Announcement posted by The PR Guy 02 Nov 2016
COULD there be anything more exciting than International Accountants Day?
Well, perhaps . . .
Accountancy, unfortunately has an undeserved reputation for being an uncreative art form, yet November 10 is a hallowed day for an industry which prides itself on the adage - ‘everyone counts’.
To mark this ‘special event’, we’ve put together a few ‘interesting’ facts about accountancy that may just give afford a little more balance to public perception.
1) Accounting Rocks
Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones, Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin and singer Janet Jackson all studied accountancy – although Robert Plant abandoned his chartered accountancy training after just two weeks! Eddie Izzard also studied accountancy – while world-famous saxophonist and the best-selling instrumental musician in modern history Kenny G - along with his 75 million record sales also boasts a degree in accounting from the University of Washington.
2) Bubble gum was invented by an accountant
US accountant Walter Diemer worked for the Fleer Corporation in the 1920s. But his big claim to fame is that he invented bubble gum in his spare time!
3) There is a patron saint of accountants
St Matthew of Apostle fame is the patron saint of accountants, bookkeepers and tax collectors. Before becoming an Apostle, he was a tax collector in the ancient town of Capernaum.
4) Many accounting terms have Latin roots
Accounting may be called ‘the language of business’, but many well known accounting terms are derived from Latin? The word ‘debit’ means ‘he owes’ in Latin, while ‘credit’ means ‘he trusts’. The word ‘accountant’ is derived from the Latin ‘computare’, which means ‘count’.
5) Oscar winning films featuring accountants
Accountants pop up in a number of Oscar-winning films, including Itzhak Stern (Ben Kingsley) in Schindler’s List, Oscar Wallace (Charles Martin Smith) in The Untouchables, Leo Bloom (Gene Wilder) in The Producers, and Bud Baxter (Jack Lemmon) in The Apartment. Other memorable movie accountants include Any Dufresne (Tim Robbins) in The Shawshank Redemption and of course, the loveable Louis Tully (Rick Moranis) in Ghostbusters.
* For (very non accounting) media comment or further information contact Alan McGillivray & Associates, Sydney on (02) 9821 2455 or email admin@mcgillivrays.com.au
Alan McGillivray FCA FCPA
Cameron Jeans B.Com CPA SSA
Matthew Henley B.Com M.Tax CPA