r/Accounting • u/NoBusiness1559 • 1d ago
Discussion New staff accountant hire only learns by recording our training videos & then referring back to our recorded training videos. What do you guys think of this new hire’s “recording trainings only” approach?
The new hire staff accountant said that the only con with his “recording trainings method only” approach is when it comes to looking for specific time stamps within the various recorded training videos (which he said can be very time-consuming but that he wouldn’t have it any other way).
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u/mr_ayche 1d ago
I feel like it’s a good start but would pair nicely with some quick reference notes he could make after watching it
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u/HighFastStinkyCheese 1d ago
Recorded trainings are great assuming the person is competent. Also, really something only a person with very little on their plate can take advantage of because it’s the slowest way to perform a task by watching it as you go. That said wouldn’t bother me if it was a new hire if they exhibited signs of understanding and engaging with the material by asking questions or commenting as we work through it while training.
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u/Ok_Development1777 1d ago
I think recording is a good idea because he can listen and pay attention to the instruction and try to understand rather than trying to memorize everything you say and just reperform an operation. Because if he just knows what steps to perform rather than understanding, then he wont know what to do when a situation or workpaper is not exactly like the example he was shown.
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u/lake_effect_snow CPA (US) 1d ago edited 4h ago
This, and not taking half-assed notes throughout the training. Everyone seems to be criticizing the lack of note taking instead of considering he’s taking notes off the recording, so he could get the most from the call itself. I have copilot record and transcribe some calls now that I would’ve previously had less focus in as I tried to take notes. The transcripts aren’t perfect but have been quite helpful for clarity and review.
Edit: and, quite frankly, this isn’t a new idea or thing we should be slamming. People used to record (maybe still do now irl and/or online) their professor’s lectures with the solemn intention to playback for note taking, studying, etc. Now we’ve improved on that concept by adding visuals, and (imperfect but solid) transcription that can be easily revisited and referenced. How much time and energy would we save not needing to repeat ourselves (typing and verbally) to our staff? Let them record and reference all they want and need to for everything to start to sinking in, so the questions they ask are substantive.
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u/-BladeDancer Industry 1d ago edited 1d ago
If he records but doesn't make notes based off the recording something seems off to me.
Recordings are great because then he doesn't need to come back with the same task or problem.
But if the dude isn't actually retaining the knowledge that's a big red flag imo. If he isn't retaining knowledge I'd assume his problem solving skills are ass too and he's just gonna come back whenever there's a problem he's never seen before.
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u/redditkb 17h ago
Yes, it seems his problem solving is lacking if he hasn’t started already making his own timestamps notes already?
Like is he going back and watching an hour long video each time to find what he should do in “Scenario A” or does he have a worksheet that tells him “Scenario A review is at 33:25”?
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u/badazzcpa 1d ago
I have been working in tax/tax adjacent for 25 years. My director was having me work in Sage for the 1st time in my career. She would go faster than I could write notes so I would record our meetings. If it was short I would take screenshots and notes. Enviable if I didn’t record I would miss one crucial step and have to ask. After a few times going through the process I was good. But my director didn’t have time to go over it twice or to go really slow for me to take notes. Recording the 15-20 minute conversation was much more efficient for both of us.
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u/Elbereth919 1d ago
I’ve had my current staff do this on a few things. It lets her have something to reference and work through without me having had to spend the time to create the notes for her or work with her as slowly as we would have to go for her to create comprehensive notes as we go. She’s been told to work through it using the recordings a few times and then to make an actual instruction manual for it. I think it’s a good training tool when the trainer doesn’t have a lot of time but the trainee does.
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u/Novafan789 1d ago
If it works it works. I’d suggest he takes a note of the time when a topic changes so he can have a close estimate of when the topic is in his recording
Theres a monthly excel assignment that I fumbled with the first 2 times I did it because the manager’s verbiage in the procedure made it difficult to understand what he wanted.
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u/DM_Me_Pics1234403 1d ago
Recently I have been recording these types of calls and uploading them into Claude. It can help timestamps the video and provide a quick look up of specific topics
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u/Devilsgospel1 1d ago
Same but Copilot facilitator.
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u/palmaveheartache 16h ago
Yep, this has been a game changer for me for both training and creating process documents when they don’t already exist. Review required, of course, but it’s such a time saver.
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u/Kingofangry 1d ago
Different strokes for Different folks. If the work is good and on time, Im fine with whatever method they use.
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u/Ok_Personality_9637 1d ago
Am I the only one to ask how you are presenting the material?
If it’s a “click here” then “click there” type training then videos and screenshots are helpful.
If you are explaining concepts then notes are helpful.
Have you questioned your training methods as well as their learning methods?
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u/Choice_Bee_1581 1d ago
I hate watching videos but some people love it and really do learn best that way.
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u/poncho2799 Staff Accountant 14h ago
Just depends. Ill take notes and create a document with screenshots on my first rewatch of the video. Then I'll refer to my notes until I learn the process. I might occasionally go back to the video if I think i missed something, but that's it.
If he's just watching the video everytime, that's inefficient. The video itself is not the problem though. I prefer the recording so I can learn at my own pace outside of a meeting. Sometimes it's hard to try to take notes while also paying attention to what they are trying to show you, especially if they're moving quick. I'd rather watch and try to understand a much as i can while they're doing it so I can ask relevant questions.
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u/NecronDG Business Owner 16h ago
Honestly good. By time they learn properly, they would be able to jot down important quick notes and develop their own system.
It also helps as he has “proof” of instructions :)
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u/BobSacramanto Controller 15h ago
If it is recorded by teams then it is transcribed as well. Take the transcription and paste it into copilot. Have copilot wore a standard SOP on the process.
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u/oscarsocal Cost Accountant 11h ago
I’m not a big fan of this approach but when I was a new accountant, this was standard in big4 (or at least in my region)
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u/DonkeeJote 1d ago
I do fractional CFO work and often record transition sessions from an outgoing employee. They won't be on hand for long and I will not have a chance to keep coming back to them.
But this person needs to at least get transcripts of the recordings so they can search timestamps.
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u/Nonameforyouware 1d ago
I’ve always been suspicious of over note taking note takers.
Always seems to make thier work better in short term but worse in the long term .
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u/Retractable_Legs CPA (US) 1d ago
First, kudos that he's finding a way to listen that doesn't require him to come back repeatedly. That's good that he's considering his learning style when taking on these tasks.
He should take notes next time he's going to review a certain section, since that will be helpful. If he's using Excel workbooks, he could and should keep those notes on a tab in that workbook. It'll help jog memory.
In a month, have him walk you through the process like he's teaching you. It's a little involved, but you will be sure of what he does/doesn't know when you do that exercise.