Who Makes Accounting Fun?

My friend Ed Kless (who works for Sage and is a fellow Fellow of VeraSage) promotes the Xerox notion, furthered by David Maister, that:

Employee Satisfaction -->  Customer Satisfaction -->  Increased Profitability (or at least, as Ed says, "Financial Performance")

If it's true, if Employee Satisfaction leads to the performance result, why don't we spend more time innovating in this area?  I think this chain is absolutely true because, quite frankly, you cannot give truly great service if you are miserable in your job.

Just look at Southwest Airlines' people versus, say, oh, any other airline...
or Disney people compared to Six Flags...
or The Container Store people compared to Organized Living...

So, is accounting fun? Does the profession "connect" with today's under 35 crowd?  Not much. But here are two cool examples!

1 - Did you know that the Maryland Association of CPAs has a presence on Second Life? Oh, and did I mention MACPA has a blog?? H&R Block and some firms are involved in Second Life, too. Interesting to keep an eye on, for sure--and a lot of work to do it right...let's see how they do.

2 - Did you know that the Hong Kong Institute of CPAs has a 2-minute music video called "Tute in Da House"? Fantastic!

Now, compare Tute in Da House with Ernst & Young's "Oh Happy Day" video... (pretty long, but the first minute conveys the whole concept).

Which is more cool? Which is more fun? How about more authentic? Which people would you rather work with?

What will your firm do to be more fun?  What should the profession do?

hat tip to Lyne Noella for the HKI video...

Comments

[Ed Kless]

Thanks Michelle for the plug. It was funny. When I read the title of the article and the first three words - Who makes accounting fun? My friend, Ed Kless...

Always trying to make accounting fun. Neat post - love the videos.

[Ed Kless]

Sorry to post another comment, but I was amazed after viewing the videos a second time and looking at the comments on youtube that most of them were bashing these as being "unprofessional".

Since when does having some fun equate with unprofessional. Some of you CPAs need to get a sense of humor, please!

[Michelle Golden]

Ed, I agree with you! It bummed me out to see those negative comments--especially on the "'Tute" video.

[Z]

Honestly,

The accounting profession should design a creative, mind stimulating, review application that would emphasize core knowledge based on each section of GAAP, GASB, FASB, AICPA, SOX, and all CPA exam related material including the entirety of IRS code and all supplemental forms and instructions for every type of Return possible.

I am NOT joking.

Instantaneous feedback and analysis of each submitted answer would be invaluable.

Such a format would allow an entry-level 4 year degree accountant to intimately know and pursue these concepts within a fun, creative, hardy knowledge base environment that is designed to download, update, and keep the number one goal of the experience interesting and fun while emphasizing accuracy and professional work.

Such subscribers would have an excellent learning/progression curve in a very challenging and rewarding profession. The ability to incorporate such a learning platform, would enable subscribers to engage more accurately with their clients and other CPAs.

Platforms should include PCs, MACs, XBOX 360, and PS3s

~Generation X CPA Candidate

[John Acocks]

I'd like to get some ideas on how we can make teaching accounting in high school more appealing to students. by John Acocks