There is a theory about types of personalities, and the Meyers Briggs chart summarizes the types. You should be able to pick yourself out from just looking at the chart which has 16 personality types. Google it and you can even find some free quizzes that are fun. If you are an accountant and want to be a CPA you will either most likely be an INTJ (introvert, innovative, thinking, judging) or ISTJ ( introvert, sensing, thinking, judging). Granted there are a few extroverts after all we need to have partners and directors whereas introverts tend to make good Controllers. In other words, the CPA occupation tends to employ thinking (how we make decisions) and judging (how we prefer to think about rules) personalities with either a sensing or intuitive preference for processing information. Being able to differentiate how you process information will have impact on how you prepare and review for the exam.
Intuitive types are independent, see patterns, are strategic without being manipulative, see the big picture, delegate easily, are realistic and practical. Intuitive types of people often get epiphanies where information comes together from seemly thin air.
An intuitive person feels like they can fly through the analysis and evaluation with ease and feel bogged down in the application process. Since application is the largest group of cognitive skills assessed, the intuitive person needs to be aware that details of processes, plans, and procedures should need more attention. This personality thrives when things are messy.
Sensing types are reliable, detail oriented hard workers, are strategic and practical, love predictability, delegate easily, have good memory for rules, have strong convictions. Sensing types of people often learn through experimentation and perseverance.
The sensing person is better at tasks that involve remembering, understanding, and applying. When sensing person approaches analysis and evaluation the lack of a clear black and white answer can cause pause. The sensing person just needs to be aware that those higher cognitive activities take a bit more work.
What does it take to pass the AUD section? One answer is your personality. Highly sensing types tend to like accounting information to be exact and match expectations in a logical order with solid black and white answers. This person makes a good auditor up to a point. They are sticklers for doing every step of an audit program from planning activities through testing. They have a meticulous attention to detail. When data is out of place, this person freezes because it does not match concrete expectations. This personality trait will have you succeed on the skills that use remembering, understanding and application. But the highly intuitive personality is the person who can accept messy data, mistakes, errors, and misapplication of judgment. This type sees patterns in data and can visualize abstract ideas. This type of personality will succeed in the higher level of skills such as finding errors, analyzing data, projection of risk, employing skepticism, and has strong analytical skills that evaluate and form opinions with confidence. Many (85%)of audit staffers are ISTJ and work well with routine audits. The rest are INTJ (15%) audit managers and those that find the big hidden misappropriations. From my experience, there is no such thing as a neat and tidy embezzlement.
Is your type a “sensing” person? Then you will need to reinforce the analytical and evaluation representation tasks. Look for the tasks that require risk assessment and drill, baby drill. Fill in by finding errors and problem solving. Practice skepticism SIM exercises. Try to predict the answer before doing the work to get to the answer.
Is your type an “intuitive” person? Then you will need to pay meticulous attention to detail and step by step procedures. You tend to jump to the answer without doing the work. Practice the recall, understanding and application representation tasks and drill, baby drill.
Almost all auditors are “thinking” types that use logic, analysis, and objective criteria to form opinions as an auditor. Those few with “feeling” will work well in NFPs and NGOs. Auditors are also naturally “Judging” types and prefer structures like documenting work as planned, applying SEC rules, and adhering to deadlines.
What does it take to be excellent in FAR financial reporting? One answer is your personality. The primary difference in accountants is the way you prefer to take in information. In auditors, the sensing was less lucky, and the intuitive type was more likely to succeed in AUD. The reason is that AUD tested higher cognitive skills like analysis and evaluation. If you are the sensing type, you are in luck for the FAR section. You love exact answers. When a number does not meet your expectation you blow a gasket. That is just what is tested in FAR content group in financial statements with tasks such as “Adjust the income statement to correct identified errors.” Your type of personality gets all excited if you see a trial balance with amounts for assets and no amounts for depreciation. You love making decisions based on facts and numbers are your friend. Your sensing personality has a keen sense of responsibility and integrity is built into your type. Your attention to detail that drove all your study buddies nuts is now the win-win that gets you through FAR with success. Your sensing personality thrives with well-structured rules and principles and following well defined generally accepted accounting principles. You love looking up rules in FASB and getting exact answers. You probably fell in love with accounting when you mastered Assets = Liabilities and Equity.
However, if your type is more “intuitive” then your strong suit will be with representative tasks such as: “Detect, investigate and correct discrepancies while agreeing the income statement amounts to supporting documentation, including the source data.” Your personality thrives on problem solving, detecting an anomaly is right up your alley and you know exactly what the discrepancies means to the big picture. The intuitive person needs to pay attention to how you get to the answer and not jump to the answer without showing your work. (Something a true intuitive type knows all too well because your math teachers frequently put that on your graded papers) Many SIM tests have a human part to grading and you can get some wild card points for partial work credit.
ISTJ are perfect for recalling all the rules of the tax code in REG that need to be applied in preparation of tax returns. The sensing person will need to practice the analysis tasks with greater repetition. REG is perfect for the “sensing” personality.
The INTJ intuitive type is self-sufficient, sees patterns in data, and is well organized. Intuitive types have epiphanies and seem to just know what to do with a tax return. You are realistic and practical. Recalling IRS code is often not your favorite thing. You tend to see the big picture. You like to do applications and analysis. The intuitive person will need to practice the tasks that involve recall with greater repetition. REG is perfect for the intuitive personality.
Your personality is a good fit for the CPA Exam. Just be aware of how you need to balance your strengths. In any event your personality is among the highest in IQ. You will succeed in accomplishing this once in a life time exam.