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Study show that people think that data analysts and accountants are boring

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Re: Study show that people think that data analysts and accountants are boring

#51

Post by technobabbler »

spacemanmatt wrote: post #50
technobabbler wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can you blame them? Social appeal has significant mating and survival consequences. I think the whole lonely geek thing has gotten better in the last decade, but it used to be really bad. Like the Lone Gunmen in the X-Files (really dating myself now). If you're in that stereotype, either you end up finding a lucky niche that appreciates your talent (easier these days) or you can easily end up ostracized and terribly…

> Can you blame them? Can't and don't. It's just a measurable fact of the human condition. I'm not sure why you thought I would.

Not you personally, sorry. It's just a saying. "Can anyone blame them" would've been a better choice of phrasing.

Re: Study show that people think that data analysts and accountants are boring

#52

Post by LudwigNagasena »

tailspin2019 wrote: post #19

I couldn't help chuckle at this one. I've known quite a few accountants over the years. Some fit this typical stereotype rather well, and others have been a bit more "dynamic". However, they are notable in that nearly all of them have been some of the nicest people I've ever met, with very high levels of integrity and authenticity. Very level headed, high attention to detail, professional, knowledgeable and kind. Obv…

> I cannot say the same however for software developers (of which I'm one). Far more variability there!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Out-group_homogeneity

Re: Study show that people think that data analysts and accountants are boring

#53

Post by jqpabc123 »

hef19898 wrote: post #46
jqpabc123 wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

a higher barrier to entry to become even a "junior" accountant I couldn't help chuckle at this one. When I was in college, engineering was known as "pre-accounting" --- those who couldn't handle the math went into accounting. This is not to say accountants aren't nice people but the math involved is what my engineering professors disparaging referred to as "kindergarten" algebra so the barrier to entry is really not…

Nobody said accounting math is particularly hard so. Everything around it is. Once you fail to be able to publish SEC required balance sheets because those mathematically highly skilled engineers screwed up your books by ignoring every single accounting standard, you might come to realize the value of good accountants. Well, after those good accountants left, that is..

because those mathematically highly skilled engineers screwed up your books by ignoring every single accounting standard

Sounds like some accountant made a really bad choice in accounting software --- probably went with the most cost effective option.

Re: Study show that people think that data analysts and accountants are boring

#54

Post by ss108 »

jqpabc123 wrote: post #43
ss108 wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He didn't mean in terms of skill or difficulty; he was referring to the bullshit one has to go through to actually be an accountant (certifications, etc).

Just like a lot of other professions --- only easier. Try passing a legal bar exam or becoming a licensed engineer.

I have passed the bar exam actually lol

Can't say whether or not it's easier than an exams to become an accountant. Bear in mind though that one needs to keep taking exams to maintain CPA status, whereas in law, we have no such requirement. Just have to keep doing (usually bullshit) CLEs.

In any event, any kind of licensure is more than we have to become devs, which I think is the main point.

edit: I see your point in another comment that one need not be a CPA to be an accountant, and that's fair enough.

Re: Study show that people think that data analysts and accountants are boring

#55

Post by LudwigNagasena »

jqpabc123 wrote: post #49
tailspin2019 wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And yet all the accountants I’ve worked with have had to be able to prove their ability by way of recognised qualifications. Ie legally they have to have certain qualifications in order to do their job. Whereas I dropped out of school at 17 after being on track to fail my A Level in Maths and yet I recently built an ERP system for a $100m revenue company. No one checked my (lack of) qualifications! (Nor did my lackin…

Ie legally they have to have certain qualifications in order to do their job. No, they don't. Only about half the accountants in the USA are licensed CPAs. And you don't need a college degree to become one in many states.

Surely a degree is a qualification…

Re: Study show that people think that data analysts and accountants are boring

#56

Post by tailspin2019 »

jqpabc123 wrote: post #49
tailspin2019 wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And yet all the accountants I’ve worked with have had to be able to prove their ability by way of recognised qualifications. Ie legally they have to have certain qualifications in order to do their job. Whereas I dropped out of school at 17 after being on track to fail my A Level in Maths and yet I recently built an ERP system for a $100m revenue company. No one checked my (lack of) qualifications! (Nor did my lackin…

Ie legally they have to have certain qualifications in order to do their job. No, they don't. Only about half the accountants in the USA are licensed CPAs. And you don't need a college degree to become one in many states.

Hmm yes you’re right actually (although I’m talking from a UK standpoint). Maybe I’m conflating the legal requirement to meet certain accounting filing standards vs a requirement for a particular qualification (the qualification being the way to ensure you are fully trained in those standards).

However for companies over a certain size it would be very rare, at least in the UK, to employ someone without formal recognised accounting qualifications.

And for certain accounting practices (auditing accounts for example) then there are actually legal requirements around having qualifications from a recognised body.

So you’re partly right, but for all intents and purposes in the UK at least, there are de facto qualification requirements for working as an accountant. (I would say for anything more than just preparing simple accounts for sole traders or individuals).

This accepted minimum qualification level is not matched in the software development field. Even if “a degree” is listed as required, this can often be sidestepped by being able to prove one’s track record.

My comparison between software development and accounting was somewhat tongue-in-check anyway. I was really just trying to stand up for the accountants :)

Re: Study show that people think that data analysts and accountants are boring

#57

Post by hef19898 »

jqpabc123 wrote: post #53
hef19898 wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nobody said accounting math is particularly hard so. Everything around it is. Once you fail to be able to publish SEC required balance sheets because those mathematically highly skilled engineers screwed up your books by ignoring every single accounting standard, you might come to realize the value of good accountants. Well, after those good accountants left, that is..

because those mathematically highly skilled engineers screwed up your books by ignoring every single accounting standard Sounds like some accountant made a really bad choice in accounting software --- probably went with the most cost effective option.

Oh, the software is just fine! If your fancy engineers are picking, say, training as a cost item for, say, equipment when creating the purchase requisition you can barely blame accounting when they catch that too late. And yes, that works in all systems if you put the necessary details into the line description text instead of some field your ERP system is able to analyze.

Re: Study show that people think that data analysts and accountants are boring

#58

Post by tailspin2019 »

LudwigNagasena wrote: post #52
tailspin2019 wrote: post #19

I couldn't help chuckle at this one. I've known quite a few accountants over the years. Some fit this typical stereotype rather well, and others have been a bit more "dynamic". However, they are notable in that nearly all of them have been some of the nicest people I've ever met, with very high levels of integrity and authenticity. Very level headed, high attention to detail, professional, knowledgeable and kind. Obv…

> I cannot say the same however for software developers (of which I'm one). Far more variability there! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Out-group_homogeneity

Interesting!

However I’m not affected by cognitive biases, so this probably doesn’t apply to me. /s

Re: Study show that people think that data analysts and accountants are boring

#59

Post by culopatin »

FinanceAnon wrote: post #11

I think for many people the definition of boring is: - anything that I don't understand - anything that forces me to think

Although the study says the among the most boring hobbies is watching tv, which everyone understands and evokes almost no thought at all.

Re: Study show that people think that data analysts and accountants are boring

#60

Post by jqpabc123 »

toyg wrote: post #40
jqpabc123 wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

a higher barrier to entry to become even a "junior" accountant I couldn't help chuckle at this one. When I was in college, engineering was known as "pre-accounting" --- those who couldn't handle the math went into accounting. This is not to say accountants aren't nice people but the math involved is what my engineering professors disparaging referred to as "kindergarten" algebra so the barrier to entry is really not…

I think there is a bit of confusion between topics here. Software Engineering as an academic topic can be very difficult; as a career, because of various factors over the last 30 years, it's anything but. Accounting as an academic topic is fundamentally very simple (it's mostly about giving precise names to money movements); as a career, because of rigorous qualification paths in most countries, it's anything but.

because of rigorous qualification paths in most countries, it's anything but.

LOL!

Here is are the requirements to take a CPA exam in the USA.

   US Citizen, 18 years old with a valid SSN
   120 hrs of college credit or a bachelor's degree.
Note that your 120 hrs doesn't have to be in accounting. These "rigorous qualifications" are about one step above the manager at your local fast food restaurant.

https://www.ais-cpa.com/cpa-exam-requirements/

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