insult, because it isn't.

    Stay as an accountant. It really is fun.

    #425962
    Zaq
    Participant

    You're just hanging out with a small bubble out of a large whole.

    Regardless, I wouldn't change professions based off the fact that people aren't like you. And I wouldn't be so quick to come to the conclusion that accountants are introverted, boring, etc.

    From my experience, accountants work hard and play harder.

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    #425963

    You getting blank stares to an ill-advised question is not because we lack creative minds. It is probably because you lack common sense.

    There is a high correlation between music and math. You'd be surprised how many accountants play music… you just need to ask. Then again, you'd probably want to ask that before you ask “Why is the world round?”

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    #425964
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Manuelo, I'm not an accountant, but I am a compliance officer in the financial industry–which might be “worse”! At a conference one time I looked across the sea of COs in the auditorium and thought to myself, if I were on a desert island with these people I would swim toward the horizon until I was sure I was too tired to make it back…

    That being said, *I* am one hellvla lot o' fun! And it has served me well. You don't know how many times I've had people say, “Are you SURE your're the COMPLIANCE OFFICER?” I'm convinced many of the jobs I've gotten have been based, of course, on technical knowledge and experience, but in very large part on personality. That being said, there have been occassions where I have made the conscious decision to “tone it done.” You do have to be aware of your audience.

    So my advice (if you want it!) is to use your outoing personality to your advantage. Think of it this way: If there are two candidates that are equally qualified and one has a “better” personality than the other, which one do you think will get the job?!

    #425965
    Tncincy
    Participant

    Accounting is fun, life is fun, cpa functions are fun. If your current position is not providing the energy you want to use, then find another firm or start your own.

    As far as the cpa functions go…the young people there are trying to break into the idea of being an accountant, mingling with the best, and are scared to death……no name tag? didn't register on time? and seriously if you wanted to lighten the mood couldn't you come up with something better than why is the earth round? my sixteen year olds reply was “that's all he got was blank stares? What an idiot, they should have escorted him out and took the name tag.”……

    You want jokes, and laughter….get drunk and go to the AFTER party. I'm sure there were plenty of light hearted, mellow accountant's to dance with…..oh but you probably wasn't invited after the why is the earth round crack.

    Bottom line…I hope you really know the answer to your questions. You don't have to go to school to be a comedian.

    Good luck in the future.

    It begins with a 75
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    #425966
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    None of the below is meant as an insult, I just want to give you an honest answer. Especially because I'm involved with recruiting at my firm so I've been to quite a few events that sound similar to the one you mentioned.

    There's nothing wrong with having some fun. My team knows how to party and we do have a good time at work with each other. There's a fair share of pranks even. But the two examples you gave seem a bit extreme – personally, I know I would give someone weird looks for writing “I'm awesome” on their name tag, or using an accounting event to ask “Why is the earth round”. Inferno is right (at least in my experience) – we work hard and play hard. Yes you can let your personality show, but the examples you provided seem like immature actions for a CPA event. It's all about knowing the boundaries of when you need to be more serious. I don't want to see people acting like robots, but if I go to a recruiting event and someone uses the time to ask me why the world is round, I'm not going to take that person seriously.

    #425967
    OtherGuy
    Member

    There are outgoing and creative accountants, they just don't try and force those two qualities into their occupation because their job functions don't demand it.

    Are you trying to find a profession that allows you to be eccentric at all times? If that is what you mean by your post, then no, accounting isn't for you. You can't change the signature on your professional e-mails to “I'm Manuelo and I'm awesome!” and you can't ask your boss at the end of a staff meeting why the world is round.

    Passed all sections.

    #425968
    jeff
    Keymaster

    I was literally thinking to myself as I got into my truck this morning (it has a 12″ subwoofer and amp…don't call THIS mid-30's accountant non-creative 🙂 that we haven't had any drama lately and that we were due.

    To the OP – go get a part time job roofing houses…the summer is still young. You'll appreciate good ol' boring accounting in no time.

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    Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS)
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    #425969
    mla1169
    Participant

    Big difference between being fun, outgoing and creative and being entirely disrespectful of others time and money during an event. Theres a reason why people don't ask silly questions during such an event…respect. Can you imagine if all 250 students took your lead and went completely off track for no good reason except to express themselves?

    Has nothing to do with accounting or CPA's btw. I don't like when a grocery store cashier wastes MY time by discussing her social life with the bagger while she's ringing me up, Just like your silliness there is a time and place for such things, and that is neither.

    Your personality does not trump others valuable time or money. Sorry.

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    #425970

    First off with anything, no one should all be the same. That's great the OP stood out to some. Honestly I was the quiet one at those events. I know people who got jobs over me because of their personality. I don't take it personally and I don't think there is something wrong with me. It just wasn't the right fit. So maybe your personality will find you the best fit for you. My current position, I won over a more outgoing personality. My office is more uptight and serious, but funny thing is… I am now the most outgoing person in the office and it is all the office can probably handle HA! It's all about balance and a great fit. I hope you find yours, but don't judge others who aren't quite so social as you. And definitely do not judge the whole profession.

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    #425971

    Did you ever find out why the Earth is round, bro

    When I was at the EY International Intern Conference thing last year, there was a Q&A with Jim Turley. Someone seriously grabbed the mic in front of thousands of people and long-windedly asked him if he would be his personal mentor and talk to him on the phone once a week. I think Turley said something during the actual presentation that he takes our development seriously blah blah blah, and the kid actually referenced him saying that as a guilt-mechanism to follow through. I'll never forget that, thousands of jaws hit the floor at once.

    #425972
    jeff
    Keymaster

    I was once asked in an interview how many McDonald's there were in the U.S.

    “Why is the Earth round” would be a good one too 🙂

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    Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS)
    NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE | Another71
    #425973
    icanhazcpa
    Member

    I think there's a fine fine line between showing your personality and doing too much. It's clear to you now from what the others in the thread have said that you did too much in this situation. I have problems with being too outgoing and crazy, and that's something I really have to concentrate on in professional situations. You just have to learn over time what's appropriate and what isn't. The time to let your personality show is when talking to someone, but it's also important to feel the situation and tell if that particular person is going to respond well to you. What I do is test the waters, I'll let a little of my personality out and see how they respond. If it's favorable I'll continue and if not I'll reel it in and be a little stiffer. But I wouldn't come out of the gate dancing and making jokes. It's just something you have to learn for yourself over time. I luckily found a great firm with laid-back people where I feel I can be myself but I still have to pull it together and be a professional when interacting with clients.

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