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What do accountants do all day? Is it just sitting in a desk crunching numbers?

All of heard of accountants is the basic stereotype and was wondering if anything different truly happens.

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Leslie’s Answer

Accounting is definitely more than number crunching! It is an integral part of any business and it require a lot of processes and infrastructure around it as well. Working as an accountant requires problem solving, strategic thinking, and advanced communication and collaboration skills. I personally became an accountant because I loved math and numbers. I was genuinely surprised when I realized how much more is involved! Through my career as an auditor I have gained tremendous experience in leadership, critical thinking, persuasive communication and team work. To be transparent though, entry level positions will include more "number crunching" on a daily basis as compared to advanced positions. The time spent in these entry level positions though are integral to build the level of understanding and expertise you will need to be successful down the road.
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Mussawer’s Answer

To answer your question honestly, you'll spend a lot of time at a desk, but there's much more to accounting than just working with numbers. It's not only about the basic math or the credits and debits you learned in your beginner classes. I recommend looking into what auditing and tax work really involve. You'll find there's a lot of planning, communication, and teamwork. When I was in college, I thought accounting was straightforward and that what I learned could be directly applied. But it's more detailed, and you'll need to use critical thinking for everyday challenges. Consider trying an accounting internship to see firsthand what the work is like.
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Julian’s Answer

Hi Chris, in addition to the other answers, consider exploring the various areas of accounting like audit, core tax, state tax, and consulting. In my group, we focus on tax consulting for the research and development tax credit. This role includes analyzing financial data and regularly meeting with technical experts such as chemists, programmers, mechanical engineers, and architects to understand their projects. Additionally, there's room for internal growth, and as you advance in your career, you'll have the opportunity to build and lead your team.
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Sneha’s Answer

Hey Chris! The stereotype of accountants just crunching numbers all day is pretty outdated. There’s a lot more to the job than that. Accountants are problem solvers, advisors, and strategic thinkers who help businesses make smart decisions using financial data. Their day can involve analyzing trends, meeting with clients, assessing risk, ensuring compliance, and even working with cutting-edge tech like automation and data visualization tools. Many also play a key role in budgeting, forecasting, and driving business growth. So while numbers are a foundation, the real impact comes from how accountants use those numbers to tell a story and guide action. Hope this was helpful!
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Michelle’s Answer

Accounting is so much more than just crunching numbers all day! I work with accountants in Tech who not only own core accounting processes but also lead strategic projects to improve and scale those processes. As automation takes over more of the routine work, accountants are freed up to focus on higher-impact initiatives — often collaborating with teams like Product, Engineering, Sales, and other areas of Finance. I’ve partnered with accountants on complex projects like mergers and acquisitions and ERP implementations. Accounting provides a strong foundation for understanding how a business runs and develops critical skills like analytical thinking and attention to detail — skills that open doors to a wide range of roles across Finance as your career evolves.
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Ashley’s Answer

There are many exciting paths you can take in accounting. If you love working with numbers, there are plenty of roles for you. But accounting is much more than that.

For example, I help global companies manage their mobile workforce. This might involve assisting employees with filing taxes in different countries or helping companies understand their payroll and tax responsibilities across various regions. Some days, I review tax treaties to help with tax planning. After 15 years, no two days are alike, and I'm always learning something new.
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