I am deeply disappointed that FASB’s made the list, and IRC sections and regulations did not. Also, to go along with not sleeping and lack of work life balance, it’s not often these days that you see a big4 public accountant sans blackberry (or some other e-mail/phone device) which cuts into their sleeping/life.
I need to see 10 key on here. I can’t function without my 10-key. When someone asks me to add two numbers, my hand jutts out for my 10-key, regardless of where I am.
This is soo true. My gf and I are both accountants at public, and the list is by far the most accurate ever… our lives are “SAD” We sleep and eat at the firm… often run into people who use the IRS reg/sec code language. Sometimes, it can confused the shit of uss too…
How about cold calls from recruiters. I checked my voicemail today and had 5 messages from recruiters. I looked at my co-worker and commented on how much I hated recruiters and their stupid voicemails, but on the inside I was beaming at the off-chance that someone out there appreciates my accounting skills.
You need a post on overtime. Not so much that accountants like the overtime, but they love talking about how many hours they worked in a given month, quarter, year.
Need to add that everything goes on a spreadsheet, and that , all those overtime hours are because of deadlines of something that ends in an “end”. ie, month end, quarter end, year end . But accountting never ends and they love that!
1) a client who cant give an electronic trial balance. you are forced to foot 50 pages of paper and then input it in your tb or wp software. bill 2 hours over budget on fof out of spite
2) clients who completely ignore the pbc list and are surprised when you walk in monday
3) hotels without complementary breakfast
4) clients with anything less than a 20 cup coffee maker
5) balances at or slightly above scope
6) that one printer no one takes because it never has ink in it and cant seem to grab less than eight sheets of paper when it prints
7) anyone named becker
8) calculators smaller than 6 by 6
9) clients who ask “are you working bankers hours” when you walk in 830… after working till midnight and turning off the lights the night before
We need to have a category for creative charging of hours, for those few days of availability that we get throughout the year. Finding the balance between “self-study”, “sick”, “general and administrative” and “development” is crucial when attempting to cover your tracks after a much deserved afternoon at the mall or three-hour lunch.
We also need a post on the concept of the audit team. Even when one is finished with his or her work for the day, that individual cannot go home until the team is ready to go. Finding discreet ways to keep yourself entertained from 8-12 at night, while waiting for the…more methodical…peopleto finish their testing over 5 selections is very important. Whoever said you have to be smart to be in public accounting is just blowing smoke up your…nevermind. Also refer to security screens, which are crucial when passing the time. Right now I am sitting in an audit room and every single person is chatting about nothing related to accounting, has been for the last hour, and I know that we’re going to be staying late!
I work at a Big 4 and I have made that TOP 20 list my life. Next week I am turning 40 and I must say having that list as the backbone of my life has helped me be successful in business as well as with the ladies. For those that do not know just ask Nyer and KB.
on 01 Mar 2009 at 2:50 pm22Old school or no school
I can’t believe “Dumb/Under-Qualified Clients” didn’t make the list. We regularly deal with people in their 40′s and 50′s who never bothered to learn or do anything outside of their “job description” and aren’t even really qualified to do what’s required to fulfull their “job description.”
I have always been confused when I go in to a client and realize that the CFO or Controller does not have a CPA or any other certification! That makes the job, um, Hell. How did they get the job? Shout out to all the Rare CFO’s and Controllers who are really good and make the audit flow the way it should!!
Whenever I speak to people they hardly know what an auditor is/does… I generally just tell people I’m an accountant, but even that’s tiresome because people instantly ask if I can do their tax…
The writer has written a superior article. I got your point and there is nothing to argue about. It is like the following universal truth that you can not disagree with: The truth is no one knows the truth. I will be back.
Welcome to Free-VPN-Unlim.com http://free-vpn-unlim.com/tech.html
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“Ctrl+C”, “Ctrl+V”, “Alt+Tab” and other keyboard shortcuts…
Or what about a requirement to have at least 20 applications or instances of applications open at one time and using all them…or appearing to use all of them just to look busy.
Or what about being OCD about having dozens of folders in Outlook to organize emails. This can more effeciently accomplished using rules and other Outlook features. This also carries over into the folders we use in My Documents.
I am glad to have found a community of fellow accountants…this is good stuff.
on 06 Jun 2011 at 1:16 pm44Glad I'm not at a Big 4
Very funny site. Makes me pity my peers that went to a Big 4. I really like my mid-size firm, though I get a taste of what the Big 4 must be like when tax season rolls around… and the end of audit season…
I am deeply disappointed that FASB’s made the list, and IRC sections and regulations did not. Also, to go along with not sleeping and lack of work life balance, it’s not often these days that you see a big4 public accountant sans blackberry (or some other e-mail/phone device) which cuts into their sleeping/life.
I have an accountant for a roommate and this list is so scary and accurate that it is unreal. They too, work at one of the Big 4.
Where is the reference to the ‘crackberry’…..?
I need to see 10 key on here. I can’t function without my 10-key. When someone asks me to add two numbers, my hand jutts out for my 10-key, regardless of where I am.
Also quite necessary – 11 column paper!!
I agree w/ the crackberry ref… as an acctnt at a big 4… the first thing i do in the morning and the last thing i do at night is check by BB…
and the 10 key… come on now… this is a necessity… i don’t trust math in my head any longer…
How about memos – we do create memos day in and day out and can even explain the mortgage crisis with a memo!!
This is soo true. My gf and I are both accountants at public, and the list is by far the most accurate ever… our lives are “SAD” We sleep and eat at the firm… often run into people who use the IRS reg/sec code language. Sometimes, it can confused the shit of uss too…
So this is what I have to look forward to after I graduate this semester………….I can’t wait!
That’s what she said!
Ha, this list is 95% accurate.
How about cold calls from recruiters. I checked my voicemail today and had 5 messages from recruiters. I looked at my co-worker and commented on how much I hated recruiters and their stupid voicemails, but on the inside I was beaming at the off-chance that someone out there appreciates my accounting skills.
You need a post on overtime. Not so much that accountants like the overtime, but they love talking about how many hours they worked in a given month, quarter, year.
Need to add that everything goes on a spreadsheet, and that , all those overtime hours are because of deadlines of something that ends in an “end”. ie, month end, quarter end, year end . But accountting never ends and they love that!
This list is WeakSauce from not including the Sauce.
You need to add mileage as one of our favorite things… with gas prices so low, we are willing to travel as much as possible to claim mileage money!
Things accountants hate
1) a client who cant give an electronic trial balance. you are forced to foot 50 pages of paper and then input it in your tb or wp software. bill 2 hours over budget on fof out of spite
2) clients who completely ignore the pbc list and are surprised when you walk in monday
3) hotels without complementary breakfast
4) clients with anything less than a 20 cup coffee maker
5) balances at or slightly above scope
6) that one printer no one takes because it never has ink in it and cant seem to grab less than eight sheets of paper when it prints
7) anyone named becker
8) calculators smaller than 6 by 6
9) clients who ask “are you working bankers hours” when you walk in 830… after working till midnight and turning off the lights the night before
10) outdoor inventory
We need to have a category for creative charging of hours, for those few days of availability that we get throughout the year. Finding the balance between “self-study”, “sick”, “general and administrative” and “development” is crucial when attempting to cover your tracks after a much deserved afternoon at the mall or three-hour lunch.
We also need a post on the concept of the audit team. Even when one is finished with his or her work for the day, that individual cannot go home until the team is ready to go. Finding discreet ways to keep yourself entertained from 8-12 at night, while waiting for the…more methodical…peopleto finish their testing over 5 selections is very important. Whoever said you have to be smart to be in public accounting is just blowing smoke up your…nevermind. Also refer to security screens, which are crucial when passing the time. Right now I am sitting in an audit room and every single person is chatting about nothing related to accounting, has been for the last hour, and I know that we’re going to be staying late!
How about Happy Hour?
How about religiously checking NASBA for your CPA exam score?
I work at a Big 4 and I have made that TOP 20 list my life. Next week I am turning 40 and I must say having that list as the backbone of my life has helped me be successful in business as well as with the ladies. For those that do not know just ask Nyer and KB.
I can’t believe “Dumb/Under-Qualified Clients” didn’t make the list. We regularly deal with people in their 40′s and 50′s who never bothered to learn or do anything outside of their “job description” and aren’t even really qualified to do what’s required to fulfull their “job description.”
I have always been confused when I go in to a client and realize that the CFO or Controller does not have a CPA or any other certification! That makes the job, um, Hell. How did they get the job? Shout out to all the Rare CFO’s and Controllers who are really good and make the audit flow the way it should!!
I dont see timesheet on your list
What about red pencils?
#30 – Round numbers
You can’t stop at 29!!! And please, no one, ad a #31 with out adding a #32
No wonder accountants love office romances so much – “normal” people will not listen to a person spouting off FASB pronouncements constantly.
And their naive optimism
Depreciatingly saying “I’m an accountant” when someone asks you what you do, even though you know saying you are an accountant will impress them.
Also,… this is mainly for auditors…
not admiting being an auditors around people
that tends to make people not wanting to talk to you anymore
Whenever I speak to people they hardly know what an auditor is/does… I generally just tell people I’m an accountant, but even that’s tiresome because people instantly ask if I can do their tax…
what about saying: “The big 4″
I love the lame gifts!!
The writer has written a superior article. I got your point and there is nothing to argue about. It is like the following universal truth that you can not disagree with: The truth is no one knows the truth. I will be back.
, Зенит чемпион
Мне очень-очень понравилось!!!
Welcome to Free-VPN-Unlim.com
http://free-vpn-unlim.com/tech.html
A VOIP VPN comprises voice and IP with Virtual Private Network tunnel to offer clients a new methods for delivering each secure voice.
What about…
“Ctrl+C”, “Ctrl+V”, “Alt+Tab” and other keyboard shortcuts…
Or what about a requirement to have at least 20 applications or instances of applications open at one time and using all them…or appearing to use all of them just to look busy.
Or what about being OCD about having dozens of folders in Outlook to organize emails. This can more effeciently accomplished using rules and other Outlook features. This also carries over into the folders we use in My Documents.
I am glad to have found a community of fellow accountants…this is good stuff.
nice information for me.
Support the author, all right.
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Why is Immaterial not NUMBER 1!?!?!??!?!?!
Very funny site. Makes me pity my peers that went to a Big 4. I really like my mid-size firm, though I get a taste of what the Big 4 must be like when tax season rolls around… and the end of audit season…
(for those not or no longer working in public…)
When management is in the process of tanking your company…
#51 – Being first to know, last to go!
Gotta love that!
What about month end.
#51 – Spotify