<p>Some, perhaps. Sometimes it seems as if schools have been far more successful in teaching math anxiety than math itself. But plenty of us “English” types are perfectly good at math and comfortable with numbers, it just isn’t what interests us. I think a lot of it has to do with how badly math–and science–is, or has been, taught. In my HS days, both were mostly a matter of brute memorization. If English were taught that way, it would be excruciating, too.</p>
<p>But I’m sorry, that is somewhat OT for this thread. Except in as much as it leads people to think they don’t have sufficient math aptitude for various careers.</p>
<p>Accounting does not require higher level math skills at all. It is a logic language of its own, and can be learned without the knowledge of advanced math. </p>
<p>Statistics and higher math are good training for complex analytical work.</p>
<p>Most accountants can rattle off basic arithmetic (including fractions and percents) in their heads with ease, but have little to no use for advanced math. </p>
<p>More so than any subject, enjoyment of math is totally driven by the quality and passion of the math teachers. I was fortunate to have a great one in high school. He taught us a song about the steps to solving max-min problems. I still remember it 30 years later. When my son started learning this in high school, I sang the song for him. He sat there, along with my wife (an actuary), with their jaws dropped. Then they broke out laughing. DS couldn’t believe how easy it was. </p>
<p>Anyway, in the business world, a math mind is important. However, the true math whiz will be outshone by the folks with great people skills every time. It’s the combination of logical thinking and people skills that make for success in any business.</p>
<p>The math wiz people with jobs in the finance industry are typically in actuarial positions or are the elite few doing intense computer type work for these companies (figuring out complex formulas to analyze financial trends, etc). Your normal finance employee is not a math genius - most won’t even add up a row of numbers without a calculator/adding machine type program!</p>