It is also important to be able to understand and explain legal texts. A lot of information is worded awkwardly in paragraphs. You shouldn’t faint right away. You should also be precise. Because sometimes mistakes are hard to find. Depending on how you work, this takes a lot of time.
What the job does to private life
I have so much to do with finances and money professionally that I don’t do it privately, my wife does. I find that interesting, because you might think: “There’s the bean counter at home, he’ll do it.” But it’s not like that. However, the numbers give me a different perspective on things, which I sometimes find difficult to put down after work. You also take the analytical way of thinking with you. In conversations, it sometimes has a negative effect on your private life. My wife then says: “You always have to discuss.”
The question always asked at parties
Nobody listens to me for twenty minutes when I’m asked what I do for a living. In general, I notice that people think: “You don’t have an exciting job, but you don’t have anything terrible either. That’s okay.” Some people are even more interested in whether I have to wear shirts for my job than what I actually do. In addition, the short version of my work is often not understood. I’m content with that now and just let it be. Otherwise the next question is: “Do you know anything about taxes?” And then you become a part-time tax consultant. I’m okay with that if it’s someone I interact with often and care about.
Imagination vs. Reality
I would never have dreamed how automated accounting is now. It’s very different from what I expected. One often imagines a person sitting at the table between files and rummaging through pages. Such a blunt posting of receipts will no longer exist in the foreseeable future. Of course, the profession remains, but accountants then only operate the programs. Intervene where automation reaches its limits. It doesn’t matter how you look or how you dress. I bought five sweater vests before my first day at work because I thought to myself: a sweater vest over the shirt, that’s typical for an accountant: I don’t even need them now. T-shirt or sweater is enough. The result counts.
That’s what an accounting professional deserves
I currently get about 5,000 euros gross per month. I am very happy with this salary. Especially when you consider that I made the leap from being a classic accountant to becoming an accounting expert, also known as a business analyst. I’m proud of that.