Greg Adams, Senior VP and CFO at the American Management Association and author of 'Green Shade$,' shares his journey and passion for elevating the accounting profession. He highlights the essential role of soft skills, like communication and leadership, in redefining accountants’ public image. Discussions include the exciting and diverse challenges faced by accountants, a fictional narrative spotlighting their problem-solving abilities, and the importance of enhancing education to attract new talent. Relational dynamics and personal passions are also key to achieving success in the field.
The podcast highlights the importance of soft skills in accounting, asserting that they are increasingly crucial for career success and leadership opportunities.
Greg Adams discusses his novel featuring an accountant protagonist to reshape the public perception of accountants as dynamic problem solvers rather than mere number crunchers.
Deep dives
Advocating for Accountants' Image
The discussion emphasizes the need to improve the public's perception of accountants, as many in the profession feel the need to justify their role. The speaker expresses frustration about the negative stereotypes associated with accounting, often forcing professionals to downplay their exciting contributions. To counteract this, the guest, Greg Adams, wrote a book that portrays accountants as dynamic problem solvers, showcasing the diverse and adventurous paths they can take. By highlighting the exciting journeys of a fictional accountant protagonist, the aim is to inspire pride in the profession and attract new talent.
The Importance of Soft Skills
The podcast highlights the critical role that soft skills play in an accountant's career, surpassing even technical expertise in importance. Soft skills such as communication, critical thinking, and storytelling enable accountants to effectively convey complex ideas to clients and colleagues. The guest discusses how companies increasingly value these skills for leadership roles, thus necessitating training that goes beyond traditional accounting education. Emphasizing soft skills helps accountancy professionals differentiate themselves in a competitive landscape and improves their overall work relationships.
Addressing Work-Life Balance and Recruitment Challenges
Concerns regarding work-life balance in the accounting profession are addressed, noting a significant decline in individuals pursuing accounting careers due to demanding workloads. The speakers discuss the necessity of improving working conditions and salaries to attract and retain talent in the field. They suggest that firms should consider implementing profit sharing and flexible hours, making the profession more appealing to potential recruits. By focusing on these changes, alongside improving the profession's image, the hope is to revitalize interest in accounting as a career choice.
On Episode 197 of The Unique CPA, Randy Crabtree welcomes Greg Adams, Senior VP and CFO at the American Management Association and author of the novel Green Shade$. Greg discusses his career journey, his passion for the profession which served as inspiration for his novel—which features an accountant protagonist—and his advocacy for improving the image and perception of accountants. He emphasizes the importance of soft skills in the accounting profession and offers insights on how to address the declining number of CPA exam takers by improving the image and appeal of accounting as a whole.