Accounting: The first Bottom Line
To be quite honest looking back over the last 22 years of practicing Accountancy, not just a career for me as a Certified Public Accountant but also a professional designation; I never thought it would come this far. I am not sure what I thought but the fact is Accounting followed. This profession was some sort of backwards badge of honor. A dark worm hole that only “the one's in the know”', actually knew or cared anything about until - I don't know how about Enron or the 2008 crisis. Learning what I have about business, driving revenue and driving costs, liabilities and Equity, creating or killing profitability and exactly what those phrases meant. Then knowing how to forecast that they were on the horizon - the point is an Accountant who truly pursues continuous education for their firm, themselves and to serve the public, would have spotted Enron (well and they did); as well as the 2008 crisis from a mile away.
So what is my point? It is not that Accountants know everything but the first bottom line is this - The professionals that are fierce advocates, guardians of practicing accounting; these are the people that understand we are vital forces for the public, for businesses and their stakeholders and/or owners. Accountancy is the language of business. It is not just the letters CPA, it is not the hours of dedication to studying (honestly that is a blur), the oath that we take to the public interest, it is the devotion to the facts, the data AND the ability to deliver this information in an understandable, “Get to the bottom line” fashion.
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Accountancy: The Bottom Line The Business owner’s guide to Accounting, Profit & Principles and what it really means for your business