Practice Makes Perfect
| Posted by: Nick Katko | No Comments
I think one of the difficulties accountants face in understanding Lean Accounting is because we are trained to be “doers” of accounting. Our training & education is about how to perform accounting tasks & functions, from learning the basics of journal entries in Accounting 101 to how to close the month in the company we work at. We want to master how to execute, and the better we are at executing, the better accountants we are.
To understand Lean Accounting, accountants need to adjust their perspective from “doing” to “practicing”. And the first step to begin practicing Lean Accounting is the change the way we think as accountants.
Lean Accounting is like Lean – it is a journey towards a destination. Our journey is practicing Lean Accounting and the destination is organization improvement. Our journey never ends because the destination is not final. This is the first change in perspective for accountants– changing the way we think about accounting in a Lean organization. It’s not about us (the accounting function) it’s about the organization as a whole and the customers the organization serves.
The second change in perspective for accountants is the understanding & accepting continuous improvement. All business processes can improve in a Lean organization, including accounting processes. It’s not that the accounting processes are bad, it’s simply that they can get better. It’s important for accountants to change the way we think about the processes we “own.” Accounting is not exempt from improvement.
The final change in perspective for accountants is creating value for your internal customers. Accountants are very good at understanding & delivering value to external customers because the quality of our work is based on GAAP/IFRS, tax laws and other regulations. Internal customers in Lean organizations value specific, relevant, timely, actionable information & data which support Lean practices. Accountants need to listen to what their internal customers value and deliver on that value by making the necessary adjustments to accounting processes to deliver the exact value desired.
“Practice makes perfect” is an old wise saying, and applies to Lean Accounting. The first step to practicing anything new is always mental, whether it be a musical instrument, a sport or a new skill. Once someone opens up their mind, it becomes easier to learn how to do something through regular practicing. If you are new to Lean Accounting, spend time opening up your mind, before diving into the “how to do” of Lean Accounting
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