In the world of finance and accounting, credibility isn’t just about your technical expertise or resume — it’s also conveyed through how you speak. The way you use your voice in high-stakes moments (like job interviews, client meetings, or board presentations) can either reinforce your authority or subtly undermine it. Research shows that within the first10 secondsof speaking, listeners form instant impressions of your competence, authority, and leadership potential basedsolelyon vocal cues . In fact, one analysis of executive speeches foundthe sound of a speaker’s voice matters twice as much as the content of the messagewhen it comes to audience perception . This means even a highly qualified CFO or Big 4 accountant could inadvertently dilute their perceived authority if their vocal delivery sends the wrong signal. Unfortunately, we often see talented candidates harm theirexecutive presencewith a few common vocal habits. Two of the most talked-about offenders arevocal fry(the low, creaky voice register) anduptalk(raising your tone at the end of a statement, as if asking a question). Other behaviors like excessivefiller words(“um,” “uh,” “like”) or amonotone/mumblingdelivery can likewise chip away at the impression of confidence and clarity. Let’s examine each of these habits, why they matter for finance and accounting professionals, and how to address them in a constructive way.

Vocal Fry – The Creaky Voice That Falls Flat

Vocal fryrefers to a low-pitched, creaky vibration in speech – the kind of crackling tone you hear when someone drops their voice to its lowest register. It’s become common enough (especially among younger professionals) that you might not even notice you’re doing it. However, interviewers and clients oftendonotice, even if subconsciously. Studies have found that speaking with vocal fry can trigger strongly negative perceptions. In one well-known experiment, listeners judged young female voices with vocal fry as“less competent, less educated, less trustworthy, less attractive, and less hirable”compared to a normal voice . The effect was especially pronounced coming from women’s voices (though men aren’t off the hook either). Why is this creaky-voice habit such a turn-off in professional settings? Part of it is cultural – fair or not, a “fried” voice is often associated with beingyoung or unserious(think parody of a bored teenager). In an interview or CFO presentation, that’s the last impression you want to give. A vocal fry can also make you sounddisengaged or low-energywhen you should sound enthusiastic and confident. Imagine ending every answer with a gravelly whimper; you risk losing the “punch” at the end of your sentences, so your statements land weakly. As one communications expert put it, finish your sentence with a whimper instead of a bang and yourisk losing credibility. _What can you do about it?_ First, recognize when you’re using vocal fry – it often happens at theends of sentencesor when you’re speaking with insufficient breath support. To counter it, practice speakingthrough the end of your sentenceswith a clear tone. Support your voice with proper breathing (from the diaphragm) so you’re not squeezing out words at a pitch too low for you. You don’t need to artificially raise your voice into an unnatural high pitch; just aim for astrong, steady toneinstead of a creak. It can help to record yourself in a mock interview and listen for that telltale crackle. With awareness and practice, you can eliminate most vocal fry from your speech. The payoff? A voice that sounds more confident and mature – ideal for conveying authority when discussing audits, budgets, or strategic plans.

Uptalk – Turning Statements into Questions

Have you ever heard someonestatetheir qualifications as if they wereaskingabout them? For example: “_I led a team of five analysts?_” – with an upward inflection that makes a solid statement sound unsure. This speech habit is known asuptalk(or “upspeak”), where your intonation rises at the end of a declarative sentence. Uptalk can be a career killer for your credibility. It sends the message that you’renot confidentin your own words – as if you’re constantly seeking validation or asking for approval. In an interview setting, uptalk can make even a well-prepared candidate seemuncertainabout their own experience (“I managed a $2M portfolio?”) and cause an interviewer to doubt the candidate’s conviction. Originally a stereotype of “Valley Girl” speech, uptalk is now heard across genders and professions – but that doesn’t make it professionally acceptable. Many business leaders and listeners find it downrightgrating. In a survey of 700 managers in Britain,more than 70%said uptalk is _“annoying”_, and85%described it as a _“clear indicator” of insecurity_ . If you’re presenting financial results to a client or delivering a project update to executives, the last thing you want is your tone of voice hinting at insecurity. Remember that listeners can’t un-hear that question-mark intonation – it plants doubt about your surety on the subject. As communications coach Michelle Zucatti noted, when used chronically, uptalk is perceived asunprofessional and exposing one’s insecurities. _How to fix uptalk:_ The key is to train yourself toconclude statements with a falling intonation(downward tone) instead of a rise. One trick is toemphasize the second-to-last wordin your sentence, then let your tone drop on the final word . For example, practice saying “Ileda team of five analysts.” (stress “led” and finish firmly) versus the question-like “I led a team of five analysts?” Additionally, build your awareness: record yourself or ask a colleague to point out if your sentences sound like questions. Oftentimes, uptalk slips in when we’re nervous or unsure about what we’re saying, so thoroughpreparationcan help (if you know your material, you’ll feel less need to subconsciously ask “Is that okay?” with your tone). By speaking in definitive statements, you project confidence. This is crucial in finance roles – whether you’re an auditor explaining compliance issues or a finance VP pitching a budget, your words need to sound certain. The content of your message and your _tone_ should both say: “I know what I’m talking about.”

Filler Words – “Um, You Know, Like…”

Nearly everyone usesfiller wordsoccasionally – those little “ums,” “uhs,” “likes,” and “you knows” that slip out when we’re thinking. In moderation, they’re usually harmless. But excessive filler words can become a realcredibility killerin interviews and meetings. If every sentence is peppered with “um” or “like,” listeners start to focus on those tics instead of your message. More importantly, a surplus of fillers can make you soundunprepared, indecisive, or lacking confidencein what you’re saying. Think about the impression this gives: a CFO candidate answering, “Um, we had like… around 20% growth last quarter, I think.” The hesitancy and lack of crispness might make the hiring committee wonder if the candidate really knows their numbers. Scientific research backs up the idea that too many fillers hurt your perceived authority. A recent analysis of public speaking noted thatexcessive use of fillers can reduce the credibility of the speaker and even impair the audience’s comprehension of the message. Essentially, every “uh” and “you know” is stealing focus from the content and causing your audience to mentally stumble. Often, filler words creep in due tonervousness or speaking too quickly– your brain is catching up to your mouth, and you’re filling the gap with sound. They can also be a habit from everyday speech that becomes painfully obvious in a high-stakes setting like an interview. _How to tighten up your speech:_ Start by becomingawareof your filler word usage. You might even ask a friend or mentor to mock-interview you and point out every time you say “um” or “like.” Once you’re aware, work on embracing thepower of the pause. It’s perfectly okay (even persuasive) to pause silently for a moment to gather your thoughts. Replacing an “um” with a short pause not only makes you sound more confident and thoughtful, it also gives your listener a moment to absorb what you’ve said. Additionally,slow down your speaking pacea touch. Rushing often leads to more filler words, so a measured pace will help you feel in control of your words. With practice, you can speak in complete sentences without crutches. The result: you’ll come across asclear, collected, and credible– just the impression you want to make when discussing complex financial analyses or tax strategies.

Monotone and Mumbling – When Delivery Falls Flat

Finally, let’s address two vocal delivery problems that sit at opposite ends of the spectrum: speaking in amonotoneandmumbling. Both can undermine your authority by making your speech less engaging or even difficult to understand.Monotonemeans delivering every word on the same flat pitch, with little to no variation or emotion. A monotone voice can make even exciting topics sound dull. Picture an accountant enthusiastically saying (in a droning, flat tone), “I’m really passionate about forensic accounting.” The words and tone just don’t match! Listeners confronted with a monotone delivery tend tozone outor perceive the speaker as disengaged. In other words, _monotone speakers are not engaging and have little impact_ on their audience . If you speak in a monotone during an interview, the interviewer might question your energy, enthusiasm, or even your interest in the role. In client-facing situations, a monotone can be misread as boredom or lack of conviction about your own message – not a great vibe when you’re trying to instill confidence in a financial plan or audit report.Mumblingis a different problem: it’s when you speak too quietly or indistinctly, so that parts of your words get lost or garbled. This often happens when people talk too fast, fail to open their mouths enough, or drop their volume at the end of sentences. The result is the listener straining to catch your words. Not only is this frustrating for an interviewer or client, it also makes you seemless confident– almost as if you don’t believe you deserve to be heard. In fact, speaking unclearly or under your breath can come across asapologizing for speakingor even being ashamed of your words . One speech coach notes that mumbling is a common issue that“can make you appear less confident and authoritative”at work . Consider how damaging that is in a leadership context: if a controller or finance manager mumbles through a presentation, the team might subconsciously doubt their leadership presence or assume the speaker isn’t sure about what they’re saying. _How to add clarity and life to your voice:_ If you suspect you’re a bit monotone, focus on addingvocal variety. This doesn’t mean you need to become overly dramatic; just make a conscious effort to vary your pitch and emphasis. Try emphasizing key words in your sentences and ensure you have someinflection(a rise or fall) rather than a constant flat line. A helpful exercise is reading a passage out loud and exaggerating the expressiveness – then dialing it back to a natural, conversational level. For those who speak in a monotone due to nerves, remember tobreatheand let your voice be animated by the meaning of what you’re saying. Bringing genuine interest to your topic naturally boosts your vocal energy. If mumbling is the issue, the first fix isprojection: speak up and support your voice with breath so the last words of your sentences don’t trail off. Practice enunciating your words clearly – you can even do tongue-twister exercises or read aloud with a focus on crisp consonants. It might feel silly, but try the classic trick of practicing with apen between your teeth(it forces you to open your mouth and articulate). Also, slow down a notch. Mumbling often happens when rushing; a deliberate pace gives you time to fully pronounce words. Finally, remember toengage your mindset: you _do_ want to be heard! Remind yourself before an important conversation that your ideas are worth hearing, and adopt a confident posture (sitting or standing tall) when you speak. This mental reset can prevent the timid, shrinking delivery that leads to mumbling. The goal is to soundclear and confident– traits every employer or client expects from a finance professional handling complex information.

Elevate Your Voice, Elevate Your Career (Conclusion)

The common thread among all these vocal habits — vocal fry, uptalk, filler words, monotone, and mumbling — is that theydetract from your messageand your perceived authority. They create little cracks in the confident image you want to project. The good news is that these habits are _all fixable_. It takes self-awareness and practice, but you can absolutely transform how you sound. And when you do, you’ll notice the difference: colleagues lean in to listen, interviewers trust your answers more, and clients feel confident in your recommendations. In the competitive world of finance and accounting, that edge in communication can make ahugedifference. After all, you’ve worked hard for your credentials and knowledge – your voice should showcase that expertise, not hide it. At Pacific Executive Search, we consider ourselves not just recruiters, butpartners in our candidates’ professional development. Our team works with finance and accounting professionals from Big 4 staff to CFOs across Los Angeles, Orange County, Portland, Denver, and Austin. We’ve seen firsthand how polishing communication skills can elevate a candidate from “good on paper” to an outstanding leader in person. Whether it’s providing honest feedback on an interview performance or connecting you with resources (like executive voice coaches and public speaking tips), we’re here to help you put yourbest voice forward.Your voice is part of your personal brand.By eliminating undermining vocal habits and adopting a confident tone, you ensure that your first impression is one of competence and authority – the exact qualities that finance and executive leaders are expected to embody. If you’re aiming for that next big career move or simply want to improve your client presence, don’t overlook the power of how you speak. Pacific Executive Search is here to guide you, not only in finding the right opportunity, but also incoaching you to shinewhen that opportunity comes. After all, landing the job is just the beginning – excelling in the role is the real goal, and we’re committed to helping you achieve both.