The San Francisco call., 1904-03-17

couutanfs. Examiner for University OF
Illinois Board OF AccoUntsncy.)
e-a1yrirl-t. 1905. by Joseph T. Bowles-)
The profession Of the public account
ant is tho product Of the modern meth
ods Of transacting business, and also
of that keen competition which makes
Itself felt in every line Of trade and
commerce. Il may be stated that the
public accountant stands in the same
relation to all matters affecting the or
ganization and supervision Of records
Of accounts and costs that the architect
bears 20 the erection Of a building. As
The architect must be equally familiar
with lhe construction Of a cottage, a
hospital or a factory, so the public ac-
Countant must have an intimate knowl-
edge " the best forms of accounts in
al classes Of business, and when en-
gagged upon a critical examination OF
fhcm must know where TO expect to
find the weak places where losses may
occur. It is not expected Of the archl-
tect that he should be a bricklayer or
q plumber. neither must the public ac-
cCuntant be necessarily expected TO be
g hOokkeeper an so far as the mere
l.eepine Of the records is concerned or
The suaed with which he might add a
column Of figures or make given
number OF postings. Like the architect,
:he public accountant is a designer and
creator. but instead of designing build
fnes lie organizes and creates systems
Of accounts and costs, and from his
knowledge Of the needs Of his client he
fr7fO a
from various sources with the mini
mum amount Of labor and brings it to-
cether into concise and valuable state
ments that any layman can under
stand and appreciate.
The rapid growth of this profession
ia this country during the past few
years and its increasing appreciation
on the part Of the public make 1t one
which should appeal to young men
who are naturally endowed with those
qualifications which constitute public
accountant and who are in doubt as TO
what line of work TO enter upon. The
professions of law and medicine are al
ready overcrowded, the investment OF
capital in a small business is becoming
daily more hazardous. so that the fact
that so few college men enter the pro-
fession Of public accountancy is un-
C0ubtedly due TO its being one of COM
paratively recent date and because they
are ignorant Of the excellent opportu-
mites that this field Of work opens up.
The opportunities for success in this
profession are. however, not due TO
any less exercise of energy, applica-
lion and study than in other profess
sfons but exist solely on account OF
The many calls on the part of the
public for the highest class of service
that an accountant can give, this de-
rnand being in excess of the present
SUNNY. Mediocre or second rate abll-
itv viii no more contribute toward
success in this profession than in any
other line Of work, but what is claim
ed is that to men of ability the
chances of securing a comfortable in
come are more favorable than in other
professions. Furthermore, his train
ing fits him to occupy most profit
able and responsible positions outside
of the accountancy profession to fai
greater extent than in other profes
sions.
Having discussed briefly the oppor'
tunities of the profession from ma
terial standpoint, it may not be on
of place to speak a few words as Il
the standing of a public accountan
among his fellow men. Every younl
man of ambition wishes to feel, ant
rightly SO. that he is entering upon ;
business or profession which stand
high IN the regard of his friends an
associates. For the profession of ac
countanancy as ii is to-day no apollo
vfes are necessary. The relation whicl
exists between the public accountan
and his client is a personal one, IN
xolving on the part of the former al
intimate knowledge of his client
most private affairs. The public ac
countant must therefore have repu
tstion above reproach to be worth
of the condolences reposed in him
Furthermore. the work which an ac
countsnt is employed TO perform re
ostires a higher order of skill an
ability than the man Of mediocre at
tainments could cope with. Therefor
both as regards personal characte
and brain capacity. only the best Q
each is good enough for the account
ant who would be successful
The meaning Of the term public as
prefx to the name accountant ma
often puzzled those who have rot ha
tts cause explained. and few word
on this subject VIII further elucidat
the duties OF the public aceountan
one Of the most important function
CT the accountant and auditor is TO ceI
tify 10 the accuracy Of statements rel
resenting the financial conditions I
business. both rs TO their present asset
and Liabilities and their past profit
and losses. Whether these certificate
be published or only used for priva;
circulation the public Is deeply intei
ested, for upon the presentation Of I'll
figures certified to the value Of I'll
business or Of the capital stock of
corporation viii largely depend. Fol
tunes may be lost or made by error
creeping into such statements, or z
Lawrence r. Dickses, widely know
chartered accountant Of England. pui
It: Auditing is much too serious
matter 10 be trified with: the evil ths
can be wrought By an Incompetent al
oitor Is hardly Jess vital and is il