I was interested to see a recent post on LinkedIn refer to accountants qualified for 30-40 years as ‘ has beens‘, comparing them to elderly hairdressers only capable of performing blue rinses.
Qualified accountants with 30 years post – qualification experience are approx 55 years old.
Based on this, my former office, one of the largest offices of the one largest accountancy firms in the UK, is run by ‘ has beens’, even though the office, and firm, is very successful.
When I left there, I was forcibly prevented from leaving the accountancy profession as people of all ages (even below ‘ has been‘ age) wanted to recommend me. I didn’t ask them, they approached me.
They wanted the benefit of experience, skill, knowledge, good reputation, resourcefulness, professionalism, years of training and maturity.
I guess everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I personally wouldn’t be writing off everyone over a certain age.
Are you over 55 and think you are a ‘has been‘?
Is experience over-rated?
Should over 55’s be banished to an uninhabited island?
Here’s a pic of me inexperienced in dressing myself just before I passed my exams and qualified but, crucially, much younger than 55!
I know that my 30+ years in the accountancy sector has helped to save people significant sums of money and that experience will ensure I’m able to provide expert tax advice and money saving guidance for even longer.
I know which Russell I would prefer to take advice from and it is not the young, inexperienced one in this picture!
