Any accountants out there

**Toolin Around** · 24th June 2006, 10:58 AM

I going back to uni and was looking at accounting. Any out there that would like to give me a bit of insite into your world I would be very appreciative.

**Coldamus** · 24th June 2006, 01:43 PM

I think Sturdee is one. I was in chartered and public accounting for many years, then moved to corporate accounting and then gradually into programming and I.T.

The greatest and (to me at least) only benefit of having accounting qualifications is the ease of finding work.
In chartered and public accounting particularly, there is always plenty of demand.

I tried going back to chartered accounting but after the freedom of commerce, I found the profession too regimented, stifling and restrictive. I can no longer handle the lack of freedom and now just do part time bookwork between programming jobs and anything else I can find.

It doesn't have to be stifling - it depends on the firm. For example I once worked for a public accounting firm in the Surry Hills area of Sydney. We specialised in accounting for cash businesses and those with incomplete or non-existing records. Being close to the Cross, our clientele included numerous brothels, SP bookies, illegal casinos, police, horse racing trainers, jockeys, journalists, etc. as well as the "Mr Big" of that time and other "colourful" identities.

The stereotype of accounting being dull and boring doesn't necessarily apply.

As the newest staff member with my own client list, the firm used to allocate to me all of the new clients who came in for an interview. So one day , when I saw a strangely dressed fellow waiting at reception wearing a pink suit and carrying a ladies handbag, I tried to make myself scarce. However the receptionist found me and there was no way out of it.

I invited the chap into my office. He told me he wanted his tax return done, so I took out a form and started to draft it for him. I asked his name.

"Susan Elisabeth Smythe." he said (name changed for anonymity). Not batting an eyelid, I wrote it down and asked his occupation.

"Female impersonator." he said. I thought "Ooh, we've got a right one here!" but wrote it down anyway.

It turned out he wasn't kidding and started taking off his shirt and singlet to show me the operating scars where he'd had breast implants and later had them removed.

At this point the interview started to disintegrate as I could not get a consistent account of his occupation and work history. It seemed he had indeed been a female impersonator but also claimed to be a counsellor for a local welfare group, among other things. I recognised the name of the welfare group as one that helps drug users and realised he was one of their "clients".

This explained some of his irrational behaviour. Between answering questions, he had been showing me how to balance a sheet of A4 paper vertically on his nose and was actually doing so quite well.

A quick phone call from another room confirmed my suspicions so the next problem was how to finish off the interview. We weren't getting anywhere with the tax return. He'd put his singlet and shirt back on but at one point started undoing his trousers. This was getting embarrassing.

I asked the senior partner for advice and he said the chap was obviously worried about his tax, so just get him to sign a blank tax form and ask him to come back later.

He was spot on. I did that and the fellow went away happy. He never did come back though.

I learned one important thing that day. The secret to balancing a piece of paper on your nose is to put a slight curve in it first. I've never been able to do it as well as he did though.

I would love to write a book "Confessions of a Tax Accountant" but if it included the juicy bits I'd need a bulletproof Mercedes - not worth it.

regards
Coldamus

**Toolin Around** · 26th June 2006, 10:57 AM

Hmmm note to self... Don't ask transvestites to show you their scars, no matter how curios you are

I guess what I'm looking for is are you satisfied in your career choice. What sort of salary can one expect as they climb and gain experience. Is it a difficult process obtaining your CPA/CA status. Are Australian accountants able to find work in other countries; the real question here is are their qualifications recognized internationally... My wife and I feel this will be the place we plan to live out our lives but we want to live for short periods (year or two) in other places such as England, Hawaii... Also cause we decided to do the vagabond life we will most likely have to work well beyond the regular retirement age and I thought it might be one of those sorts of careers that would allow me to do that.

**Coldamus** · 26th June 2006, 12:06 PM