Why are accountants so boring?

Question

They are. They really are. In the course of my work I estimate I've met over a thousand of them. They seem to have four topics of conversation: house prices, football (excluding women) money, holiday destinations.

My theory is that the kind of person who becomes an accountant is likely to be someone who supports order and control, and is therefore not likely to be given to flights of fancy or abandon in their personal lives.

Any thoughts?

I was of course forgetting the main topic of conversation: work.

Answer 1

so they can get more money from you

Answer 2

Accounting is widely misunderstood and sometimes mistaken for book keeping ... and there can be an element of book keeping involved but accountancy is much more. Not all accountants are equal. Some are happy to deal with the routine aspects of accounting while others rise to the top of their profession and provide guidance to the most senior levels of government and industry. An accountant will have covered all the essential financial subjects - statutory accounts, VAT, corporation tax, investment appraisal, management accounting etc. - and also commercial law, company law, economics, organisational behaviour, systems analysis, data processing, strategic management, decision making and much more besides. An accountant is well qualified in the business of business - frequently better than the owner of the business. A big difference between a good accountant and any other successful business person is that the skill of the accountant is often only noticed in its absence. While everything goes well, others claim the credit whereas, without the intellect and creativity of the accountants, it is unlikely to ever be a success. Maybe thoughtful, analytical, creative people like good accountants are not the sort of people to make a fuss or to draw attention to themselves while earning or enjoying fruits of their labour. I'd call that discreet rather than boring. To someone who does not understand what is involved or who lacks a grasp of the power of organised information, it might seem as boring as, say, cricket seems to me. I am sure there is a lot going on in cricket but I can't see it.

Answer 3

I am not really defending accountancy although having a grasp of financial matters isn't a bad thing but why are the four topics you mentioned, house prices, football, money and holidfay destinations boring ?
Although I must admit I have encountered some very difficult accountants.

Answer 4

It's a bit like asking, why are people who work in sales some of the most selfish people you will ever meet on the planet?
They behave like children in the workplace and need their ego massaging every 5 minutes, they can't think before opening their mouths and believe everyone who works in the company exists to make their lives easier. The big question is, why can't they generate more business with new customers instead of wasting their time trying to push orders through for "customers" who have extended their credit facility - a sale is not a sale until it's paid for.
Just joining in with the spirit of generalisation.

Answer 5

Nature or nurture? Are accountants born or made? Obviously they have to be trained, although to work in this role you need a logical, methodical and organised mind, attention to detail and to be able to work in a solitary role. Although we are what we do and if you spend 8-10 hours per day number crunching, inevitably you will adapt to fit into this role and hence become... logical, mehodical, careful & quiet. Entise an accountant to drink a bottle of vodka to see a radical change, tho don't be surprised if the next day they estimate the hours that have been taken off their life by this evening of frivolity + expenses!

Answer 6

Some of them actually enjoy looking at tax returns as well.
My cousin is an accountant and he says a good accountant should be able to save you his fee and a lot more.
Legal fiddling a sense of achievement when you save a lot of tax money. Usually only big businesses and the rich benefit from this.
Boring to us but very profitable for them

Answer 7

Actually they are socially inadequate, which is why they choose numbers to work with. They have poor people skills, and are the worst managers - either they are too lax, or too stern. I have to admit that I am one, but I'd never socialise with any of them. They live to work.

Answer 8

It is true, my neighbour is an accountant....during the day I can have great conversation with his wife but if we ever go over in the evening it is so dull and uncomfortable....maybe it's a faulty gene that determines weither you will be an accountant or anything else??!!! LOL

Answer 9

Because all there focus is in the security of there personal lives and boring job believe it or not its what makes them happy................well some the others tend to crave the security of a well paid job, wife and kids

Answer 10

I think that is due to the nature of their job. Ones profession does shape up their personality a lot, as the major part of their time is spent auditing, they tend to get a bit creepy. If you put them with some creative types for a while, they will start speaking their language

Answer 11

Hmm. "In the course of my work I estimate I've met over a thousand of them". I smell auditor.