Business. Information Systems. Accounting.
Software Development. Financial Analysis.
For me, these are all part of the same continuum. Over the
years, my software projects have largely focused on designing and
developing financial systems of one kind or another. Even though
that can cover a lot, it's become somewhat of a specialty.
It occurs to me that this particular field I'm in needs its own
name.
I frequently find myself at some business function and someone
will ask me what line of work I'm in. I start with the
software development, and I mention that it usually has some
connection to financial systems. Then I throw in accounting because
I have an accounting degree. And don't forget e-commerce
because that's been a significant part of my work. But to
tell them all that takes a bit of time.
Everyone knows that a chemical engineer, for example, combines
knowledge of both chemistry and engineering. Or that a food
writer doesn't just write but writes about one subject in
particular: food.
So we need a convenient name for someone who develops software
that's specifically designed for finance and accounting
operations. And add to that information systems for health
care finance and also business processes. We need a term that
wraps all that up in one tidy package. So when someone asks,
I could just say, "I'm a -----." and they would immediately
know. It would make it much easier to explain what I do.