When it comes to my vision of the archetypal business person, certified public accountants (CPAs) are right up there. I have a hard time coming up with someone in the organization who is more businessy (technical term) than a CPA.

Maybe that’s just me.

Going with that thought, I also see CPAs as being willing to “put up with more” in terms of the business. I tend to assume that they have some secret knowledge and thick skin that allows them to shrug off–perhaps even enjoy–the stuff that drives me completely nutty. I also tend to assume that younger CPAs–still fresh in perspective and thicker of skin–can put up with even more.

Now, using my (possibly incorrect) assumption about CPAs, imagine where my jaw sits upon reading “Recruiting and Keeping Up-and-coming CPAs at Your Firm” from CCH:

[Young CPAs] want to align themselves with good organizations doing good things. For these young professionals, the idea is not to focus entirely on work for 30 years and then retire. It’s to do good work; be valued for it and to maintain a balance in their lives that allows them to contribute well at work, and at home. They also want to know that they are important to the fi rm and that the fi rm is investing in them, as a professional and as a person with interests outside of work.

Um. Oopie.

Remember, these are CPAs. Dyed-in-the-wool business types.

And they’re looking for the same level of fulfillment that everyone else is seeking?

If they’re steadfastly seeking that kind of fulfillment, what do you think the rest of the business world is seeking?

Um, yeah. Indeed.

(Hat tip to the inimitable David Maister)