Whats your Motivation?

seven-iron

Hey folks,

I've wanted to be an accountant since I was in transition year and I was always an average student so it was no suprise that I ended up in an IT. My goal was to get into a top 4 firm. When sixth year came around all anybody could talk about was the CAO and people laughed when I said I wanted to go into such a lacklustre and unsexy career. All the Tom, Dick and Harrys were biz admin this, politics that, DCU & UCD blah blah.

The biz admin crowd annoyed me the most because they reckoned they were getting the whole package to be the next Micheal O' Leary, Eh.. he has an accountancy backround d***head's. And the politics geeks; all I have to say is go look what Charles Haughey and Bertie Ahern trained as (accountants in case your not bothered looking it up).

Now four years later in my final year I have secured a top firm. All those other clowns either cant get work or are "taking a year out".

So my point is, because of all this I have a real elitist view of myself and look down my nose at everybody. Narcissistic perhaps.

My next goal is to get my Ferrari. Its not so much for me but for all those old classmates who I want to show up!

Agree? Disagree?
And whats your motivation.
Is Accountancy only a stepping stone on to greater things? Money? Or do you just get some innate pleasure from completing a bank rec or producing a set of accounts for your local joe bloggs newsagents?

take it easy folks and your all invited to my 21st

Hammerarm

Long way to go for the ferrari!

Mr. Incognito

Your post makes me laugh. To be young and naive again.

You'll be back in three years, burnt out and broke. I've yet to meet an accountant that LIKES their job, and I'm in a Big 4 Firm mate.

You'll realise that common sense may take a back seat to "procedure", The best do not always get rewarded and most importantly of all, the money is grossly exaterrated.

You don't sound like a narcassist, you just sound young and, well, clueless. You'll learn though. pm me in three years.

betonit

Mr. Incognito wrote: »

I've yet to meet an accountant that LIKES their job

feckin hell....and ive seen other threads on "hate accountancy".
Has anyone anything positive about the job, as im thinking of starting this Feb with ACCA from scratch as a mature student

Mr. Incognito

Well to be honest mate, it's dull.

It's mind numbing doing the same recs and compliance over and over and over and over.

Consultancy is interesting (I'm in tax) Compliance is repetative and everyone goes in full of p*ss and vinegar and are bored to tears after a year.

Think if you were doing long division, every day for 8 hours. How long before you switch off?

Cordner

My first post on boards.ie

OK- so very few people out there really really love their job. I am sure even Brad Pitt etc sometimes dont want to have to get up and go to work. But- surely if you all HATE your job that much, you are in the wrong job?
I worked as a hotel GM for years. I moved into accountancy cause being in a front facing, people management position for 10 years took its toll big time- not to mention the shift work etc.

I dont LOVE my job. Mainly cause of dealing with less then intelligent bosses (I work in industry). But- maybe some of you think this is sad- I get huge satisfaction from a job well done, knowing that I have balanced a seemingly impossible account, being able to produce figures in minutes when needed, seeing a well run accounts department, and a big sense of achievement when I see a trainee in my department 'get' something and improve because of my training & support.

When I was asked 'why accountancy' after being a hotel manager, schmoozing customers, being served free meals in the lap of luxury every night, delegating and directing, I had a few simple answers; Firstly, 'Accounts' dont call in sick on New Years Day (staff do and I would have to arrange cover or do it myself), there is rarely an 'Accounts' emergency that means coming in on a day off or even in the middle of the night, once an account is balanced, or a P&L submitted- you can move on, and there is a HUGE sense of achievement in that.

Not to sound big headed, but I know I do a good job. I produce relevant reports in a timely manner, I save money where necessary and advise on expenditure where needed. I can look at a successful enterprise and think 'ah what would they have done without me!'. And then I get to leave at 5pm on a Friday and forget about it till Monday morning. If it wasnt for a moronic boss (ex builder) life would be pretty good!! I cant comment on working as an accountant in Practice- but in Industry I find its rarely dull. And my colleagues are all great people. Not boring.

So- for all of you that think accounts are boring and hate your job- maybe its time for a change. Why dont you try being a hotel manager? I bet you will be eating your words within weeks and begging to come back!!

seven-iron

Cordner- i agree completly, for eg. who doesnt want to stay in bed on a cold morning, wheter your brad pitt or ben the binman.

I'll be starting in a big practice at the end of the year (top 4) so it will be interesting to compare it to working in a small practice like the 8-man one I was in last summer.

I find it strange so many people dont like what they do. In the small practice I loved shooting the sh*t with all the clients. It had variety. I just hope I'm not pigeon holed when I start!

P.S. Hopefully ferrari wont be too long away by the way!!

Hammerarm

I've worked in a small practice and now in a large firm. I enjoyed both, never have a prob with it. While red tape in larger practices is bulls$%t common sense will prevail. That is what is rewarded, as you will often find red tape is often someone in a position who doesnt know what they are delegating but their pay grade entails mgt!!!! And eventually every bluffer gets found out.

LoveDucati2

The main motivation should be that you do an excellent job, as an accountant you have a responsibility to your profession, that you are above board.

If you work hard after a number of years you will find most accountants are leaders, CEO's and CFO's and generally the people with the most logic and common sense, who appreciate that there is 4 sides to every story and they generally understand all the information before making decisons.

Jesus we should be the government

Pisco Sour

seven-iron wrote: »

Hey folks,

I've wanted to be an accountant since I was in transition year and I was always an average student so it was no suprise that I ended up in an IT. My goal was to get into a top 4 firm. When sixth year came around all anybody could talk about was the CAO and people laughed when I said I wanted to go into such a lacklustre and unsexy career. All the Tom, Dick and Harrys were biz admin this, politics that, DCU & UCD blah blah.

The biz admin crowd annoyed me the most because they reckoned they were getting the whole package to be the next Micheal O' Leary, Eh.. he has an accountancy backround d***head's. And the politics geeks; all I have to say is go look what Charles Haughey and Bertie Ahern trained as (accountants in case your not bothered looking it up).

Now four years later in my final year I have secured a top firm. All those other clowns either cant get work or are "taking a year out".

So my point is, because of all this I have a real elitist view of myself and look down my nose at everybody. Narcissistic perhaps.

My next goal is to get my Ferrari. Its not so much for me but for all those old classmates who I want to show up!

Agree? Disagree?
And whats your motivation.
Is Accountancy only a stepping stone on to greater things? Money? Or do you just get some innate pleasure from completing a bank rec or producing a set of accounts for your local joe bloggs newsagents?

take it easy folks and your all invited to my 21st

You make me laugh. Give it one year and you will feel ridiculous for writing this rubbish.

And also no need to be arrogant about having a job in the big 4. NOBODY is jealous of people who work in accountancy! Nobody! I know this from 15 months of experience so far in the profession!

ice age

hahahaah
I am laughing because 98% of every accountant i know talk endlessly about how boring their job turned out to be.
Funny that i am just at the dissertation stage of my MBA and will be starting my ACCA in December. Unswayed by all the discouraging comments i get about the profession.

I really dont like a repititive job but a sense of achievement and accomplishment when a difficult account balances sounds like a good challenge. Plus the long term plan is to end up as a consultant.

Point? One mans meat is another mans poison!
If you dont like it, leave. If you are staying due to the "pay" more than the "job", well there you go! its not that bad afterall is it?

LouOB

Lol at accountancy as a whole really as it is v v boring
True accounts dont call in sick but work in Fund Accounting and you will have deadlines constantly. Picture pulling of hair when application goes down again and you have deadline at 10am then 12pm then 2pm on BD2 ffs. Then 30% of your funds liquidate and left with excess staff and still a dodgy IT (people and application IMO)

Most accountancy jobs are repetitive and most elietist sounding jobs are boring also.
I have worked in practice, industry, treasury and now (kinda) management. Its all relative and boring. You still have AML, compliance, deadlines, clients, querys and India to deal with no matter which job you are in.
Also, Ferrai, high hopes are wonderful but dont come crying to us when you have failed audit or corporate reporting for second time (CPA, ACCA. CIMA, chartered or other). Its hard
By the time you can afford a Ferrai you wont even want one
(but if you do can I get lift to pension office?)

Running Bing

LouOB wrote: »

Most accountancy jobs are repetitive and most elietist sounding jobs are boring also.

This is the crux of the matter....boring repetitive tasks, dealing with arsehole customers/clients, working weekends/12 hour days....thats not accountancy thats life.

All jobs are crap...thats why somebody is willing to pay you to do it:D

Accountancy may not be the greatest job in the world but as far as jobs in general go I think we have it pretty good.....and even if you do hate it, it opens up a lot more doors than most jobs.

ps: Surely the op has to be taking the p1ss? And if he's not, as somebody starting with a big4 firm this year, I can only hope he is not representative of big4 employees:eek:

seven-iron

Initially it may be boring but you have to look at the bigger picture. Everyone has their own personnel goals. I'm hoping my recent success leads to bigger things and opens more doors and gives me more options. All this gives me a good sense of purpose. Im getting the feeling you all think I'm mad or naive. But whats the alternative.

prinz

seven-iron wrote: »

Im getting the feeling you all think I'm mad or naive. But whats the alternative.

Be sensible and realistic. The accountant way. You're all guns now, but when you start working 40 - 50 hour weeks, spending your weekends in a cold lecture halll, exams in summer time, and all for little more than minimum wage and you're rose tinted specs might get dusty.

Especially if your friends are doing other jobs, with weekends free, little or no responsibility direct to clients, and no exams. All the while earning proper pay.

The incentive to get off your ass and study SFMA on a cold wet Saturday morning quickly goes out the window, no matter how motivated by Ferraris you once were.

LouOB

seven-iron wrote: »

Initially it may be boring but you have to look at the bigger picture. Everyone has their own personnel goals. I'm hoping my recent success leads to bigger things and opens more doors and gives me more options. All this gives me a good sense of purpose. Im getting the feeling you all think I'm mad or naive. But whats the alternative.

Everyone needs goals and aspiriations but we are just bringing you back down to earth. Its all well and good feeling smug when others have made decisions that have not benefited them. But if shoe where on other foot you would be feeling abit sore.

As others in your area in relation to your expectations. As I doubt they have a ferrai, probably a 6 year old ford or volvo.
Motivation is always good to have but make sure you dont loose heart during the bad times. Your enthusim is good and needed, just make sure you are not looking for the ferrai and end up driving a micra (again I still want lift if you get ferrai, Ive people to impress also ;-)

I never answered your question - my motivation is not working 60+hours when Im in my 50/60's for a pittance of a wage. I want to secure my future and can only do that via education and experience within a relatively stable area (accountancy or the likes)
Job satisfaction is hard to find and rare enough to keep especially as you get older. Though I still jump for joy when my TB balances (warm fuzzy feelings - sad I know)