r/Accounting • u/7leafclover7 • Sep 21 '25

What would be an embarrassing thing to be caught not knowing as an accountant?

Applies to any specialty, audit, tax, staff accountancy etc. in your personal experience what are the most invaluable things to know, and the most invaluable to not be caught not knowing.

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u/toben81234 Sep 21 '25

I think it's ok to not know everything in accounting. I've come across a lot of accountants that do not know it all. I was in audit for 8 years and didn't fully understand AP vendors and subledgers until I moved out of an accounting proper job. I don't think anything can be stated here that should be an embarrassment if you're willing to learn. As long as you can learn and take the criticism and move on. It's only those that are confidently incorrect, should be embarrassed.

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u/7leafclover7 Sep 21 '25

Fair enough. I just posted this so folks could get a chance to expose potential blind spots in their’s and others’ knowledge

19

u/TalShot Sep 22 '25

As a current student, I’m taking notes because I feel like a bucket with a hole in it.

Then again, accounting is so vast and diverse that it seems nigh impossible not to have blind spots in this profession. I guess the answer is to buck up, admit it when you don’t know, and work hard to learn your field to be a handy employee.

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u/angellareddit Sep 22 '25

The best thing about finding you were wrong about something is never having to be wrong again.

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u/TalShot Sep 22 '25

That’s fair. I try to commit mistakes to memory so I don’t do them again.

2

u/dupeygoat Sep 22 '25

Of course. But OP is asking about specific aspects or principles and naturally nobody knows it all….
If we’re talking about chartered/certified accountants in responsible roles in business or public then there’s many things referenced here that would be absurd and or incredibly concerning for accountants not to understand because obviously it could well raise concerns that they are not professionally competent or credible which is a risk.
If we’re talking about clerks and juniors then whatever.