Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
September 25, 2023

Recently Deceased ‘Accounting Legend’ Kenneth Leventhal’s Simple Explanation for His Career Choice

Last week Adrienne asked all of you to explain, to the best of your ability, why you became accountants. There were a myriad of answers given, which she opted to highlight in her post on Monday. While many of them were fine answers (if not a little verbose), they pale in comparison to the reasoning of "Real Estate Accounting Legend" Kenneth Leventhal. Mr. Leventhal passed away yesterday at the age of 91, and because of his prominence in the accounting biz, he got a press release to mark the occasion that included his explanation behind choosing the art of debits and credits:   

When he was 9 years old, he sold newspapers at a street corner in Los Angeles. In talking with his boss, he learned that the boss planned to take a correspondence accounting course and go into business for himself. All it took to get started was a pencil, his boss told him. "I figured that for a nickel, I could be my own boss," Mr. Leventhal explained, "and I never changed my mind."

Today's required seed money may be a bit smaller more than back then, but you shouldn't take this to mean that you can't arm yourself with a sharp No. 2 and end up getting your name on a building

[via Hoyt Organization]

Latest Accounting Jobs--Apply Now:

Have something to add to this story? Give us a shout by email, Twitter, or text/call the tipline at 202-505-8885. As always, all tips are anonymous.

Comments are closed.

Related articles

US Capitol at night

If You’re Looking For Career Options, Give Government Auditing a Look

Ed. note: This post brought to you by the Big Government Auditingâ„¢ lobby. Just kidding, it’s a guest post from Parker Skaats, CPA, an experienced government worker who’s here to pitch the joys of government work to the unwashed overworked masses.  Okay, let’s be real for a second. When you hear “government auditing,” do you […]

guy in suit giving thumbs up

A Tale of Two Business Majors Speaking to Young People About Their Careers

Under the “Teen Talk Tuesdays” category in the Milwaukee Community Journal there is a charming story about exploring career pathways written from the perspective of a young man who had three guest speakers come to his school and talk about their career paths. He writes: Two of the visitors were teachers at a University. The […]