It seems to us;

              QUARTERLY REVIEW
It seems
to us
WHEN SHOULD YOU SPECIALIZE?
The builders of the pyramids have
provided a lesson of which today's pro-fessions
are taking heed. They knew
that in order to reach the apex they had
to build a broad and substantial base
of many angles and many corridors
which would eventually evolve into one
single edifice. Without the extensive and
well-planned foundation, the pinnacle
would not have been possible.
This ancient structural theory is being
applied in the professions today which
are urging specialization to meet the
growing demands of a complex world
society—but with one firm admonition.
They now know that there is a time for
specialization, and are advising a pre-lude
to concentration in one field. This,
they believe, should consist of several
years of general experience. T.N.B.&S.
accountants are counseled to utilize
their first on-the-job years to obtain
experience in auditing. They are offered
opportunities to learn the facets of ac-counting
for various types of enterprises
such as large and small businesses, manu-facturing,
retailing, eleemosynary and
financial institutions. There are many
advantages which can be derived from
this background in audit. The young
accountant is introduced to the inner
workings of business—he can see its
heart beat and he can feel its pulse.
It is also true that this audit experience
teaches and trains him in the ways of
accuracy—one of the cardinal rules of
this profession.
Experience in tax and management
services areas should follow audit pro-ficiency.
This develops more facility on
the part of the accountant with clients
both large and small. The latter may
have a problem in management services.
Yet its complexity and the size of his
business would not warrant the services
of a specialist. The accountant who has
had this experience can answer that
problem as well as take care of the
audit and tax questions. Even before the
specialist can be called in for the large
client, the accountant must recognize the
need.
The firm's philosophy is that what has
been gleaned from an audit assignment
may provide the bases for the judg-ment
called upon to be made in the
tax field, and vice versa. Assisting
a client in the establishment of a cost
study in management services could be
expedited by an audit understanding;
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