– Graduates need to know how exciting the accounting industry has become!

Board Chairman Geir-Arne Mathisen of Økoråd-Vekstra says that accountants have gained much more exciting workdays in recent years.

– Our industry is undergoing an incredibly exciting development. From being an industry that "some" predicted would be dying out, accountants are actually more relevant than we have ever been, says Geir-Arne Mathisen. He is the CEO of ØkoRåd Gruppen and Board Chairman of the nationwide franchise chain Økoråd-Vekstra Gruppen AS.

– What is happening now is a transition where many of the previous tasks for accountants are becoming more and more automated. As a result, many in our industry are looking for new opportunities to assist clients in areas beyond traditional bookkeeping.

He notes that accountants possess the insight, competence, and detailed knowledge of each individual client that allows them to be the best advisors in their day-to-day operations.

A varied workday

– The sheer scope of the workday makes the job fantastically exciting! One day you are advising a plumbing business, another day valuing companies that are about to merge, and a third day you are in a joint meeting with the bank, says Geir-Arne.

He explains that there are great opportunities to develop in different directions within the profession, take specializations, or focus on specific industries.

– We have a major job to do here in communicating to graduates that the accounting industry is highly relevant and very exciting to work in. There are development opportunities in countless directions.

More strategic advisory

Geir-Arne Mathisen notes that the pandemic demonstrated how closely connected accountants are to the business community and companies when major changes occur in society and regulatory frameworks.

– We see that businesses face increasingly complex requirements, for example, related to anti-money laundering (AML) and digital documentation. The accountant assists clients with strategic advisory, and in many cases, they partially act as a CFO. These are interesting and exciting tasks that help make the workday more varied, he says.

– In advertising, some players portray accounting as being so simple that almost anyone can do it. But day-to-day reality is not necessarily that simple!

What few realize—and this is also a major challenge we face—are all the requirements placed on accountants to stay professionally updated. Everything from tax rules, VAT regulations, NFRS, and anti-money laundering, to a spectrum of regulations that we must update ourselves on—every single year. This is a job that accountants must do continuously—done ongoing throughout the year and benefiting clients through accurate, profitable advice.

– An attractive employer

Økoråd-Vekstra Gruppen AS offers accounting and advisory services in more than 50 different locations across Norway. The various offices are committed to being good employers. The size of the chain, combined with increased digitalization and economies of scale, has made this work easier in recent years.

– In our system, if you work in Oslo, you can move to Lofoten or to the best ski destinations and work there for six months if you are a bit of a ski bum and want to ski a lot. We have so many opportunities and such great flexibility. We work purposefully to offer employees an interesting and rewarding workplace. I feel we are succeeding with that today, but there will be even more opportunities for those who choose to commit to us, Geir-Arne Mathisen concludes.

About Økoråd Vekstra AS
The 42 accounting offices in Økoråd Vekstra AS offer services within accounting, financial analysis, control, advisory, and other services you might need. The chain can also offer and assist with the technological solutions the client wishes to use.
Økoråd Vekstra has chosen Kravia as its partner for debt collection.