Accounting

German translation: Rechnungswesen

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

English term or phrase:	Accounting
German translation:	Rechnungswesen
Entered by:	Dan McCrosky (X)

11:43 Jun 8, 2002

English to German translations [PRO]
Bus/Financial / uni degree

English term or phrase: Accounting

BS in Accounting

I'm not sure if I should just leave accounting untranslated because I don't know if there is a corresponding German uni degree. When I was at uni, graduates who wanted to work as accountants (Steuerberater) or auditors (Wirtschaftsprüfer, basically an additional qualification that is achieved by on the job training and further exams) usually have a degree in "business economics" (Betriebswirtschaft) specialising in "Steuerlehre".

Can anybody give me any useful advice on this?

Rebekka Groß (X) KudoZ activity Questions: 415 (none open) (18 without valid answers) (12 closed without grading) Answers: 327
Local time: 23:29

Please see long and short options below

Explanation:
An accountant is not necessarily a Steuerberater. A "Steuerberater" is a "tax consultant" or possibly a "self-employed tax accountant". An accountant is often someone who has learned accountancy by any means, maybe not even at a university. Any emphasis on tax specialization could be misleading here unless you know from the context that the person is a "tax accountant". There would also be problems with whether to use "Diplom-Betriebswirt/in" or "Diplom-Kaufmann/-Kauffrau".

"Accounting" is, as Econotrad suggested, "Rechnungswesen" in German.

As German and UK/US tertiary education are still quite differently organized, you should retain the English name for the degree, followed by as much German explanation in parentheses as you feel necessary.

The term "B.S." is probably global enough to be generally understood. If you would like to keep is fairly short, you might just write "(Rechnungswesen)" after "Accounting".

If you feel you must do something long-winded with the "B.S.", you could, like the German Employment Service (Arbeitsamt) does, write:

http://berufenet.arbeitsamt.de/bnet2/D/B8812105aufgaben_t.ht...

http://berufenet.arbeitsamt.de/bnet2/D/B8812106aufgaben_t.ht...

"Diplom-Kaufmann/-Kauffrau bzw. Diplom-Betriebswirt/in im Finanz- und Rechnungswesen".

Why 16 keystrokes when 83 will do just as well?

HTH

Dan

Selected response from:

Dan McCrosky (X)
Local time: 00:29

Grading comment

Thanks for you lengthy explanation. I wasn't suggesting that it's anything to do with "Steuerberater" but I was trying to explain that in my opinion there really is no equivalent degree in German. So I'll go with my gut feeling and leave it in English. I might not even bother adding anything in brackets.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

4 +2

Rechnungswesen

Andreas Pompl

1 +1

Please see long and short options below

Dan McCrosky (X)

Answers

11 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

Rechnungswesen

Explanation:
I fully agree with your explanation. Perhaps Rechnungswesen will serve you in this context.

Andreas Pompl
Germany
Local time: 00:29
Native speaker of: German
PRO pts in pair: 109

1 hr confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

Please see long and short options below

Dan McCrosky (X)
Local time: 00:29
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in pair: 390

Grading comment

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