INT’L ACCOUNTING DAY: CELEBRATING THOSE WHO TELL OUR STORIES IN NUMBERS
Our reporter
It is often said that “Behind every successful business, there is a great accountant.” In view of the foregoing, November 10 every year is observed as International Accounting Day.
The day is observed to honour the essential role accountants and financial professionals play in promoting transparency, trust, and progress across businesses and economies worldwide.
The day underscores the significance of ethical accounting practices and recognizes the immense global impact of the accounting profession.
In Jos, Plateau State, the day began with a health walk to raise awareness about the accounting profession, followed by novelty matches between the various professional accounting bodies. These activities served to share knowledge, recognize professionals, reflect on financial responsibility, and encourage a culture of respect and continuous learning in the accounting community.
Speaking to journalists at the event, which was jointly organised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Chartered Institute of Finance and Control of Nigeria (CIFCFIN), and Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), Jos District Chairman of the ICAN, Mr Pam Musa Chung, explained that the day was observed to celebrate the accounting profession and honour the sacrifices of those who laid its foundation.
He added that the day also served as a reminder of the crucial role accountants play in ensuring transparent and accountable societies.
According to him, the event was not only about celebration but also about healthy living and the importance of balancing work and physical well-being.
Said he: “As accountants, we are generally very busy people, but today we have chosen to step away from our calculators, computers, and ledgers to take part in something different; to promote health and wellness among our members, because health is wealth.”
Chung stated that globally, accountants were united by shared principles of accuracy and integrity, emphasizing that these virtues remain the cornerstone of professional credibility and public trust.
In his separate remarks, ANAN Chairman, Mr. Andy Udah, applauded the collaboration between the professional bodies, describing it as a unity that reflects the collective responsibility of accountants to drive accountability and good governance.
While urging practitioners to continually update their knowledge through innovation and digital transformation, stated that the profession must evolve with technology to stay relevant in Nigeria’s changing economy.
Also speaking, CIFCFIN Chairman, Mr. Tony Garba, described the 2025 edition as the first of its kind that all major accounting bodies in Nigeria came together under one umbrella to celebrate.
Mr. Garba emphasized that integrity and ethics remain the bedrock of the accounting profession, particularly in combating financial crimes.
He also encouraged young accountants to embrace forensic accounting as a critical field for the future.
“You cannot claim to be fighting fraud or corruption if you are not, first of all, an embodiment of integrity. Accountants should begin to speak with one voice as they develop their plans and policies aimed at addressing the menace of fraud and corruption in both the private and public sectors of Nigeria’s economy,” he said.
In his goodwill message to mark the occasion, Executive Chairman of the Plateau State Internal Revenue Service, Dr. Jim Pam Wayas, praised the unity demonstrated by the professional bodies, describing the event as a reflection of the vital role accountants play in every sector of the economy.
Dr. Wayas acknowledged that government operations rely heavily on accounting principles for fiscal discipline.
“Government cannot function without applying the twin concepts of debit and credit.
“Before you are an ICAN member or belong to any professional body, you are first and foremost an accountant. Very few professions exist where practitioners are referred to as doctors of numbers. So, I tell people — if you want to become a doctor of numbers, come to accounting.”
He also described the health walk as not just an exercise in fitness but also a public demonstration of the profession’s visibility and relevance.
The International Accounting Day traces back to the contributions of Luca Pacioli, a renowned Italian mathematician born on November 10, 1447, often considered the “Father of Accounting.”
Pacioli’s publication, “Summa de Arithmetica,” in 1494, introduced and formalized the double-entry bookkeeping system, still the foundation of modern accounting.
The day itself was first officially celebrated in 1972 by the San Diego chapter of the California Society of CPAs and eventually expanded globally.
20
Post Comment