bean counter

or bean-count·er

[ been koun-ter ]

noun

, Sometimes Disparaging.

1. an accountant or other financial officer, often one placing undue importance on spending, financial accountability, and profit, or anyone regarded as having a reductively quantitative focus:

   If it were up to the bean counters, this company would never take risks or innovate.

bean-counter

noun

1. informal.
   an accountant

Word History and Origins

Origin of bean counter¹

An Americanism first recorded in 1970–75