The 'Ben Affleck Solution' to the Accountant Shortage

Recently, the accounting industry has been buzzing about the return of a Hollywood film - "The Accountant 2," starring Ben Affleck as the protagonist Christian Wolff. The film hit theaters on April 25, once again igniting financial professionals' special affection for this movie series.

For readers unfamiliar with the background, in certain financial circles, Affleck's 2016 film "The Accountant" has been called by The Wall Street Journal "the accountants' favorite movie," with an appeal comparable to the journalism world's admiration for the Watergate film "All the President's Men." In the first film, Affleck plays an accountant with autism who does books for small businesses during the day and launders money for criminal organizations at night, a character possessing both high intelligence and moral ambiguity.

After the sequel's release, the accounting subreddit quickly became lively. One user recalled: "Think about when the first film came out, I had just graduated from college and was a 'baby staff accountant,' and now I'm a 'manager.'" Another responded: "I watched this movie in high school, and it inspired me to become an accountant, and now I'm a senior audit associate." These comments reflect the series' real impact on career choices.

When asked why the industry loves "The Accountant," a Reddit user pointed out that Affleck's character shares similarities with Keanu Reeves' John Wick, but more importantly, the film "places accountants in a positive, heroic light," rather than the stereotypical nerdy, timid image, or even a thief. The user wrote: "The Accountant shows the world that there's more to you as an accountant than meets the eye. When you're at your high school reunion, or someone asks your profession while you're in line at Chipotle, you can confidently say: 'I'm an accountant.'"

To be honest, as a business journalist and a fan of Affleck, I completely missed "The Accountant" back then. At the time, I was at another media outlet, focusing on commercial mortgage-backed securities - the very area that triggered the global financial crisis. The film closest to my work then was 2015's "The Big Short."

This week, I decided to personally verify why "The Accountant" resonates with so many accounting professionals. I watched both films consecutively, even arranging an impromptu "popcorn date night" with my husband because the sequel was only in theaters. In short, I was deeply impressed by the first film, and the second brought me delight.

Why? Setting aside the various violence Affleck's accountant inflicts on morally bankrupt villains, I was drawn to the humanity shown in the original film, especially humanity in the workplace. In the film, Affleck's accountant patiently guides a financially struggling farming couple through their taxes; Anna Kendrick's junior accountant falls asleep on the conference table after working through the night; the two connect over their shared love for a profession often seen as obscure.

Kendrick's character says in the film: "I like the balance of it. I like finding things that aren't obvious. And also, my dad was an accountant. He had the whole kit - amortization ledgers, green eyeshades, and that dorky pocket protector." Then Affleck lifts his jacket to reveal his own pocket protector, creating an awkward yet genuine moment.

In another scene, Affleck is hired to audit a company preparing for an IPO, and after discovering irregularities (no spoilers here), he quickly shifts into gear, taking control. "I need all the ledgers from the past 10 years, bank statements, complete customer and supplier lists. Print them out, for my eyes only," he tells the CFO. The CFO insists no funds are missing and mentions he's been there for 15 years. Affleck immediately responds: "I need the ledgers from the past 15 years."

In contrast, the sequel almost closes the window on showing the daily life of accounting, and Kendrick's character as colleague and love interest is absent. The second film focuses more on the relationship between Affleck and his brother. What the two films share is drama, energy, humor, and chemistry - as well as a glimpse into the world of wealth and mystery that accountants sometimes navigate. For example, Affleck's character collects Renoir and a precious Jackson Pollock painting, yet refuses to sell.

Although the sequel shows less of the daily accounting grind, I believe that if the series succeeds and continues with more films, the accounting profession will benefit. Action, suspense, money, and genuine human connection both on and off screen form an extremely attractive combination.

A film that showcases the prospects an accounting career can offer holds powerful sway. It can more effectively 'tell the compelling story of the accounting profession' than any dry webinar or after-school program, thereby helping to alleviate the accountant shortage. Affleck just needs to bring Kendrick back in the next installment.