can a bleeding-heart liberal be an accountant?

[CATagious]

I am making a mid-life career change to accounting. I am starting with my upper level accounting courses this semester and will graduate in 2 years at the old age of 41. That part sucks, I know. I would like to hear from some DUer Accountants about their experience being a liberal in the capitalistic business world. also, anyone else successfully make a late-age career change?

Judt looking for a change of pace discussion.

Thanks!

[Iris]

1. Is 41 really that old?

[CATagious]

2. hehe...

I feel that way when in class with a bunch of 20 year olds!

But, in reality, 41 isn't old. And right now I'm still just 30-something! ;)

[Iris]

9. we're about the same age

That's kind of why I asked! I'm getting a master's but I'm trying to move away from corporate america into an academic environment (which is more and more like corporate american every day!).

[Captain Hilts]

3. Yes!!!!!! Make your living, THEN help out a non-profit or family ...

that needs it.

Absolutely!

[Lisa]

4. I know someone who is in the financial sector, and ran for the NDP

(Canada's equivalent of the left wing of the Democrats)

http://paulsummerville.ca/bio

He thinks that the stereotype of "tax and spend" liberals is inaccurate, and points out that left-leaning governments CAN be fiscally responsible. In fact he believes that this could be a major advantage for progressives, since people are tired of seeing huge corporate tax cuts (and in the US, grandiose schemes like the war in Iraq) corroding savings and infrastructure -- the "laissez-faire" approach has fallen short. Corporate responsibility and transparency could be an attractive plank in our platform.

[NMDemDist2]

5. my accountant is a BHL and she does fine. she has her own practice

and she's an ex nun who in a 25+year gay relationship with years and years in alcholism recovery

she's a hoot and a hell of an accountant to boot :loveya:

they're coming to visit us for 4 days next month and I can't wait :bounce:

good luck on your career change, you'll do fine :hug:

[knowbody0]

6. I was a mortgage banking accountant

for 15 years. I loved the work, but not the people. When I started dreaming of spread sheets, I changed directions. I imagine whose money you're counting makes a big difference.

[unblock]

7. not an accountant, but a securitization guru (wall street stuff)

and i've never had an issue with being a liberal on wall street. much of wall street actually is quite liberal (this IS new york we're talking about, after all.)

much of accounting is neither here nor there on the political meter, it's just a matter of accurately recording and categorizing and reporting credits and debits. sure, there are some games to be played in terms of pushing good news or bad news into this quarter or that quarter, but mostly, money's money.

where you might have a problem is that accountants tend to find out early about bad, slimy, evil, or even illegal things that management might want to do before the rest of the world, or even company, does. again, the accountant's role is usually pretty straightforward, but you might have a tough time showing the feasibility and profitability of outsourcing an entire division, or listening to the ceo give a speech that says "we had no choice" when you know they could have simply accepted less profit.


much also depends on what role you intend to play. an internal accountant/treasurer/cfo for a single enterprise? pick the right company/management team and you'll be fine. pick the wrong company and you might feel tortured. an external auditor? no problem at all, in fact, you might get some glee out of unearthing evil. consultant? dicey, because you might be called in to validate some sinister plan and tweak it so it's (barely) legal; then again, if it's your own business, you can always send a client packing.

best of luck with your career change, the smarter you are, the more you change careers!

[Stargazer99]

8. I'm not help to your question..but having gotten into taxes

I think you will be amazed how business and large business get away with murder when it comes to taxes.

[jobycom]

10. I'm 41, I'm trying to make a career change. Is that really old? Doesn't

feel like it.

As for becoming an accountant at 41, the man I was hired to replace did it. He found a job. There will be a lot of companies looking for youngesters to fill entry-level accounting positions, but there will a lot who don't really care, and there will be some who might be thrilled that you are older. Monster.com put out a book a few years describing the new job market as they saw it. According to the book, employers used to hire with the idea that an employee would stay with the company for ten, twenty, or more years, so they hired young, and hired on general talent as much as specific training. The book claims that the market now expects employees to move on after five years at the most, so more hiring is done to fill needs than to find company men, so to speak.

If that's true, and there's reason to think it is, you shouldn't have too much trouble finding an entry-level accounting job to fill a company's specific needs. You might even have an advantage. At 41, having just earned a degree, you will have an image of maturity and stability a younger applicant won't. And you will have life and career experiences that might help, too. If you worked in computers, or construction, or sales, or whatever, you will have a better understanding of that industry than a younger recent grad. They may see you as a bargain, in that they can pay you entry-level wages, and get someoe with more experience as well. Or, you may just have knowledge that suits you better for the job.

My advice would be to shape your courses with your specific career goals in mind. Take advantage of your past experiences. You don't have to go into the same industry if you really don't like it, but think about how your knowledge of your past career can better help you understand another company as an accountant. I'm a bookkeeper/accountant (/IT guy/whatever else needs doing), but I got hired because I knew computers ten years ago, when they were still a bit of a mystery to a lot of people, and because I came from a blue collar background, which made my bosses and co-workers comfortable around me.

And my bosses are very right wing and politically connected--at least two family members have worked directly for the Bush administration or for Bush himself, and one in-law even knows Ralph Reed. So I've gotten scolded for being vocal a few times!

You will fit perfectly somewhere, and everything you are and have done will be exactly what someone needs, if you look long enough.

Now that I sound like I know what I'm talking about, I have to admit I'm the worst job hunter in the history of the planet and can't find a new job no matter how hard I try. Go figure.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

11. Nothing immoral with being an accountant

if you add the numbers up correctly. Look at it this way: you will have the opportunity to help folks handle their money (and hence their lives) responsibly.

Will you balance my checkbook please?

[Kali]

12. I know a communist who is an investment advisor or some such

Not sure how liberal the guy actually is, though. Had a huge fight with him (and the board he sat on) over reestablishing some democratic rights for the members of an organization......

[notadmblnd]

13. I'm not an accountant, but I worked for a tax service one year

and I felt like a vulture. These were mostly uneducated poor people coming to have their taxes done. Some only had refunds of a couple hundred dollars coming back. These fuckers charged by the page. Forty for Federal, forty for State, another thirteen for city if necessary along with a host of other charges if you had a 1099 or schedule C. Of course there was free electronic filing. but what really bothered me the most was them wanting us to push the rapid refunds, those were the biggest ripoffs. I sent many people to the library where volunteers do them for free on Saturday mornings. I'll never work for a tax service again.

[prole_for_peace]

14. yes! i am extremely liberal and an accountant.

i work in a firm of about 50 - 60 people. there are only about 3 or 4 of us liberals. i do get ticked off at the lengths some of my clients will go to to get out of paying their taxes. or the ones who make a few million and complain about a few hundred thousand in tax. but overall i really like my job and the people i work with.

[LynnTheDem]

15. Yeppers...I know.

I am one. :)

[Stardust]

21. So am I.

[Maat]

16. These are great answers.

I'm wondering about something myself.

I've no doubt that an accountant can be a liberal Dem; suppose that you help progressively-minded not-for-profits, or 527's like MoveOn? That would be great. Or the working class with their taxes.

I'm considering writing an email to my local progressive radio station's morning host, Stacey Taylor (at San Diego's 1360 KLSD). He's a realtor, and I've made a career change at 48. I'm working in real estate investments and real estate sales with my friends. It must be possible to be a progressive and a realtor; he's one!

(It's a long story; I'm giving trying to pass the Cal Bar Exam a break. I was a social worker for years; retired six years ago after we adopted my daughter. I retired 1-1/2 after she was placed with us, and about six months after the finalization of the adoption, and I went back to law school. I've taken the bar exam a few times, and I'm finding I don't really like working in a law office or court all that much. I love helping people with their real estate investment - and helping buyers and sellers. And, I can work much of the time out of my house, and liberally choose my own hours. And I can fit in teaching at the college/adult level, without being totally exhausted.)

[Jed Dilligan]

17. Just stick to the truth, and you'll be fine.

Transparent accounting is a liberal value.

[flaminbats]

18. of course..

bleeding hearts or compassion for those who bleed most?

most accountants begin as Democrats. only those who completely give up on government and democracy ultimately become Republicans. But is Bush really the solution to less government, lower taxes, and a growing economy?

I think being an accountant does influence a person's politics. Accountants understand the benefits of a progressive tax..especially when times are tough. Accountants understand the importance of lower deficits and the danger of higher interest payments made by the federal government. Most importantly accountants know that entitlements and welfare never existed to ease the pain of bleeding hearts, but are necessary national investments that will never be made voluntarily by the private sector.

[gort]

19. Only if you use the Bob Newhart method of accounting

Bob Newhart worked as a accountant after serving in the US Army in the 1950's:

quote-
My theory of accounting was that as long as you got within two or three bucks of it, you were all right. But that didn’t catch on … At the end of the day I had to balance the petty cash with the slips—every time you give out money you had to get a slip. It had to balance. Well, I’d be there for three or four hours tying to figure out where the last dollar or dime went to. So finally I’d just take it out of my pocket and I’d put it in. If there were two dollars leftover, I’d take it out … And they told me you can’t do that. You gotta find it. I said, “you’re paying me five dollars an hour to find two cents—it doesn’t make sense.” So I wasn’t a very good accountant.
-end quote


I think the Newhart Method would be perfect for bleeding hearts like us!

Good Luck

[flaminbats]

20. that sounds like Republican accounting to me!!

paying government employees over five bucks an hour to find two cents of taxpayer's money.