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Title: | The accountant’s toolkit for survival |
Authors: | Vassallo, Sharon |
Keywords: | Accounting firms -- Malta Accountants -- Malta Stereotypes (Social psychology) -- Malta |
Issue Date: | 2020 |
Citation: | Vassallo, S. (2020). The accountant’s toolkit for survival (Master's dissertation). |
Abstract: | PURPOSE: Departing from the identification of how business students perceive the profession, this study consulted with accountants, their superiors and clients to determine how they construe horizontal and vertical competencies in present day accountants, and their evolutionary direction within the next decade. An understanding of ways to ‘futureproof’ accountants was subsequently elicited. DESIGN: This dissertation’s objectives were addressed through a forwardlooking speculative exploratory study employing a non-sequential concurrent mixed method. Accountants and their superiors were met through focus groups whereas clients of accountants were individually interviewed. To underlie these sessions, accountants’ stereotype held by business students was explored through a qualitative questionnaire. FINDINGS: The prevailing accounting stereotype among business students corresponds to the beancounter image. Almost half of the respondents expect drastic changes to affect the profession within a decade. Separately, the competency model that best represents present-day accountants was explored with accountants, superiors and clients. Agreement arose when discussing vertical knowledge aspects and horizontal attributes. Horizontal skills raised varied responses. The main drivers of work-related changes identified were technological developments, client demands and legislative requirements. These should compel accountants to evolve. CONCLUSIONS: For students, accountants are organised creatures of habit. Introverted and dull, their work requires compliance with standards and diligent problem-solving. Their job entails proficiency in digital literacy and comfort with teamwork. Sometimes a source of frustration, accountancy requires critical analysis, self-management, and motivation. Accountants’ current competency set is composed of vertical knowledge about accounting rules and conventions, and financial reporting, horizontal attributes concerning attention to detail, trustworthiness, reliability, and integrity, and teamwork as a horizontal skill. Within a dynamic work environment, accountants need competencies that safeguard their value by enabling them to become finance business partners, such as trustworthiness, flexibility and problem-solving. VALUE: Accounting professionals need to keep abreast of the changes transforming their work environment. They should not envisage their education as a journey with a definite end. Due to the challenges posed by finance business partnering, acquisition of new competencies should become a defining factor in their careers as service providers. |
Description: | M.ACCTY. |
URI: | https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/66219 |
Appears in Collections: | Dissertations - FacEma - 2020 Dissertations - FacEMAAcc - 2020 |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
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20MACC088.pdf | 4.03 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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