What Type Of Person Thrives In Accounting, According To A Controller At Clear Sky Capital
Max, a Controller at Clear Sky Capital, highlights critical thinking, "thinking through the why," and inquisitiveness as crucial skills for success in the accounting industry, especially within a startup environment. Ethical conduct and the willingness to be vulnerable, admitting "I don't understand," are also key attributes for thriving, demonstrating a commitment to accuracy and continuous learning.
Critical Thinking, Inquisitiveness, Work Ethic, Ethics, Vulnerability
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Max Kazimierek
Controller
Clear Sky Capital
University of Arizona 2013
N/A
Accounting
Real Estate
Finance
Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans
Video Highlights
1. Critical thinking skills are essential for problem-solving and navigating both black-and-white and gray areas in accounting.
2. Inquisitiveness and a desire for continuous learning are crucial for staying updated and understanding the broader impact of work.
3. Strong ethics, the ability to be the voice of reason, and a willingness to admit when one doesn't understand something are vital for success in accounting and finance.
Transcript
How would you describe people who typically thrive in this industry?
In general, in accounting, you have to be a critical thinker. A lot of it ends up being a math problem or something where you need to think through the "why" behind it and then how you can get to the end result.
There's a lot of black and white, but also some gray area. This requires you to think through the different routes you can take and how you can get there. This is especially important in a startup environment where you're tasked with many different problems and have to prioritize the best approach to move forward.
Being inquisitive is also a big one. Always want to learn more, whether it's in accounting or other areas of the company and how they impact what you do. Hardworking is obvious; there will always be deadlines. So, you need to be able to work hard when necessary, but also know when to switch off and enjoy the benefits of meeting those deadlines.
Ethics is a huge one in accounting. You have to be the voice of reason. Maybe somebody asks if they can record something a certain way for presentation purposes. You might need to be the one to say, "No, guidance says X, Y, Z. You have to record it this way."
I think the last thing, and I don't know if it's a skill, is being vulnerable. Being able to say, "I don't understand this. Can we talk through it a little further?" That vulnerability is easy to bypass because you can become complacent and say, "I'll figure this out later." But there's no shame in saying, "I don't understand. I need to talk through this." That kind of vulnerability goes across any industry or job.