have proven to be more important in their development as accountants than virtually anything else. Accounting often involves interpreting
and applying a set of rules. Situations in auditing, tax and reporting frequently call for careful thought about
the issues. Is the clients' argument about why they should be able to use pooling accounting rules in an acquisition correct?
Should we be able to book a sale now given that a
customer has agreed verbally to purchase our product? Is Apple Computer likely to
go bankrupt given a recent slowdown in sales?
Answering such questions requires
logical
thought and inference. Thinking is hard work. We have
to sort through facts and ideas to choose information that is relevant and then proceed
to arrive at appropriate conclusions--often in an ambiguous situation.
But there's good news. Thinking is a skill like any other. And skills can be learned.
Everyone interested in accounting should work hard at
learning to become a better thinker. The ability to think and solve problems, ultimately, is a key factor in determining professional success. |
