That’s not a title I thought I’d ever use. Ever since I scraped 50% in my first year of IT studies for the accursed subject I thought I’d seen the last of in Std 7, I’ve held a particular dislike for the term. Perhaps also the fact that most organisations I’ve been involved with have seen my brilliant ideas curtailed by the iron fist of the accountant had something to so with it.
So it came as a surprise when I volunteered for the accountant role for the Ethical Co-op. And even more of surprise when I came to enjoy it. Now it’s purely temporary of course, and I’m more of a bookkeeper than accountant (perhaps a good thing as I still get confused by which is which of credits and debits, much less the intricacies of a profit and loss statement).
But I’ve come to view the one afternoon a week I spend paying the bills as the highlight of the week. Armed with some gorgeous Rapunzel chocolate, I get to work.
Damn, there’s only half as much as we need. Which of the suppliers shall I choose to pay today? These bastards were 5 minutes late with their delivery, no pay for you. Ag shame, this poor one-man band is really struggling, let’s pay them. Oh no, there’s also this unpleasant, but key, supplier to pay. Which one will it be?
I’m starting to gain a whole new sympathy for accountants, and their neuroses. The anxiety when an invoice is late. The horror of the 10c typo by another department causing a 20 minute delay when reconciling. The fury when we blindly place a huge supplier order the same week salaries are due. The ecstasy of an old debt being repaid. The aneurism caused by a letter of final demand for an invoice from April I never knew existed. The inevitable feeling of martyrdom caused by having to tell members there’s no option but to take a massive cut in salary. The nagging itch of the invoice you’ve been unable to pay for a month, that begins to bug you at home, even in your sleep. The incessant desire to replace our scrumptious organic coffee with Frisco.
But I’m having a fantastic time. Things are under control, and I can honestly say I had no clue about the business until I took on the role. Suddenly I’m querying the exhorbitant prices we’re paying for the most trivial of items, but more importantly I can see what’s needed to take the business to the next level.
I’m about to hand over the role, but I’ve had the time of my life, and things are healthier than ever. Watch out Pick ‘n Pay, here we come 🙂