I am giving a talk today to sixth formers at a relatively local school on what you can do with a career as a chartered accountant. That is an interesting challenge because I do not know another accountant who has had a career like mine.
First I wanted to be an accountant, which is rare.
Second, the reason for that was a love for the social change that I thought accounting could deliver based on my reading a vast quantity of transport history as a teenager. The history of railways and the rise of the company is to some degree synonymous in the UK and it's certainly where M&A started. The impact was not always beneficial, but I think a lot was.
Third, I actually enjoy the theory of accounting and economics - even if I disagree with much of what is taught.
And then whilst I began in what was then the biggest firm in the world I set out on my own the first day I could. There is an entrepreneur deep in me. That showed in the fact that for fifteen or more years I was senior partner of a firm and had a commercial career which seriously changed my thinking over time and helped create my position on tax abuse, not least by exposure to the work of many other accountants.
In my forties every thing changed. Over quite a short period time, and without the process being planned (even if the conviction that drove that process was very clear) tax justice and economic campaigning almost literally took over my life, giving me a purpose that I had never enjoyed before, much as I enjoyed my commercial career.
What then? I became a blogger. And twitter followed. And research. And writing. And books. Plus television and radio. But all if it for a reason: to effect change on behalf of those who lose from the current structure of the world's economic system. That is the unambiguous goal.
So what of that? How to explain, and what to explain? I think there's only one way to decide, and that's to let the audience take the lead.
That said there are some very clear messages I want to impart. The first is that nothing happens without very hard work. That's always been necessary. If that sounds a but like rather staid careers advice for those heading for the City it isn't. I think it's just as relevant on the left.
Second, seeking to do the best that's possible is always essential, even if, inevitably that does not always happen.
Third, at absolutely every stage and in every aspect of my career being able to write clearly in a way that meets the audience's need (whether when writing a letter, a blog or anything else) ahs been essential. Nothing else matters as much, but that means, most importantly, understanding just what that audience's needs are. That's the tough bit.
And like it or not, some maths is pretty useful.
But so too is reading, reading, and then reading some more. Which means if you're not interested then frankly it has to be time to choose something else. So at the end of the day self-awareness, honesty and the ability to decide is also vital.
But under it all there's something more important to say, which is that conviction matters, most of all. So far I have never seen anything of any real worth happen where making money was the goal. There has always had to be belief in the value of the activity for real value to be delivered. That's why I cannot believe in much of what the Ciry does. It is why it was appropriate for much if it's activity to be described as 'socially useless'. So I'll want to impart the idea to people interested in a career in finance that money does not matter that much, it's what's done with it that does.
Not much to communicate then. I am quite looking forward to it.
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In terms of future impact this could be your most important assignment yet…
I’m about to embark on a dialogue with pupils at my local secondary school about identifying, encouraging and legitimising their dreams. My view is that if people leave school pursuing what it is they have been put on this earth to do, the economy will take care of itself. It’s about the doing not the getting. That is the true aspiration nation.
Indeed
You have to tell us how it went now.
Your enthusiasm for what you have done with your life must have proved infectious and will have doubtless been a refreshing and inspiring change from the self-regarding fare that guest speakers normally dish out to hapless sixth formers.
As a fellow accountant, it was very interesting to read your precis of how you got into accountancy and how, and why, you do what you do today. My path to today reads very differently but, not least because I’ve been following your blog for a few years now, I share what seem to be your two core beliefs:
Conviction is crucial because, without it, the ability to tell people what they need to know rather than what they want to hear cannot develop.
I have never seen anything of any real worth happen where making money was the ONLY goal. In my experience, anything that focuses solely on money is, almost by definition, socially useless and, more often than not, counter-productive to the desired outcome.
But, if I maybe presumptuous, I’d add a third point that would be my number one, viz, all those we work with are human beings, none are superior or inferior, just more or less accomplished, so be neither fawning nor condescending. Treat them all as you would expect (or like) to be treated yourself and they, with few exceptions, will reward you with their trust and loyalty.
One final thought: though your summary is short, its content has a very great deal to communicate. Good luck!
I had a great time
The students demanded I be invited back
I guess that’s a compliment
Their questions were really good too
Their incredulity at why change doesn’t happen was refreshing
And I agree with your third point!
Of course it’s a compliment. Especially flattering if they will still be in the sixth form after their exams this term.