bean counter

See also: beancounter and bean-counter

English

Alternative forms

• bean-counter
• beancounter

Etymology

Probably from German Erbsenzähler (literally “pea counter”)

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

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Noun

bean counter (plural bean counters)

1. (idiomatic, mildly derogatory) A person who is excessively interested in controlling or reducing expenses, increasing profits, or in quantitative details in general. The term is often used to imply the person is a pedant and incapable of seeing other things or the bigger picture (more general things), but it is also widely used as a mildly derogatory term and even facetious synonym for accountants, CEOs, CFOs, business and government officials responsible for financial decisions, etc.
   • 1985 Aug. 2, "Editorial: Sniffing at DOC health costs," Gainsville Sun, p. 14A (retrieved 13 Sep 2009):

     As any good bean counter will tell you, it costs money to treat people at a hospital.

   • 2008 Dec. 23, Robert Chew, "Who Is Bernie Madoff? Many Investors Didn't Ask," Time (retrieved 13 Sep 2009):

     And, in our case, the accounting firm of Halpern & Mantovani, CPA, in Encino, Calif., Chais' chief bean counter, pumped out the quarterly statements as if it were all rock solid.

Translations

person excessively interested in expenses and quantitative details

• German: Erbsenzähler (de) m, Erbsenzählerin (de) f
• Slovak: ciferšpión m

accountant — see accountant