Green's Eyeshade

While recently watching a cable television show, I was amused by the reference to "bean counters."

After the main character spends a small fortune to further her spy mission, the IT guy replies: "Wait till the bean counters get their hands on you. Don't expect those excuses to hold water with accounting."

Here's what one slang dictionary has to say about bean counters:

bean counter
noun - a person involved in the finances of an organization - e.g. an accountant. Mildly derogatory, this term implies that the person is concerned only with financial figures and not the larger concerns of the organization.

There remains a long-held stereotype that we accountants have our heads buried in our general ledgers and do not see the big picture. I confess to being especially guilty of this early in my career. I remember an evaluation note that I didn't always see the forest for the trees.

It's taken me awhile, but I like to think I've come a long way from being a "bean counter" to being a true tax adviser. But Hollywood will never stop calling us bean counters!

posted 1-29-12