bean counter

• bean-counter
• beancounter

Probably from German Erbsenzähler (literally “pea counter”).

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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.
   • 1985 August 2, “Editorial: Sniffing at DOC health costs”, in Gainsville Sun, retrieved 13 September 2009, page 14A:

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

   • 2008 December 23, Robert Chew, “Who Is Bernie Madoff? Many Investors Didn't Ask”, in Time, retrieved 13 September 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.

• 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 a facetious synonym for accountants, CEOs, CFOs, business and government officials responsible for financial decisions, etc.

• beancount