ADHD and Accounting?

[pittguy578]

Just wondering if anyone else with ADHD has done well going into accounting?
I love crunching numbers and doing excel spreadsheets.
Can your passion for something override the ADHD traits?

[chloe516]

I don't do well with accounting, but I can do spreadsheets and grids when I am motivated.

[Joyous56]

Originally Posted by pittguy578

Just wondering if anyone else with ADHD has done well going into accounting?
I love crunching numbers and doing excel spreadsheets.
Can your passion for something override the ADHD traits?

I love crunching numbers and doing excel spreadsheets too....and thought that accounting would be a good 'fit'. Bad move.

The problem with accounting is that you are expected to follow 'generally accepted accounting principals', and there is a whole lot more time spent doing boring stuff like putting together financial statements and balance sheets and reconciling list A with number B, than fooling around with the fun stuff.

I believed that once I did my time with the boring stuff I would get to a point where I could delegate it, and do the interesting stuff myself, except in the financial world, you are expected to do your time and demonstrate competance in the boring stuff, before you can move on.

And the boring stuff really tweaked my ADD.....I never got good enough at it to get past it.

If you can figure out a path to bypass the boring stuff, and go straight to the 'financial analysis' stuff....go for it!

[Uminchu]

What is it with ADHD and accountants? Gluttons for punishment?
My mother got an associate degree in accounting -- never used it, though. She earned way more money as a union janitor.

There is a lot of tedium in the bookkeeping side of it. We have a tax accountant, but we still need to keep a lot of our own books. This might be specific to business filing in Japan, but lots of information has to be duplicated. Chalked up as an expense over here, a bank withdrawl over there, expenses on two different books -- one for all expenses, and one for each category of expense. That kind of stuff drives me crazy.

My wife does the books in our house, but I have written her various programs and macros that will take just a single list of information, and print out the various things she needs to show our accountant, all nice and calculated up. Now that part is kind of fun.

[Jackinbox]

Accounting doesn't look very adhd-friendly to me. Boring, repetitive and not very creative, except if you want to fraud the goverment.

[AllFiredUp]

Great topic!

My first accounting job was during college. I started doing job cost accounting for a commercial flooring company. My main responsibility was reviewing each job we completed and analyzing the costs. If they were over or under budget in any area, I had to determine why and take action. A lot of my time was spent dealing with vendors and job managers to resolve problems. I liked it and it worked well with my ADD. Being organized was a challenge, but I did a very good job overall and was well-liked, so I could slide by a bit on that.

After almost four years, the company I was working for was sold and I had to find something else. I decided to put my accounting degree to use and take a job doing more "traditional" accounting. It was a small company and this was the sole accounting position. I had to handle everything from AP and AR to payroll, preparing financial statements and filing tax returns. NOT a good fit at all! I toughed it out for over two years but it was horrible for me. For the last year there, I had anxiety attacks on a daily basis because I felt so out of control and unhappy. I managed to get the essential things done, but so many important things were left imcomplete. I chose to leave, but would probably have been fired soon if I hadn't.

I now work for a large homebuilder. I'm back to doing job cost accounting. I create a budget for each project we do and review costs after it is completed. Most of my time is spent doing research and analyzing information. I particularly like that I do something different every day and that my performance is measurable by saving the company money.

Accounting is a broad field and the majority of jobs probably aren't very compatible with ADD/ADHD. For those of us gifted with an aptitude for numbers, thankfully there are some options.

[Kokomo]

I would think an accountant who gets to do a lot of consulting and has associates to do the bookeeping and less "interesting" topics could be very fulfilled. My accountant friend is a great "mentor" for startups and loves his work. I bet that part of it is fun!

[jmarion88]

Let me tell you a little about my 18 year accounting career and having ADD.

I have been fired from 3 jobs (Most recently a month and a half ago, and I'm still looking for work) and I can say without a doubt my ADD was directly responsible. I can also say I have underperformed in every job I've had because of my ADD.

The problem as I see it is the repetitive nature of accounting.

Week one, you're closing the books of the previous month. In a lot of accounting jobs, this includes standard entries which are essentially the same every month.

Week two usually entails reconciling accounts, which once again, is basically the same activity month to month.

Weeks three and four a lot of the time involve trying to find "busy work" to fill out the month.

Most accounting textbooks say "The Accounting Equation" is,

Assets = Liabilities + Equity

I say the accounting equation is,

Accounting + ADD/ADHD = Disaster.

Thanks for letting me stand on my :soapbox:

[Joyous56]

I say once again......

AAARRRRGGGHHHHH!

[snodfart71]

Hi Folks, I'm a newbie. Great Forum and interesting topic. My post is probably too long, but at least I've tried to make it entertaining to a biz pro. And I really need your help.

Sure hope that jmarion88's closing comment, "Accounting + ADD/ADHD = Disaster" is not completely true, funny as the expression is.

A finance guy with recently discovered ADD, I hope maybe you'all can help. I tried to make my story short, but failed miserably. Anyone's observation or advise is appreciated, but especially if you have an accounting/finance/analytical background because we share something in common professionally. As long as it is *please* stay with me while I explain where I came from, how my life got turned upside down, and my new awareness of ADD/ADHD. Your thoughts might mean the whole world to me... please?

Middle aged and well regarded in 2001, I got the no-so-golden handshake. It was that or a sidearm with one bullet and instructions to "do the right thing." No, I was not at Enron! I HAD NO IDEA HOW BAD THINGS COULD REALLY GET... AND THAT LEADS EVENTUALLY TO ADD/ADHD.

I was in a senior staff role with a Fortune 50. Leaving had everything to do with my "star" being tied too tightly to much loved, long time CEO who retired. With 18 years and history of working sensitive staff projects for the leadership, I was part of l'ancien regime that could be quickly dispatched without too much fuss.

At first planning a career teaching, banking, Wall Street or even government, I stood in line and endured to get an MSc in Finance and PhD in Economics. My first 4 years with a well-known Cambridge-based consultancy disabused me of any thought of banking, and certainly of government! Augghh!!

Next 18 years with the Fortune 50 was wonderful. Early assignments in mfg cost acctg., global GL acctg., deep involvement in co's 3rd and finally successful global supply chain integration; back to acctg. in treasury, then crowning achievement was personal staff to CEO at inception of a realignment resulting in a spin-off and for its time the largest LBO ever. "Parked" in a planning group within finance, but still really staff to CEO was something I expected to be a good thing... maybe a fat, juicy line job? Maybe Treasury as I knew those ropes and had proved it during the LBO?

I was 1 about 12 staff types close to The Boss, the CFO, and World Wide Sales chief. Each of them had his own staff, but we were the folks who filled in the cracks, collectively had a wide range of expertise, knew a lot of people in the trenches inside and outside of the co., and could work on sensitive stuff on a moments notice. The running joke was that we should be called "The Celibate Subalterns," a reference to our of-service relationship to the leadership, and also to the 7x18 hour days and absurdly high frequent flyer miles. Each of us were single, and most had been married at least once. I didn't just love the job, I lived for it, body and soul. [A cautionary note to my younger colleagues -- when you give over your soul to something, be sure to get the right price in return]! The Boss shared many things with The Subalterns, but he forgot to hint that the Board was getting bored and thinking 'new blood.' Boy, did they get that, but it's another story!

I stayed on as long as I could, but after getting stuck in a no-win role, I clearly had to go. I HAD NO IDEA HOW BAD THINGS WERE ABOUT TO GET.

I had some money thanks to the not so golden handshake, so at first I traveled with those frequent flyer miles. Began to realize that no matter where I went or what I did, things just were not fun anymore. Early on I got some great interviews, but everything seemed stale and gray. I bought a house in another city, supposedly as an investment. Ended up just sitting in the darned thing. Rarely went out, slept most of the day, and after awhile I could not stay awake even if I wanted to. At that point I think a lot of people would have started drinking, but I have a built-in thing about that, so at least my total eclypse into deep depression was not aided by that. Seems fair to say I was a pretty high functioning person at one point, but by the time I had hit bottom I could not even read a newspaper and remain focused. There were a lot of "last straws," but at some point I somehow ended up seeing a doctor, who got me to a very good psychiatrist, who in turn got me to a good therapist.

Sparing you all of the ugly details, I was at least moderately depressed for at least 5 years, and grossly depressed and completely disabled for 2 of those. Now I'm recovering, and I'd say I've got about 80-90% of the old Mojo back. To find out, I started working on the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) ticket. There are 3 exams with a pass rate of about 30%. I really don't have much interest in the markets, but the CFA is just too interesting to pass up. Also did some course work at my old school, also to see how I'd function, and was pleased with the result.

But here's the rub: Before that hell of depression, I never noticed an ADD/ADHD problem, at least not that I was in touch with. These last 4-6 months, as the depression clears (I hope for good), I am very aware of most of the classic ADD signs. What concerns me the most is difficulty staying on-task, lack of intellectual focus, wondering, and the big one for me - difficulty completing things I set out to do.

Spent a lot of time with my therapist on this set of problems. Was it depression, because those are all things that happen in depression, or something else. Then I started thinking back to childhood, high school, college, grad school, and work. Many of these problems existed for me back then, along with other signs of learning disorders, but somehow - and I really don't know how - I figured out automatic, subconcious ways to cope. The best way I can describe it is that I was always able to do things (god knows what) that required a bit more psychological energy, call it "z." If other people could do the task with (y) amount of energy behind their given intelligence, I had to do it with (y)^z, or something like that. My theory and that of my therapist is that whatever that "z" was, I can't access it anymore, at least not in the automatic way I used to.

I'm still taking the antidepressant combination that has worked so well for me, Effexor XR and Celexa both in amounts slightly higher than usual. Last week I started Adderall at 10mg AM and early afternoon. So far I have not seen a marked improvement. Level of sustained concentration seems a little better, but I still wonder off topic and I'm not getting things done like I should and used to do.

SO FELLOW NUMBER CRUNCHERS AND BUSINESS PRO'S, what do you think? First is ADD/ADHD likely? What should I expect with this med? WHEN should I expect it?

Here is my real pain point -- I don't want to use up the tiny bit of reputation or prior career accomplishments by taking a job or even doing some consulting if I'm going to mess things up. Know what I mean? I've been "gone" for a long time, I have no idea how to deal with that issue in conversation or on my resume. If I manage to get something worth while, I sure can't afford to mess it up, both for my career and for the people who would be depending my work.

Please don't hold back... fire away. You sure won't hurt my feelings, and maybe you can help salvage a life!!

Many Thanks - snodfart71

[Uminchu]

Welcome to the forums, snodfart71 -- quite an intro!

And yes, I read to the end!

Originally Posted by snodfart71

I've been "gone" for a long time, I have no idea how to deal with that issue in conversation or on my resume.

That part should be easy -- after many years of very hard work, you decided to take some time for yourself. Now you're ready to get back into professional life, but with fewer responsibilities and a lighter workload. Something like that?

If you want to get back into the saddle slowly, perhaps some part-time volunteer work, work at an NPO, ...

The problem to me would be to find something I felt interesting, since easy + boring is the kiss of death.

[sloppitty-sue]

Hi Snodfart,

Welcome to the forum! I have seen some very intellectual threads a few times on here so I expect/hope that someone with a similar background WILL reply soon! I, on the other hand, can lay claim to only working at an accounting firm (as an Administrative Assistant).

Snod - I just wanted to ask you (and others that I have met like you) WHY you are so very concerned about your not blemishing any further your GRANDIOSE career? (And I really am not using the term "grandiose" to insult you, but using it to try to express how your situation seems from MY point of view.)

First: I'm assuming you are in your mid-forties or older. Do you LOVE the Accounting/Finances field THAT much that you believe it is definitely worth it to subject yourself to such intense scrutiny and discipline over executing your next career-move so precisely and carefully?

I guess because I am SO DIFFERENT that listening to people who've already achieved so much (both status-wise AND money-wise) and who then CONTINUE to push themselves to ENDURE such unpleasantness (because I find that whole profession, as well as many other professions with a capitalistic focus, so draining & demoralizing) is absolutely puzzling to me. So I'm genuinely curious as to WHY a person would want to spend the precious second half of their lives in this environment. Can you tell me what the payoff is?

I'm assuming you could easily make enough money to live comfortably doing something less horrible. With all your formal education and degrees I would guess that you could do work in so many different fields. Have you ever considered teaching? I've heard that many people with ADHD really enjoy teaching. My guess is that the "office politics" working in "Academia" is not for us (that was MY experience anyway) but that the actual teaching and working with students is very fulfilling. So if you just stay out of the politics of any of the colleges - could be a great job!?

Snod, sorry I not only may not be HELPING you but I also may be TOTALLY missing what exactly it is that your post was about. Please just ignore me if that's the case. I'll admit that like many of the more intellectual posts I've found here, your post was difficult for me to read AND COMPREHEND.

Please hang around a little bit. There really are some very intellectual people on this board who post about such things. I believe a woman going by the name "Barbyma" is one of them, can't remember the names of the other ones off the top of my head. You may also use the Search feature here to find people and topics that might be helpful. (Has taken me a WHILE to start finding the info I needed here.)

Nice meeing you, and I hope you picked up that any insulting tone that may have come thru via my comments are only about MY INSECURITIES and disappointments with myself. I am a huge underachiever and I actually am VERY LAZY (as well as ADD) . So when I hear about others who have achieved so, so much already - about 20 times more than I'll ever achieve - I'm like, "FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF ALREADY!! If I were you I'd spend the rest of my life takin' it easy!" (I just cannot identify at ALL with what you are going through, but I'd like to.)

Sincerely,
Sue

[Shelle0812]

I work in accounting and diagnosed as ADHD and let me tell you, it is difficult! I struggle every day to get things done...so boring!

[thedoc617]

I have ADHD and I am not doing too good in accounting class. I really want to fall asleep every day in class- and it shows by how I do on the tests... (which isn't too well). I am more of a right brained person, and doing math and punching numbers is sooo confusing!
Figuring out where accounts paid and accounts recievable and revenue earned makes my head spin!!

Does anybody have any strategies or help?

[Joyous56]

I don't know, Snodfart, but I'd have to agree with Slopitty-Sue. You sound so darn energized about a career that could easily take you back to that terrible place....and focused totally on things like blemishing your rep....it's almost as if you are more comfortable focusing on how you appear than on taking some time to consider what's really important to you.

I think what is most disturbing to me is all the lingo and slang and what seems like an attempt to appear carefree and on top of things. I know that you are here because you are asking for suggestions or advice, but.....on the surface it seems like you want to know how to maintain your reputation more than anything else....and that doesn't ring true to me.

So, I guess what I'm saying is...what are you really feeling? I'm not sure you're going to get a lot of advice here about how to get back on the merry-go-round....but you may find a way to come to terms with some very real limitations that ADHD presents, and maybe even get to a place where you can find a path that will be more deeply satisfying, both personally and professionally.

Good luck! I don't mean to sound judgemental or critical....but I think I understand more than it sounds like I do.... I've got an MBA in Finance, from a good school, and I thought I wanted what it sounds like you had for awhile, but the price was too high. Or maybe I'm wrong, and ADHD isn't all that much of an obstacle for you.

Whatever, I'd like to hear more....