National Bean Counter Day on April 16th is every accountant’s favorite day of the year. After the flutter and the flurry of preparing taxes right up until the stroke of midnight, these diligent number crunchers are well past due for a day off.
The term “bean counter” hasn’t always referred to our reliable accountants. Like many phrases, it was much more literal before it morphed into the idiom we use today. Not unlike, meeting a customer at the deli counter or fabric counter to complete their order, clerks met consumers at the bean counter. However, over time, the phrase became attributed to accountants who watched each and every penny (or bean) that went in and out of the business.
Once April 16th rolls around, it’s time to give the accountants a break. All the receipts have been tallied. All the various tax forms in duplicate and triplicate have been submitted. The last couple of months have been a whirlwind of debits and credits. It is time for all bean counters to take a well-deserved break. April 16th is the accountant’s day to turn off the phone and return to a more normal routine.