Please keep in mind that these are only general guidelines; always defer to your professor’s specifications for a given assignment. If you have any questions about the content represented here, please contact the Writing Centers so that we can address them for you.
Introduction
While it may seem that accountants work only with numbers, they are often required to develop pieces of writing. Accountants need to communicate with their clients and co-workers in order to effectively complete work-related tasks. Hence, writing in accounting is characterized by conciseness and clarity for ease of reading. As an accounting major, you may be asked to compose various types of written documents, such as memos, letters, and written financial statements. Writing in accounting is not limited to descriptive works, but also includes argumentative and/or analytical pieces. In other words, you may be asked to apply concepts learned in class to specific accounting situations and/or develop an argument around accounting strategies.
Preferred Bibliographic Style
Because writing in accounting does not require a specific bibliographic style, please refer to your professor’s assignment requirements for more information on how to format your writing.
Common Writing Assignments
- Letters: You may be required to compose letters to clients, which vary in formality.
- Memos/e-mail: Memos are essentially an informal version of a letter because they are used within an organization rather than sent to clients. E-mail is also used as a form of communication within an organization.
- Reports: Accounting reports analyze a financial issue using accounting principles.
- Papers: Types of commonly assigned accounting papers include summary/analysis papers, which synthesize someone’s argument and evaluate its importance; opinion papers, which describe your own position on a given subject; and research papers, which support a proposed argument with evidence.
Helpful Resources
DePaul Accounting Links
- DePaul’s Accountancy Department site
- Course descriptions for accountancy classes
- Sample syllabi for accountancy classes
Online Sources
- University of Iowa’s Tippie provides an overview on the types of writing assignments given to accounting majors as well as formatting, such as how to construct thesis statements.
- George Mason University’s page on Writing in Accounting proposes tips for constructing effective writing in accounting. Topics include conciseness, clarity, and revision.
- Purdue OWL’s page on “Workplace Writers” details various types of business writing that accountants may utilize, such as resumes, and offers suggestions for considering audience and effective workplace writing.
Books
- The following book is geared towards students in universities and describes written and spoken communication skills. Crosling, Glenda M. Writing and Presenting in Accounting. Sydney: LexisNexis Butterworths, 2004. Print.
- Each chapter of the following book provides a section on “Managing Your Writing,” in relation to the topic of the chapter. Heintz, James A., and Robert W. Parry. College Accounting. Mason, OH: Thomson/South-Western, 2008. Print.
