The Stereotypes Still Lurking
For as long as most of us can remember, accountants have been put in boxes.
We’re often portrayed as boring. Dry. The type who aren’t much fun at parties. Supposedly glued to our calculators. Tucked away in dusty offices. More interested in rules than ideas. Uncreative, unadventurous – maybe even a little behind the times.
And perhaps the most persistent stereotype of all?
That accountants are spreadsheet people.
The thinking goes something like this: spreadsheets are where accountants belong. It’s where they’re most comfortable, most capable, most in control. And because of that, it’s where they should stay.
This quiet assumption has shaped entire products, processes, and perceptions of the profession. But it’s never been the full story – and it certainly isn’t true today.
Hannah Olsson
Chartered accountant
The Truth About Accountants
Spend even five minutes with someone in accounting and you’ll see how far from reality those stereotypes really are.
Accountants are curious, sharp, and deeply practical thinkers. They’re systems people. Problem-solvers. Pattern-finders. People who care about making work better — not just for themselves, but for their clients, teams, and the wider business.
They’re the ones people turn to when clarity is needed. When the numbers don’t add up. When a decision needs confidence behind it.
And just as importantly — they’re people outside of work, too.
Accountants aren’t just spreadsheets and deadlines. They’re also guitar players, podcast hosts, bakers, football coaches, coffee snobs, marathon runners, parents, and trivia night ringers.
They’re creative. Strategic. Often quietly ambitious. And more than anything, they want their work — and tools — to reflect the value they actually bring.
The Problem With the Spreadsheet Label
There’s no denying that spreadsheets played a huge role in the growth of the profession. They gave accountants flexibility and power at a time when tools were limited. But those days are behind us.
Today’s work is more collaborative, more complex, and more compliance-driven than ever. And spreadsheets, no matter how familiar, were never designed to meet those demands.
Spreadsheets are fragile. They don’t scale. They make collaboration clunky and governance nearly impossible. They rely too heavily on individual habits – and leave too much room for individual error.
So why are we still defining accountants by a tool that’s actively holding them back?
💡 If you want to read more about the limitations with spreadsheet-based workpapers, make sure to read our article here.
It’s Time to Break the Last Stereotype
Many accountants have already stepped beyond spreadsheets.
They’ve embraced cloud platforms that reflect how accounting actually works today – collaborative, fast-moving, and increasingly complex. They’ve moved away from patchwork processes and unreliable files, choosing systems that bring structure, visibility, and consistency to their workflows.
These shifts haven’t happened because someone told them to modernise – they’ve happened because better systems lead to better work. Accountants are saving time, reducing risk, and focusing on what matters. Chasing down versions or fixing broken formulas shouldn’t be part of the job description.
Yes, accountants know spreadsheets. Often better than they’d care to admit. And yes, there are still times when spreadsheets make sense. But that doesn’t mean they should define the profession.
Accountants are not walking VLOOKUPs. They’re not formula-fixers or error chasers. They are thoughtful, capable professionals who value quality, clarity, and control.
If the profession wants to be seen differently, it has to stop accepting labels that no longer fit. Accountants are not spreadsheet people.
They are strategic, forward-thinking, and ready for tools that match where the profession is heading — not where it’s already been.
It’s time to break the last stereotype and build a profession that actually reflects the people inside it.
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