Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/80817

Download PDF (Published version) (Adobe Acrobat PDF, -1 bytes)

Title

Stakeholders' perspectives of the skills and attributes for accounting graduates

Author(s)

Hancock, Phil;  Howieson, Bryan;  Kavanagh, Marie;  Kent, Jenny;  Tempone, Irene

Abstract

This study examines how a group of Australian stakeholders define technical and nontechnical skills, identifies those skills that are demanded of graduates at various stages of their career, and assesses the level of stakeholder satisfaction with the skills level of accounting graduates. Further the paper attempts to highlight the views of stakeholders about whose responsibility it is to develop the required set of technical and non technical skills required by accounting graduates as they enter the workforce. Findings indicate that employers are seeking graduates who possess a diverse range of non-technical skills including communication and presentation, self-management, teamwork, initiative and enterprise, problem solving, technological competence and planning and organising skills. Employers also use non-technical skills as discriminators when evaluating graduates. In terms of technical skills basic practical accounting skills, IT skills and industry specific awareness are important. In general employers were not satisfied with the level of communication and problem solving skills and seemed generally to have low expectations in the area of technical skills accepting that they undertake much of the technical training themselves. The discussion about who role it was to develop both technical and non technical skills was most clearly stated as that of the universities. The findings have implications for those involved in the training of accountants and indeed for those seeking to develop skills in order to enter the profession.

Publication type

Conference paper

Source

Paper presented at the 2009 Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand (AFAANZ), Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 05-07 July 2009

Publication year

2009

FOR Code(s)

0806 Information Systems

Keyword(s)

Accounting studies;  Australia;  Graduate skills;  Higher education;  Stakeholder satisfaction

Publisher

AFAANZ

Publisher URL

http://www.afaanz.org/openconf-afaanz2009/openconf.php

Copyright

Copyright © 2009 the authors. Published version of this paper reproduced with the kind permission of the publisher.

Additional information

The authors wish to acknowledge the Australian Learning and Teaching Council whose funding support made this project possible.

Full text

Peer reviewed