agents of transformation, the time is now.
by donny c. shimamoto, cpa, citp, cgma
center for accounting transformation
every day, i see or hear criticisms of the accounting profession: everyone is burning out, the partners are only in it to get rich, everyone is leaving the profession, and students don’t want to be accountants anymore. it wrenches my heart to hear this because i love my work. i’ve had a wonderful career that lets me help others succeed, and the broader accounting profession has opened up opportunities that i would never have dreamed possible. is accounting really on the decline? ask the pundits, and you get a resounding “yes!”
more: harper & co. cpas: the perspective of a non-accountant is imperative | menlo innovations: improve office culture by overhauling internal reviews | dustin wheeler: for serious cas success, hire tech teams | chase birky: overcoming paralysis by analysis |
exclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.
yet, reading simon sinek’s book, the infinite game, shed some light on what the profession is doing wrong—the current leaders of the profession are playing a finite game. one of the key concepts that sinek explains in his book is that of an existential flex. he described an existential flex as something that “recreates that passion for something new at a time when the company is already enjoying success.” this is where the accounting profession is now. we’ve enjoyed decades of success, and accounting firm partners and cfos have been enjoying the riches of that success, but our profession has lost the connection to our just cause.
accounting’s just cause
a just cause is the driving force that ignites passion and inspires people to join our profession. notice, i didn’t say ‘become an accountant.’ our profession has evolved to encompass a diverse range of skills and knowledge utilized in public accounting or business and industry, all with the aim to #improvetheworld. to attract more to our ranks, we must rekindle our connection to our just cause.
this just cause of improving the world may sound unrealistic. still, when you think about how much influence we have on how people and families, small businesses, big businesses, nonprofits, and governments all make decisions, you should realize that if we can get people to make more mindful and holistic decisions, we improve not only individual success, but improve the success of people, families, communities, regions, countries, and ultimately the world. we can #improvetheworld.
switching from shiny-object syndrome to existential flex
there are a lot of little levers that the leaders of the profession are trying to move: the 150-hour rule, stem classification, reducing overtime, targeting minorities, artificial intelligence…the list goes on and on. yet most of these are what sinek describes as “shiny-object syndrome.” something that frustrated employees within the profession “who work for well-meaning, sometimes visionary leaders who, like a cat reacting to a shiny object, want to chase every good idea they come across with ‘this is it! we have to do this to advance the [profession]!’” most of this is what sinek also describes as opportunistic and defensive maneuvering—things companies do to stay alive in the face of new technology or changing consumer habits.
‘existential flex’ is not just a buzzword, but a strategic approach. it’s about reigniting our passion for innovation and change, even when we’re already successful. this approach might disrupt our existing business models, but that is a call that some leaders in the profession are echoing for accounting firms.
join our mission
it’s time for professionals from all fields to join the accounting profession as agents of transformation. the “agents of transformation” are pioneering professionals who use their diverse skills beyond traditional roles to actively improve the world. these agents leverage their expertise in various contexts, from enhancing global business processes to contributing to strategic initiatives, proving that their capabilities extend far beyond typical tasks.
this elite group sees challenges as opportunities to showcase the crucial role of business professionals in driving collective success and societal impact. their stories demonstrate the power of accounting as a force for positive change.
will you be one of the leaders who helps us #improvetheworld and unlock the accounting profession’s transformative potential? the time is now—the world needs our help.
will you answer the call? https://help.improvetheworld.net/mobilize