Question

ccountant and the Business Owner

A young accountant straight out of school applies for a job advertised in the Sydney Morning Herald. He is interviewed by the owner of a small business who has built it up from scratch.

"I need someone with an accounting degree," says the man, "but mainly I'm looking for someone to do my worrying for me."

"How do you mean?" says the accountant.

"I have lots of things to worry about, but I want someone else to worry about money matters."

"OK," says the accountant. "How much are you offering?"

"You can start on seventy-five thousand," says the owner.

"Seventy-five thousand dollars. How can a business like this afford to pay so much?"

"That," says the man, "is your first worry."

After you have a good laugh (or perhaps a few chuckles), please respond to the following questions:

• What are your career goals?

• What is your reaction to this story?

• Does this story portray the reality of the accountant's work?

• Does this joke portray a stereotype?

• If you agree with the substance of this story in terms of the accountant's role, is this attractive to you as a career?

Answer 1

Career goal
Whatever the career, there might be some common goals for every individuals. It include financial earnings, improvement in knowledge, skills and experience, social status, professional growth as well as growth of the company. Depending on the nature of the job it may vary. In the given scenario, we can analyze this from the perspective of an accountant. For them also, the career goals might be an improvement in his knowledge and experience, financial rewards etc. The growth of the company also forms an important part of the career goals because it will indirectly benefits the other goals.

Reaction to the story
In this story the business owner offers a big amount to the accountant and says that, that should be the worry of the accountant. And he also saying that he need someone to worry about money matters. I have a negative reaction to the story. Because, it is not the duty of an accountant to worry about the financial matters and earn money fo business. The accountant also can play something for the improvement of the business, but not in full.

Does this story portray the reality of the accountant's work?

The story portray the reality of the most of the accountants work. The major role of the accountant is the recording, analysis and presentation of financial matters of the company, most of the companies treat them like an overall controller of finance and they have to do all the activities of the business from planning to reporting in business. Mainly small business units treat accountants like one man to handle everything.

Does this joke portray a stereotype?

Yes, the joke portray a stereotype. Because it is the belief of majority of people that the accountants role is to earn money for the business and he is the man behind all financial matters in a company. But the reality is that an accountant's role is the recording, analysis and presentation of financial data in such a way that helps top management in taking business decisions.

If you agree with the substance of this story in terms of the accountant's role, is this attractive to you as a career?

No. In this story, the owner gives the accountant the duty to worry about the financial matters of the company and it is his worry to make money even to get salary. The major role of an accountant is to record, analyze and present the financial data related to a company and to ensure that they comply with the financial Laws and regulations etc. The major functions of running a business is the role of top management and all. it is not possible for accountant to run the business and earn money. Such a company will never give job satisfaction to an accountant. He might be over burdened. The accountant can do many things for the growth of the company by making proper financial planning budgeting analysis of performance etc but not in doing business and earning money.