S’porean accountants share why their jobs are not just about numbers & the importance of managing interpersonal relationships

You are probably familiar with the Myer-Briggs personality test and its 16 types of personalities.

One of the personality types, the ISTJ is also commonly known as the logistician.

According to the website 16personalities, the logistician is a highly structured person who is reliable, practical, grounded and drawn to settings with clear hierarchies and expectations.

They also have a strong work ethic, and may often find themselves picking up the slack of their colleagues, friends or loved ones and do not readily express their emotions.

On the surface, it would therefore seem like ISTJs function best when they work alone in jobs such as accountants, auditors and data analysts.

In fact, the job of accountant has even been cited by Forbes as one of the jobs best-suited for ISTJs.

What’s more, 16personalities has also suggested that ISTJs may struggle with the “increasingly open and social requirements” of modern work life.

But is it really the case that ISTJs are best suited for the role of an accountant? Are there other personalities that are just as suitable for accounting, if not even better?

Perhaps more fundamentally, does being an accountant mean you don’t need to be a very people-oriented person?

"I’m ISTJ but open communication is key"

In the case of Glenn Lim, a finance manager at Tencent Singapore, and a former tax advisor at one of the "Big 4" accounting firms, while his personality is ISTJ, expressing emotions is important.

"I’m a firm believer in maintaining open communication," he said.

When it comes to managing stakeholders and challenges at work, Lim ensures everybody is aligned at the start of an assignment.

As another point of comparison, Aneetha Dhillon – an accountant of four years at Omnicom Public Relations Group, with an ESTJ personality – said she handles disagreements among colleagues by focusing on issues rather than personal feelings which helps to keep the conversation constructive.

Suffice to say, if everyone stuck to their Myers-Briggs personalities in approaching disagreements, it would not make for a conducive working environment.

As 16personalities suggests, the ESTJ personality will not hesitate to show their disappointment when faced with a co-worker who does not live up to their expectations.

In Dhillon’s case however, her approach is as such:

"If possible, I look for common ground and aim to collaborate on finding a solution that works for everyone. Maintaining a positive and respectful tone is key for me as I understand that emotions can be heightened in scenarios like this."

ISTJs are not the only personality who enjoy structure and order to their work

Lim also pointed out that he approaches his work with an inclination towards structure.

According to Lim, this involves taking a step-by-step approach which he defines as follows:

"Understand(ing) the (why), the purpose of (the assignment), and the objective it seeks to achieve. This helps me to understand what the end goal is, where we are now, and what is the gap that needs to be bridged."

Lim added, "This means that I try to ensure enough lead time for me to plan and work around whilst managing various stakeholders."

In addition, this is how he approaches life in general, Lim admitted, to the point that his friends are able to accurately guess his personality type "to a tee".

But that’s not to say ISTJs are the only ones who are inclined towards putting a structure on everything that they do.

Dhillon also pointed out that she enjoys order and clarity to her work.

Given that the ESTJ’s reputation is the Executive – a person who helps to bring people together and provide a sense of stability, this is par for the course.

ESTJs are also reputed for doing things "by the book", and are attracted to workplaces which are well-organised.

She said:

"At work, I focus on creating efficient systems and processes, and I tend to take charge when needed. While I can be flexible when the situation demands it, I generally prefer sticking to plans and routines."

Is it fair to say accountants hesitate to step outside their comfort zone?

In fact, as another point of similarity between Lim and Dhillon, both of them admitted to sometimes finding it challenging to step out into unfamiliar situations.

As 16personalities puts it, ISTJs can be resistant to new ideas, while ESTJs can be strong adherents to tradition and uncomfortable with change.

According to Lim, the "J" aspect of his personality means that he prefers things to be more structured and to plan ahead, over spontaneity.

He was echoed by Dhillon, who shared that she could also relate to the importance of stepping out of her comfort zone.

She added that choosing a method that is "seemingly uncertain" over one that has always worked carries a risk for her professional image of reliability.

Surprisingly, however, one area in which Lim does appear to exercise a degree of spontaneity is his spare time, albeit within certain limits.

"Being introverted by nature, I try not to plan too many social activities in a given week as I will usually need some downtime for myself and with my family," he said.

As for what he enjoys during his downtime, Lim hits the gym a few times a week, attends weekly spin classes with colleagues, and goes road cycling on the weekends.

Even introverts enjoy company.

There are accountants who excel at working with people

As for Dhillon, despite her reservations, one area where she excels is working with colleagues in public relations who are unfamiliar with financial technology.

Such situations allow her to leverage on her ESTJ traits, like leadership and sociability, to aid colleagues in grasping complex concepts and understand finance more comprehensively.

Dhillon also pointed out that her ESTJ personality makes it easier for her to build rapport with clients and establish a close working relationship with them.

"This challenges the stereotype that accountants are fierce and unapproachable," she said.

All that being said, Dhillon added that she also treasures her quiet time to relax and recharge however.

This ranges from watching sitcoms on Netflix, to interacting with her cat, and going on hikes.

With International Accountants Day coming up soon on Nov. 10, there will be various events organised to mark the occasion and celebrate those in the industry — and the events also serve as networking opportunities.

Indeed, given that accounting appears to be becoming more and more complex, being able to work in a team has become more important than ever.

As Lim puts it:

"Accountants definitely do more than bean counting these days. With the enhancement of technology, traditional accounting as we know it, is evolving as well. Accountants today are versatile and highly adaptable."

More about CPA Australia

Both Lim and Dhillon are members of CPA Australia, one of the largest professional accounting bodies in the world that offers a professional certification programme, training, technical support and advocacy to its members.

If you’re embarking on a career in the accounting and finance industry and want to make yourself stand out regardless of your personality type, you can consider becoming certified by the accounting body.

CPA Australia offers an extensive range of courses and webinars to grow your skillsets to further your professional and personal development.

Find out more about the benefits of joining CPA Australia and its programme here.

This article is brought to you by CPA Australia. 

Top photos courtesy of Glenn Lim and Aneetha Dhillon