*post image is not Steve, just some guy from iStock
Letters to the editor are great because they clue you in to how a reader identifies with what you’ve written and often the writer will share their own experience viewed through the lens of your story. In this case, the reader-submitted letter we’re about to share with you was written not to us but to Fortune in regards to this August 15 article about the struggle to find accounting and finance talent (we wrote our own take on Deloitte’s talent retention data, too). Here’s a quick blurb from that piece to get you caught up ICYMI:
Deloitte shared new data with me that found 82.4% of hiring managers for accounting and financial positions at public companies said talent retention is a big challenge, compared to 68.9% of hiring managers at private companies.
In addition, 82.3% of hiring managers at public companies expect they’ll have to work hard in the next year to attract and retain employees. Meanwhile, 73.7% of hiring managers at private companies said the same.
TL;DR accounting talent is hard to find.
So a former CPA read that article and felt compelled to give his two cents (seven cents after inflation) on the talent problem and why it’s so hard to find an accountant these days. Here’s what “Steve L.” wrote to article author Sheryl Estrada:
I recently saw an article you wrote on the subject of how difficult it is to find accounting and finance talent. I was an accountant passing the CPA exam in 1981. While things may have changed since then, my experience as a CPA was less than satisfactory. I had four jobs in public accounting and none of them worked.
I then pursued a lifelong dream—driving 18-wheelers. I made a lot more money, and not because of inflation. I had a lot more fun and made a lot more friends. Based on my experience, I can see why it is difficult to find accounting and finance talent. And no, I never once regretted handing in my CPA license.
Ouch.
This makes me wonder though…if driving trucks was his lifelong dream, why public accounting at all? Did Steve consider a move to industry instead of exiting the profession completely? What was it about public that made it such a struggle for him? Did he have to walk uphill both ways in the snow to get to the gymnasium where he sat for the CPA exam in 1981? Does he find the below image triggering??
Steve, if you see this get in touch. We have questions. Starting with “which is your favorite truck stop restroom and why is every Flying J so sketchy??”