Accountability

Source: Accounting Today

Jennifer Wilson, writing in Accounting Today, says lack of accountability is a frequent complaint among accounting firm leaders. It’s a valid observation confirmed by the number of times the subject has been addressed in the articles we review.

Wilson says a culture of accountability can be created only when two other qualities are present—integrity and ownership of jobs. Without integrity, meaning you do what you say you are going to do, there can be no accountability.

Many firms have people who help—they are not owners. When you delegate responsibility, you establish clear expectations. Ownership of a job means taking total responsibility for it, and those who do that will also be accountable. Ownership should not be shared. Only one person can own a job and be accountable for its success. But you can break jobs down into discrete assignments so that everyone in the firm owns something.

For the complete article, click here and select the article “Accountants and Accountability” in the August 18, 2008, issue.

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