Gone are the days when you could be excused for thinking accountancy is a “boring” profession. Today you study at a college in Ilford, tomorrow – the world!
Career paths for those study accountancy are increasingly varied.
How about the USA Management Accountants Federal Bureau of Investigation?
Accountants have played an important role in the FBI since its creation in 1908 when a dozen bank examiners were among the original force of 34 investigators. Today, around 15 percent of agents qualify as special agent accountants.
Your profession could even take you to the Oscars! Well, counting the votes for the Academy Awards anyway. Accountants spend around 1,700 hours sifting through votes to verify who gets those coveted gold statues.
Okay, so not every accounting career will take you to the FBI or Hollywood, but it could take you further than you realise. Collaboration, problem-solving, working with new technology and making strategic recommendations are all part of the “numbers game”. Your career could integrate you into decision-making at commercial ventures, charities, healthcare organisations, education institutions and social enterprises. Every day, major decisions are based on the acumen and forward-planning of accountancy teams.
Some accountants “take their work home with them” too. Did you know that bubblegum was invented in 1926 by an accountant? Walter E. Diemer worked at a trading card manufacturer but experimented in his spare time. He “accidently” found a formula for bubblegum. The only food colouring he could find was pink, setting the trend that still exists today.
Evidence of accountants being trendsetters dates back even further. Matthaeus Schwarz, a 16th Century German accountant, published the first book of fashion; watercolour paintings of his outfits from all periods of his life up to aged 63.
Bringing accountancy right back up-to-date, and the myth of the numbers “geek” suggests that they use complex calculations and an advanced understanding of maths. In fact, modern technology and fast developing software tackles the data collection and analysis.
If you need any further evidence of how vibrant and dynamic this career is, one award-winning London accountancy firm has a “Dreaming” room. Their clients lie back in deckchairs while the team comes up with creative ways to help their business grow. And if anyone still thinks accountancy is “dull”, check out the edgy advertising campaign launched by the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) which features tattoos and body arts.
Interested in making your own history in the accounting world? Call Mont Rose College today to find out how you can get started!
