Why “the Mediating Accountant”?
Accountants tend to be logical creatures who spend their time satisfying their curiosity by picking over numbers and helping people plan some certainty from the chaos that would otherwise ensue.
A very broad-brush and slightly unfair personification of a profession that I have been involved with for over 30 years but not 100 miles from how many people perceive those of us who have the word “Accountant” in our job descriptions.
However, probably approaching 10 years ago my eyes were opened by taking part in a mediation.
Here was a process that did depend on recollecting actual events (so it did have some logic in its genesis), however, rather than be restrained by prescriptive law and legislation there was also room for creativity and great freedom to try and arrive at a solution for the parties concerned.
Courts award costs and apportion blame where mediation tries to really get to the
bottom of the problem and arrive at a solution which may not even really revolve around money at all (although to be fair, money does still raise its ugly head to some extent).
Why had I not come across this before?
The parties taking part had a chance to vent their frustrations and “get it out there” but also they were encouraged to see a wider picture and float solutions that really got to the heart of the matter not just to write or receive a cheque!
Subsequently, after having looked into this mediation process a bit further, I found myself wanting to take an active part in helping people solve their issues and I found myself, along with eleven other participants, in the beautiful city of Bristol begin to learn how to be a “Mediator”.
Now, some years later, I have continued to hone my skills and I am now “The Mediating Accountant” offering myself to parties who want to explore solutions.
My accountancy training, and solid practical experience, gives me a different view of disputes (particularly those with a financial content) from my legal colleagues.
I have seen numerous businesses big and small and a huge variety of ways that people conduct themselves in a business environment. I love getting involved in conflict with a business connection and helping to guide participants to solutions that are practical and deliver real benefits.
David King, the Mediating Accountant, will mediate disputes big and small across the UK