Do you think of accountants as serious suit-wearing, pen-wielding number-crunchers? A bit dull and grey maybe? Think again! To combat misconceptions, we have put together this blog to showcase 10 accountant facts we bet you didn’t know.
1. The Invention of Bubblegum
A bookkeeper named Walter Diemar invented bubblegum in 1928. It was bright pink in colour because that was the only dye he had to hand at the time.
2. The Arrest of Al Capone
It was accountants who brought down Chicago crime boss Al Capone. Although many believed he was guilty of everything from bootlegging to murder, authorities ultimately arrested and convicted him of tax evasion.
3. Consecutive Letters
“Bookkeeper” and the words derived from it (bookkeeping, etc.) are the only words in the English language with 3 consecutive sets of double letters.
4. “You Can’t Always Get What You Want…”
Before becoming a Rolling Stone and launching his showbiz career, Mick Jagger studied accounting and finance at the London School of Economics.
5. Heavenly Advocate
St. Matthew the Evangelist is the patron saint of accountants, as well as bookkeepers, tax collectors, stockbrokers and bankers.
6. “Course It’s A Good Idea”
Monty Python frequently poked fun at accountants (click here for a quick laugh). A possible reason for this is that John Cleese’s father wanted him to be an accountant; he may have been due to start work for Grace, Derbyshire & Todd Chartered Accountants in Bristol.
7. One Of The Oldest Professions
Accounting has been around for millennia. Archaeologists discovered tokens dating back 7000 years in ancient Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq, Türkiye and Syria). Historians consider these the earliest documented records of goods received and traded.
8. Accounting Among Film Awards
Accountants play an important role in the Oscars. Every year since 1935 a team of accountants has spent an average of 1,700 hours prior to Oscar night counting the Academy Award ballots by hand.
9. The Father of Double Entry Bookkeeping
Historians consider Italian mathematician Luca Pacioli as the father of accounting. He published the first book on double entry accounting in 1494. Leonardo da Vinci was known to have collaborated with him.
10. French and Latin Origins
The word “accounting” comes from the French “compter” meaning to count or score. Other accounting terms derive from Latin, such as “debit” – “he owes” and “credit” – “he trusts”.
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And this concludes our fun little history lesson on the accountancy profession, and we bet you didn’t know all 10 of these accountant facts!
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This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. While we aim to keep our content up to date and accurate, UK tax laws and regulations are subject to change. Please speak to an accountant or tax professional for advice tailored to your individual circumstances. Pi Accountancy accepts no responsibility for any issues arising from reliance on the information provided.