Question

There are a range of accounting stereotypes relevant to the profession.

These include appearance and personality stereotypes.

Accountants are boring! Evaluate why this stereotype has become attached to accounting and why this stereotype is relevant or persists in the profession.

If you could please refer to external research that would be great

Answer 1

Accounting is one of the very important departments in an organization. It is highly essential for all organization. But still, there are many stereotypes in our society related to the accounting profession. Very popular and important stereotypes are the following:-

1. Accountants are number crunchers.

Most people believe that accountants are number crunchers. It is a common belief that a person should be really good at mathematics to do well in the accounting profession. This is completely wrong because of accountant mostly use addition, subtraction, multiplication, and divisions only in accounting. These are just basic functions in maths.

2. Accountants are for filing taxes.

This is one of another popular stereotype in the society that the accountants only job is to file taxes. Companies hire accountants to do taxes for the company. This is also completely wrong. Taxation is one of the various functions an accountant can do.

3. Accounting is a conventional process.

Accountants do not do anything new. They always follow what is already written in the books years ago. This stereotype is not true at all. Major development and changes in the international business transactions is a challenge to the accounting profession. International accounting standard bodies need to work together for amending or introducing new standards for accounting that facilitate these international transactions. All accountants need to learn these standards and adopt them in their profession.

4. Accountants don't contribute anything to the society.

Many people say that accountants don't contribute anything to the society like doctors and scientists. But we have to consider the fact accountants are highly essential for all industry. Even hospitals and scientific research centers need accountants to record their spending and earnings. Accountants are actually facilitating their processes.

5. Accountants are very serious people.

Accountants are very serious and nerdy people. They don't have fun. Accountants are very serious about their work and they don't talk to people.

These stereotypes about accounting are very popular in our society, but these are completely wrong and people who don't have any idea about accounting usually believe in these. Accounting is a great and highly essential field for all organizations. An organization can not continue without the accounting department.