Which
superheroes would make the best CPAs?
Many of our favorite characters possess the
‘powers’ of amazing
accountants.
By Cheryl Meyer
June 26, 2017
The superheroes populating this summer's
blockbuster movies, such as Wonder Woman and Spider-Man: Homecoming, possess
dazzling powers to fight off enemies, and they use their intellect, skills, and strengths
to avert disasters and make things right in the world.
In that last respect, superheroes resemble CPAs,
who may not hold superhuman powers (as much as they'd like to) but must rely on
their minds, abilities, and
expertise to prevent catastrophes, decipher numbers, clean up messes,
and ease the minds of distressed clients.
Several CPAs offered their take on which
superheroes would make astounding accountants and why. Here are their top
picks:
Batman. The "Caped Crusader,"
otherwise known as Bruce Wayne, holds no superhuman powers but instead "uses his intelligence to stay one step
ahead of his opponents," all while he runs his own multibillion-dollar
company, noted Anna Nalls, CPA, founder of Anna Nalls CPA PC in Evanston, Ill.
"Like Batman, an accountant is very analytical and precise," she said.
"Accountants also use their expertise to influence business decisions that
can make or break a company." Tim Lyons, CPA, CGMA, a manager at Mauldin
& Jenkins LLC in Atlanta, said Batman, with a cave full of crime-fighting
tools, is also known for his gadget know-how. "This affinity for technology carries over
incredibly well for the CPA profession as we are always looking to new
technology-related items to make our jobs more efficient," he said.
Wonder
Woman. Diana Prince, aka Wonder Woman, "excels thanks to a combination of
extraordinary strength, speed, intelligence,
and an arsenal of mythical weaponry," said Maggie Kennedy, CPA, a
consulting senior manager at EKS&H LLLP in Denver. Her armaments include the Lasso of Truth, which forces
captives to be honest. "This magic lasso … is a weapon used by the CPAs of the world,"
Kennedy said. "Numbers
tell a story, and they never lie, if you know how to read them.
Accountants have been able to bring down countless criminals in the real world, including the
infamous Al Capone, due
to their ability to see the truth via numbers." Wonder Woman is also
strong-willed, diligent, nurturing, ethical, and peace-loving, which would make her a great CPA, noted
Jessica Bou Akar, CPA, senior accountant at Dent Moses LLP in Birmingham, Ala.
"We deal with so many personalities on a daily basis," Bou Akar said.
"It is very important to be able to communicate and resolve conflict
peacefully while maintaining a good conscience."
Captain America. A superhero appearing in
Marvel Comics, Captain America is self-aware, optimistic, and a natural leader,
said Tim O'Neill, CPA, tax senior at Mueller Prost LC in St. Louis and a 2016
graduate of the AICPA Leadership Academy. "To be a successful CPA, you
have to have a strong sense of teamwork
and drive; this is Captain America's bread and butter," he said.
"Captain America would [also] set a great example to other CPAs because of
his level of integrity
and strong sense of conviction."
Iron Man. Holly Hawk, CPA, CGMA, lecturer
at the University of Georgia, noted that Iron Man, like CPAs, is analytical, detail-oriented,
and innovative. Iron Man can also adapt well to change and is respected among
his peers for his business acumen,
which is "a key skill set for CPAs," Hawk added. "He also
realizes that with his team [the Avengers], he can be even more powerful, which
is true for CPAs as well."
The Flash. This DC Comics superhero, who
currently has his own TV show, "would make an awesome CPA," said
Barrett Young, CPA, founding member of The Green Abacus, a La Plata, Md., firm
that embraces the superhero theme in its marketing materials to its target
market of technology companies. The Flash is a crime-scene investigator, with a skill set that
could transition easily into forensic
accounting. He's also bright and speedy, and could "read new accounting standards
instantly," Young quipped. "And he's a really great, caring
leader who always takes responsibility in front of the customer for his team's
mistakes." Young admires superheroes, he said, "because they are continually
brought face-to-face with their weaknesses, and they overcome them."
Cheryl Meyer is a freelance writer based in
California. To comment on this article, contact Chris Baysden, senior manager
of newsletters at the AICPA.
