The writing approach adopted in accounting
Accounting is one of the social sciences and although it is common believes that accountants spend their time dealing with figures and number, they are also required to turn the numerals into reports which underscores their point of view and findings. Writing is important to an accountant because he/she should be able to translate intricate data into a form that can be understood by stakeholders such as customers, partners, other businesses and shareholders. This communication adopts a language that is precise, purposeful and clear. Although it is common believes that accountants spend their time dealing with figures and number, writing in accounting can adopt different forms ranging from narrative, persuasive, argumentative, analytical approaches to the use unique accounting language.
Accounting can adopt the narrative format where the writer fives a story with characters viewpoints and a plot. In such writing the narrator in the story uses their personal experience in creating the setting; tone and style of their story and in the end give a lesson learnt from the story. A good example where an accountant used the narration style in in the essay Enron Scandal: The Fall of a Wall Street Darling. In this narrative, Segal gives an account of how one of the major accounting scandals in Wall Street history was orchestrated (1-3). In the end the writer gives the lessons to be learnt from this scandal and how accountants can avoid such a downfall in future (Segal, 3). The narrator in this narrative uses simple language and presents the accounting data in simple language that can be understood by non-accountants. However, when addressing other professional is in the field, accountants can utilize accounting jargon and vocabulary.
A good example of a writing that applies the accounting jargon and vocabulary is the book by Mark Betner on application of accounting information in making decisions and forecasting. The author of the book recognizes the fact that accounting has its own ‘unique language’ and aims to teach the non-accountants such as engineers, managers’ entrepreneurs among other the language of accounting. As such, some reports that are generated by accountants can only be interpreted by individuals with an accounting background (Betner, 5). This book also adopts the besides the use of unique language, writing in accounting normally adopts an analytical style.
Accounting deals with numbers and for this numbers to be make sense, they must be analysed to inform decision making processes. Accountants write a cause effect essay where the effect of a particular circumstance or action is evaluated. For instance, a report on BBC News on the Corona Virus impact on global economy adopts a cause effect approach linking the WHO announcement of the first corona virus to and the progression of the infection to various pillars of the global economy such as travel, tourism, oil among others. The author uses this information to predict future growth or recession of the global economy (Jones, Palumbo & Brown, 3).
Moreover, writers in accounting also use the habit of the mind in their writing; a good example is in the book Eric Kessler on management theories. Kessler, present a critical analysis of contemporary management theories gauging their weaknesses, strength and applicability. This makes the whole big one large argumentative and persuasive essay (Kessler, 3).
From above discourse, it can be concluded that although accounting is assumed to be a numbers game, accountants use a number of writing style to communicate accounting information such as narrative, persuasive, argumentative and analytical approaches. The method of writing adopted depends on the purpose of the message and the target audience. As such, students aspiring to be accountants need to gain fluency in communicating accounting information.
Work Cited
Bettner Mark, ” Using Accounting and Financial Information; Analyzing, Forecasting and Decision-Making.” Financial Accounting and Auditing Collection. First Edition. New York, New York (222 East 46th Street, New York, NY 10017); Business Expert Press. 2015
Jones, Lora, Palumbo, Daniele & Brown, David “Coronavirus: A visual guide to the economic impact”, BBC News, 30th June 2020, https://www.bbc.com/news/business-51706225#:~:text=Although%20it%20said%20that%20the,such%20as%20India%20and%20China. Accessed 11th October 2020
Kessler, Eric H. ” Encyclopedia of Management Theory”. Thousand Oaks, California: SAGE publications, Inc. 2013.
Segal Troy, Enron Scandal: The Fall of a Wall Street Darling, Investomedia 22nd September 2020. https://www.investopedia.com/updates/enron-scandal-summary/. Accessed 11th October 2020