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The accounting profession is often portrayed in a negative light, which contributes to the talent shortage, the founder of Firm Ready has said.
Young professional urges society to ditch accountant stereotype: ‘old, pale, stale’
24 April 2025
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8 minute read
Firm Ready founder Joanna Perry says the accounting industry and media need to work cohesively to shape the professional outlook and portrayal of accountants to attract more talent.
Speaking on a recent Under the Hood podcast episode, Perry said it was obvious why the accounting industry was struggling and could be linked to outdated industry perceptions, burnout and low graduate salaries.
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Perry noted she had grown up with a positive perspective of the accounting industry based on family members having been accountants themselves, which others weren’t as lucky to have experienced.
“I think not everyone is lucky enough to have someone close to them, with a friend or family member that is active in the industry. So not many people actually understand what we do as accountants, because the definition of an accountant has really changed over time,” she said.
“We’re no longer number crunchers; we are now strategic advisors. I think if a lot of young people understood how the accounting role has evolved, then they would be a lot more interested in entering the industry.”
Perry noted the media, schools, universities and communities often also held a warped perception of what an accountant was or what an accountant looked like, often reverting to the “old, pale and stale” stereotype.
In the media or movie industry, lawyers, stock brokers, journalists and other corporate roles were often glamorised in suits which swayed young audiences to aspire into those roles, rather than accounting.
According to Perry, there needed to be a deliberate push to make ‘accounting sexy’ or glamorise it in a way that law often was, to show the younger generation that a degree in accounting could facilitate countless career opportunities.
“There are a lot of facets of accounting, there’s audit, there’s advisory, there are so many more, and you don’t have to be stuck in one line of work your whole lifetime. You can chop and change between many different facets,” Perry said.
“It’s the skills you gain in all different areas, for example, your tax skills will help you do audit, and audit will help you advise. Then you can become a business owner or an entrepreneur. The skills are very transferable, and you will never be out of a job. It’s a very valid career path to go down, especially if you’re looking for that stability and engagement in your work.”
Furthermore, Perry shared how she had recently transitioned from being an accountant herself to being a business owner, with the launch of Firm Ready, which was easily enabled by her previous knowledge and experience as an accountant.
The media, education system and industry needed to work together to realign the profession and its perception with the modern-day benefits and features of what being an account means and what it could mean over time for future career developments, Perry said.
“If I was to try and convince university students to consider accounting, I would say do it because you will be the second CEO of businesses. You’re going to be providing essential advice to businesses that will enable them to drive forward to success,” she said.
“The accounting world is your oyster and you can always continue upskilling. No matter what industry you go into as an accountant, you will never be dissatisfied if you keep investing in your career and the possibilities. Invest in your personal brand and invest in yourself.”
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