A REPORT ON

WHAT SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES DOES AN ACCOUNTING

GRADUATE NEED? EVIDENCE FROM STUDENT
PERCEPTIONS AND EMPLOYER EXPECTATIONS

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 PATUAKHALI SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
UNIVERSITY

What skills and attributes does an accounting graduate need?

Evidence from student perceptions and employer expectations

PREPARED FOR

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 MD. ZAKIR HOSEN

Lecturer,

Department of Accounting and Information System

Faculty of Business Administration and Management

SUBMITTED BY

Group: 01(Warrior)

Level-4, Semester-I

Faculty of Business Administration and Management

Name of the students Reg. No. Roll No.

Md. Kamruzzaman (L) 00660 01

Shuvradeb Barai 00668 09

Abu Zafour 00680 21

Sahana Parveen 00666 07

Nazmul Alam Siddiqui 00565 24

Course Title: Auditing

Course Code: AIS 416

Date of Submission: May 28, 2009

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 PATUAKHALI SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY

Letter of Transmittal

Date: May 28, 2009

To

MD. ZAKIR HOSEN

Lecturer,

Department of Accounting and Information System

Faculty of Business Administration and Management

Subject: Letter of Transmittal

Dear Sir,

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Here is the report on “What skills and attributes does an accounting
graduate need? Evidence form student perceptions and employer
expectations” You asked us to prepare this report as a course
requirement of Auditing.

This report focuses on the accounting graduate’s skill and attributes.

We are proud of making this report. We have tried our level best to
make the report informative and fruitful. For any classification we will
be available and looking for such term paper in coming days. We will
be happy to get such type of report further.

Sincerely Yours

Group: 01(Warrior)

Level-4, Semester-1

Faculty of Business Administration and Management

Patuakhali Science and Technology University

Letter of Authorization

Date: May 28, 2009

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To

MD. ZAKIR HOSEN

Lecturer,

Department of Accounting and Information System

Faculty of Business Administration and Management

Subject: Declaration regarding the validity of the report

Dear Sir,

This is our truthful declaration that the “What skills and attributes does
an accounting graduate need? Evidence form student perceptions and
employer expectations” we have been prepared is not a copy of any
report previously made by any other students.

We also express my honest confirmation in support of the fact that the

said “Report” has neither been used before to fulfill any other course
related purpose nor it will be submitted to any other person or
authority in future.
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Yours truly,

Group: 01(Warrior)

Level-4, Semester-I

Faculty of Business Administration and Management

Patuakhali Science and Technology University

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

At first we desire to express our deepest sense of gratitude of almighty

Allah. With profound regard we gratefully acknowledge our respected
course teacher Md. Zakir Hosen, Lecturer, Department of Accounting
and Information System, Faculty of Business Administration and
Management for his generous help and support for preparing this
report.

We like to give thanks especially to our Elder brother of 1 st Batch

students, friends, the employers of two CA Firm- M.M.HOSSAIN & CO.
and K.M. ALAM, KHALEQUE & CO. & many individuals, for their
enthusiastic encouragements and helps during the preparation of this
report and for their assistance in typing and proofreading this
manuscript.

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 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This report is an assigned job as a partial fulfillment of course

requirement by honorable Course teacher Md. Zakir Hosen Lecturer,
Department of Accounting & Information System, Faculty of Business
Administration and Management, Patuakhali Science and Technology
University. It is the optimum aggregated outcome of 5 pupils’ about
“What skills and attributes does an accounting graduate need?
Evidence form student perceptions and employer expectations” The
view of this report is to find out what skills and attributes are basically
needed for an accounting graduate to make his duty profissionaly in
the practical job field. As well as we try to find out both personal and
professional skills of the accountant through our report. We hope those
focus point will help the person who want to become a successful
accountant in his future life.

ABSTRACT

In the last decade the development of appropriate skills and

attributes in students set to enter the accounting profession has been
the subject of many debates. It has been much debate between
various stakeholders about the need for accounting graduates to

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develop a broader set of skills to be able to pursue a career in the
accounting profession. Accounting academics have a leading role to
play in this process. This study investigates what attributes and skills
are needed for a graduate accountant in respect of student
perceptions and employer expectations. This study uses mixed
methods to examine perceptions and expectations of two major
stakeholders: students and employers. Findings indicate that students
are becoming aware of employers expectations in terms of
communication, analytical, professional and teamwork skills. Although
employers are still expecting a good understanding of basic
accounting skills and strong analytical skills, they are also requiring
business awareness and knowledge in terms of the real world.
Accounting academics perceive should be developed during an
undergraduate course, and compares this to skills and attributes that
they believe are being developed. Results reveal that there is a large
discrepancy between the two. Reasons why this might be are
discussed and insight into issues accounting educators must address if
they are to deliver graduates with the skills and attributes required for
a career in the accountancy profession now and in the future are
highlighted.

INTRODUCTION

An accountant is one who is responsible for reviewing, evaluating,

analyzing, and verifying particular data or information. Accountants
are most often employed in the Accounting or Financial fields, though
other fields might also utilize Auditors. An Accountant might be
responsible for examining a wide variety of data, facts and figures, and
other information, toward providing verification and integrity of the
business at hand. Some examples of accountants duties include:
Verification of Payroll records, insurance claims and resolutions, Bank
transactions, bookkeeping practices and figures, and other similar
responsibilities. Accountant must be honest, trustworthy, organized,
not afraid of details, statistics or numbers, and must be keenly
involved in the business at hand, to ensure accuracy and integrity of
the auditing process. Accountant must also be comfortable with
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mathematics, statistical analysis, problem solving, and other similar
disciplines and for acquiring those skill and attributes he directly need
academic degree with relative experience.

Some people who are into this profession have the tendency of not
updating their skills. As the result they lack the skills required and are
unable to match the competency of skilled workers. Hence, for an
Accountant of any country of the world, it is important to hone up their
skills regularly. So become a professional we need regularly update
yourself.

LITERATURE REVIEW

Accounting graduates require professional skills, they need to develop

them while studying at university and that educators of future
professional accountants should be committed to developing the
relevant attributes identified as desirable for the professional practice
of accounting suggested that ‘the strongest message that I can bring
before you is to plead for stronger and more effective co-operation
between academics and educators on the one hand and accountancy
practitioners on the other. We use the term ‘accounting practitioners’
in the widest possible way to indicate all of those outside academia
who are working in the field whether this be public practice, industry,
commerce or the public sector.” To this end the role of the profession is
to specify and communicate the skills and knowledge needed to be an
accomplished practitioner and the responsibility for curriculum
development and appropriate teaching methods rest primarily with the
academic community. Quite simply the professionals need the
intellectual and research abilities which the academics can bring to the
table. Equally, the educators need the guidance of the profession in
identifying the skills need the guidance of the profession in identifying
the skills and knowledge needed to be an accomplished practitioner.

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Bricker (1993) traces the role of research in business education
suggests that by the 1980s practical research was frowned upon in
many accounting faculties. Most of the research was highly
mathematical, used sophisticated statistics, and employed theories
that were at times exotic and addressed issue of little concern to
practitioners.

Many writers have reinforced the view that oral and written
communication skills are considered to be the two most important
skills. However, Mangum (1996) indicated that poor communication
skills were among the top two greatest shortcomings of job candidates
reported by employers. This was supported by Borzi and Mills 2001
who discovered a significant level of communication apprehension in
upper level accounting students suggesting that changes to the
manner in which this skill in particular is developed within the
curriculum need to be addressed.

In a study involving accounting academics Watty et al (2005) found

evidence of recognition by academics of the growing importance of
developing skills in addition to those of a strictly technical nature.
Other studies have argued that accounting and business students
must develop more than technical skills to succeed. Albrecht and Sack
(2006), Herring and Williams (2007), Needles and Powers and Zeff all
recommended abandoning a wholly procedural (technical) approach to
financial accounting.

Hunton argues that, since many traditional accounting tasks dealing

with recording and processing of accounting transactions can be
reliably automated, an accountant’s worth is now reflected in higher-
order critical-thinking skills. Elliott and Jacobson suggest that
accountants need education in complementary bodies of knowledge
such as organizational behavior, issues in strategic management and
measurement and analytical skills. Johnson & Johnson suggest that
successful accountants in today’s business environment must possess
a different skill set including interpersonal and communication skills,
intellectual and creative problem- solving skills.

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METHODOLOGY

Sample

We conducted a study involving data collection from accounting

academics in our university. In our survey we selected academics for
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students as well as the Charter Accountant’s Firm for employee as a
sample. We carefully select 15 students of Patuakhali Science and
Technology University of BBA as our Sample. We also select tow
Charter Accountant Firm through convenience method form our
country named- M.M.HOSSAIN & CO. and K.M. ALAM, KHALEQUE & CO.

We collect carefully 5 employers of those organizations and collect

necessary data from them by using a common interview schedule’. We
carefully analysis their primary data through tabulation, chart, graph
etc. Our analysis data are given in the main body of the report through
different table, chart, graph and their proper analysis.

Data Collection

Data collection involved administration of a survey which was adapted

both over students and employee. We collect data by using two way,
firstly- primaray data and secondly the secondary data. We collect
primary data by developing a interview schedule and secondary data
are collected from CA Firms websites and other paper documents. In
our survey we consider scale point for –

• Student’s perceptions about the value and relevance of accounting

degree at their own universities is 1 for strongly disagree, 2 for
disagree, 3 for partially agree, 4 for agree and 5 for strongly agree.

• Students and employers mean emphasis rating for skills: considered

importance to career verses extend deliver is 1 for no priority, 2 for
priority, 3 for top priority.

Processing and Tabulation of Data

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For achieving the objectives of the study processing and tabulation are
necessary. All collected primary data for the present data for the
present study were coded, tabulated, summarized and processed for
analysis after collection of data form field level. The first step was
taken to scrutinize the data of each and every schedule to find out any
inconsistency or omission in the data collection and to avoid irrelevant
information. After completing the pre-tabulating task, actual tabulation
was stared. Processed data were transferred to a master sheet and
compiled with a view of facilitating tabulation.

Analysis of Data

The data were analyzed on the basis of the objectives of the study. In
the present study tabular and descriptive techniques were mainly used
for analysis of data. Tabulation techniques were applied with the help
of average, percentage, standard deviation etc. to find out the
meaningful results.

Limitations of the reports

Since our study is based on both primary and secondary data, there is
a possibility of getting fake information. If the surveyed personnel
provide us with any fabricated information about their own opinion,
then the report findings may be erroneous. Above all, this study is
weak in some points. The notable ones are as under-

• The survey was conducted in a very short time so we were not

able to collect more information.
• Information’s are their own opinion, so there stay the chance of
biasness.
• All employees of the Farm and students are not considered in this
report.

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 • The questionnaire contains some questions that, if answered
properly, might damage the company’s image. In this type of
questions, the respondents might provide generally acceptable
answers. This risk was unavoidable.
• Another limitation of this study is the person’s private
information were not disclosing some, data and information for
obvious reasons, which could be very much useful.
• Lack of experience in this field.
• Lack of proper authority to conduct the interview program.

Development of Survey Questions

This study addresses the following survey questions:

SQ1: Why study accountancy?

Importance of accountancy

We live in an information age—a time of communication and

immediate access to data, news, facts, and commentary. Information
affects how we live, whom we associate with, and the opportunities we
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have. To fully benefit from the available information, we need
knowledge of the information system. An information system consists
of the collecting, processing, and reporting of information to decision
makers.

Providing information about what businesses own, what they owe, and
how they perform is an important aim of accounting. Accounting is an
information and measurement system that identifies, records, and
communicates relevant, reliable, and comparable information about an
organization’s business activities. Identifying business activities
requires selecting transactions and events relevant to an organization.
Examples are the sale of iPods by Apple and the receipt of ticket
money by Ticketmaster. Recording business activities requires keeping
a chronological log of transactions and events measured in dollars and
classified and summarized in a useful format. Communicating business
activities requires preparing accounting reports such as financial
statements. It also requires analyzing and interpreting such reports.
We must guard against a narrow view of accounting. The most
common contact with accounting is through credit approvals, checking
accounts, tax forms, and payroll. These experiences are limited and
tend to focus on the recordkeeping parts of accounting. Recordkeeping
or bookkeeping, is the recording of transactions and events, either
manually or electronically. This is just one part of accounting.
Accounting also identifies and communicates information on
transactions and events, and it includes the crucial processes of
analysis and interpretation.

Technology is a key part of modern business and plays a major role in

accounting. Technology reduces the time, effort, and cost of
recordkeeping while improving clerical accuracy. Some small
organizations continue to perform various accounting tasks manually,
but even they are impacted by information technology. As technology
has changed the way we store, process, and summarize masses of
data, accounting has been freed to expand. Consulting, planning, and
other financial services are now closely linked to accounting. These
services require sorting through data, interpreting their meaning,
identifying key factors, and analyzing their implications.

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Accounting is often called the language of business because all
organizations set up an accounting information system to
communicate data to help people make better decisions.

Users of Accounting Information

External Users

Lenders

Shareholders

Government

Consumers group

External auditors

Customers

Internal Users

Managers

Officers and directors

Internal auditors

Sales staff

Budget officers

Controllers

Internal Information Users Internal users of accounting information

are those directly involved in managing and operating an organization.
They use the information to help improve the efficiency and
effectiveness of an organization. Managerial accounting is the area of
accounting that serves the decision-making needs of internal users.

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Internal reports are not subject to the same rules as external reports
and instead of designed with the special needs of internal users in
mind. There are several types of internal users, and many are
managers of key operating activities.

Research and development managers need information about

projected costs and revenues of any proposed changes in products and
services. Purchasing managers need to know what, when, and how
much to purchase. Human resource managers need information about
employees’ payroll, benefits, performance, and compensation.
Production managers depend on information to monitor costs and
ensure quality.

Distribution managers need reports for timely, accurate, and efficient

delivery of products and services. Marketing managers use reports
about sales and costs to target consumers, set prices, and monitor
consumer needs, tastes, and price concerns. Service managers require
information on the costs and benefits of looking after products and
services. Decisions of these and other internal users depend on
accounting reports.

Both internal and external users rely on internal controls to monitor

and control company activities. Internal controls are procedures set up
to protect company property and equipment, ensure reliable
accounting reports, promote efficiency, and encourage adherence to
company policies. Examples are good records, physical controls (locks,
passwords, guards), and independent reviews.

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Opportunities in Accounting

Accounting information affects many aspects of our lives. When we

earn money, pay taxes, invest savings, budget earnings, and plan for
the future, we are influenced by accounting. Accounting has four broad
areas of opportunities: financial, managerial, taxation, and accounting-
related. Exhibit 1.3 lists selected opportunities in each area.
Opportunities in Accounting

Financial Managerial Taxation Accounting

related
Preparation General Preparation Ledger
accounting
Analysis Regulatory Consultant
Cost s
Auditing accounting Planning
Analysis
Regulatory Budgeting Investigatio
ns Traders
Planning Internal
auditing Consulting Directors

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Accounting Jobs by Area

Accounting specialists are highly regarded. Their professional standing

often is denoted by a certificate. Certified public accountants (CPAs)
must meet education and experience requirements, pass an
examination, and exhibit ethical character. Many accounting
specialists hold certificates in addition to or instead of the CPA. Two of
the most common are the certificate in management accounting

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(CMA) and the certified internal auditor (CIA). Employers also look for
specialists with designations such as certified bookkeeper (CB),
certified payroll professional (CPP), and personal financial specialist
(PFS).

Individuals with accounting knowledge are always in demand as they

can help with financial analysis, strategic planning, e-commerce,
product feasibility analysis, information technology, and financial
management. Benefit packages can include flexible work schedules,
telecommuting options, career path alternatives, casual work
environments, extended vacation time, and child and elder care.

Demand for accounting specialists is boosting salaries. Reports

average annual salaries for several accounting positions. Salary
variation depends on location, company size, professional designation,
experience, and other factors. For example, salaries for chief financial
officers (CFO) range from under $75,000 to more than $1 million per
year. Likewise, salaries for bookkeepers range from under $30,000 to
more than $80,000.

Accounting Salaries for Selected Fields

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SQ2: What academic qualifications are needed for being an
accounting graduate?

For being an accounting graduate may be required studying combined

or double degrees or others significant degrees. In academic
qualification may have BBA, MBA, CA, ACCA, CMA and so forth. CMA is
a Certified Management Accountant. This is different from a Certified
Public Accountant. A Certified Management Accountant is employed by
a business firm or a not-for-profit organization, and deal with private
accounting. A CMA can obtain employment by companies,
government, and non-for-profit entities. A CMA can obtain employment
as a Bookkeeper, Payroll Clerk, General Accountant, Budget Analyst,
Cost Accountant, Internal Auditor, or Information Technology Auditor.
These CMA careers have starting salaries ranging from $28,500 to
$72,500, which is much higher than the salary range for CPAs. A
Bookkeeper does not need to have any certification, and therefore
does not have to be a CMA. A Payroll Clerk must have certification
called Certified Payroll Professional, or CPP, but does not need to be a
CMA. A general accountant or budget analyst may not be required to
be a CMA, but many CMAs begin as a general accountant or budget
analyst. A Cost accountant must be a CMA and be licensed by
whatever state agency monitors and regulates accountancy in that
state. An Internal auditor must be a CMA and have an additional
certification as a certified internal auditor, or CIA. An Information
technology auditor must be a CMA and also have certified information
system auditor licensing, or CISA.

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SQ3: What Skills and attributes are required to become an
Accountant?

Skills and Attributes Required for Accountants

The main job of an accountant is to do journal entries, maintain

ledgers, carefully prepare profit and loss accounts and carefully tally
the balance sheet of the company. But these days are expected to do
bit more than usual. Now, an accountant job is to prepare financial
statement that includes audits, reviews, compilations, agreed upon
procedures, forecasts and projections, payroll tax preparation
(monthly, quarterly and annually), financial statements (monthly,
quarterly and annually), accounting systems evaluation, analysis and
implementation. Seem to be a tough task. Well to make the job much
simpler for Accountant, there is different software available in the
market. So calculations have become bit simpler and faster too. If
anyone has planned to be among the top Accountant, then it is
suggested to learn. Side by they should have the following skills—
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  Capabilities to study, evaluate, and interpret
 Interest for mathematics
 Good communication skills (both verbal and Written)
 Have accounting software package knowledge

Some people who are into this profession have the tendency of not
updating their skills. As the result they lack the skills required and are
unable to match the competency of skilled workers. Hence, for an
Accountant, it is important to perfect up their skills regularly. With the
advent of Internet, accountants try to keep complete transparency of
the work they do and are in constant touch with the customer and
provide them with competent services.

Mathematical aptitude and strong analytical skills top the list of must
have attributes for an accountant. Certified public accountants will
study high level math and statistics in addition to specific accounting
skills. Sciences, while not directly applied in accounting, are required
as well, and they complement the analytical thinking necessary in
accounting. Accountants who aren't CPAs don't have to meet the same
stringent educational requirements, but will likely study many of those
same topics.

Accounting is an exceptionally time sensitive job that requires strong

organizational skills and a talent for scheduling and multitasking. An
accountant is at ease breaking large jobs into smaller tasks and
completing them on schedule, or delegating them, so that deadlines
are not missed. The ability to track several tasks simultaneously helps
an accountant know when a project won't be completed on time, so
that this can be communicated to the client.

Accountants are detail oriented. Small accounting errors such as the

incorrect placement of a decimal point can result in big financial
losses. Consequently, impatience and sloppiness have no place in
accounting. Also, those who have a lot of trouble recognizing errors
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while proof reading or checking columns of numbers could find
themselves at a disadvantage.

Technology skills required for accounting include ability to use

spreadsheet and database programs, and familiarity with common
accounting software. Accountants must also keep abreast of the latest
systems to track and share financial data within an office and also
between corporate branches of larger companies.

A successful accounting career depends upon interpersonal

skills as well as technical expertise. Accounting tasks are
often solitary, but they're usually part of a larger project that
requires team work. The ability to communicate and cooperate
effectively with coworkers and clients is what helps bring
necessary data together to accomplish accounting tasks.
Outside of work, an accountant needs to make an effort to
network with colleagues and clients in social settings or
recreational outings like business lunches or golf dates.

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SQ4: What Personal Skills or Qualities are needed to become
an Accountant?

Several skills and attributes are required to become an accountant.

The most significant skills and attributes are mentioned as follows—

 Strong analytical and problem solving abilities

 Good attention to detail
 Logical thought processes
 Mathematical and numeracy skills
 Good communication skills to be able to build rapport with
clients/internal stakeholders
 Discretion with confidential information and
 The ability to keep up-to-date with an organization’ financial
management policies as well as commonwealth and state laws.
 Leader and strong advocate of Finance
 Strong communicator with stakeholders from varied backgrounds
 Excellent team working skills
 Self starter with a willingness to learn and develop new skills
 Capable of offering effective challenge
 Appetite for tackling difficult problems and seeing through to
resolution.
 Knowledge of the basic theories, principles, methods, and
procedures of professional accounting
 Knowledge of office methods and procedures

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  Knowledge of automated data processing systems
 Ability to prepare complete and accurate accounting reports
 Ability to perform detailed work involving the application of
accounting theory to routine accounting problems
 Ability to evaluate routine accounting problems and analyze and
interpret less complex accounting records and reports
 Ability to perform detailed work involving written or numerical
data and make arithmetical calculations rapidly and accurately
 Ability to operate office accounting machines and equipment
 Ability to work effectively with others

SQ5. What professional skills does employers expect that an

accounting graduate to possess at entry level?

The literature highlights the facts that often employers and students
have different perspective about the nature of the professional skills
that are required for a successful accounting career. There are most
important criteria used by employers for selecting accounting
graduates are the graduates’ motivation or interest in the job,
personal qualities and communication skills. However, accounting
graduate perceive examination result to be the most important
criterion used by employers followed by personal qualities and
communication skills. Some qualities, skills and attributes are
discussed as follows—

Self-Confidence and Self-Assurance

Several management accountants mentioned the confidence factor.

“The entry-level people are not very assertive. They are so timid and
scared,” observed a Hewlett-Packard accountant. An accountant at a
Caterpillar production facility cited universities as the problem. “I think
that schools could better pre-pare people for the work environment …
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they have to teach students how to talk to people and not step on
their feet.”

One solution is to do things that generate self-confidence, such as

getting a broader education or becoming involved in sports.
Nevertheless, as time passes, confidence will increase. “Once they’ve
been around for a couple of years they find out they were really pretty
assertive all along,” said the Hewlett-Packard accountant. “The few
who become real stars are the ones that have that assertiveness to
disagree with their manager.”

Accounting Skills/the Basics

It may seem obvious, but management accountants should be

grounded in both managerial and financial accounting. They also
should take a few management courses to appreciate and relate to
leaders. “The first piece of advice I would give them is to learn the
basics,” another HP accountant said. “Be very competent in
spreadsheets and decision tools, plus other things like OLAP and
reporting products.”The same view was expressed at Abbott Labs. An
accountant there advised students to ground themselves in their
technical skills: Cost accounting, General accounting, and Financial
statement analysis.

He also urged students to take audit, cost accounting, and, if possible,

operations classes. He noted the value of classes with teamwork and
unstructured assignments. Those skills and the ability to find
information will be handy in the business world.

Communication, Initiative, and Leadership

As fundamental as accounting skills are, they aren’t sufficient for

success. “Leadership, initiative, communication skills. These are our
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top three. If you don’t have these, you don’t have a place here at
Caterpillar,” said one accountant. Indeed, at the company
headquarters, some entry-level employees give presentations to group
presidents after only three to six months. At the core of
communication skills is the ability to take a complex subject, boil it
down into easily understood language, and explain it to non
accountants. Interpersonal skills are critical—you should be able to
influence people and must be comfortable dealing with coworkers at
different levels. After all, you aren’t always talking to a peer. To
succeed, you need initiative.

This means taking that extra step, asking a coworker or supervisor if

they need help, making recommendations after you do the analysis on
a problem, or finding alternatives and making recommendations to
management. It means following through to complete the picture.

Critical Thinking

For many companies, critical thinking and its corollary, creative

problem solving, are key. Accountant should be able to step back and
look at something “out of the box.” “The skills that I find the hardest to
get in people are analytical thought processes and critical thinking,”
said a Caterpillar management accountant. “Nine out of 10 people that
I see coming here can be wizards at spreadsheets, can manipulate
data effectively, but they aren’t very good at figuring out whether the
in- formation in front of them is reasonable or realistic.

Accuracy

Accuracy is crucial. An error in a calculation could amount to millions

of dollars, which in turn could lead to an erroneous decision. A Boeing
executive highlighted the difference between school and the work
world: The real world “is not like a test where you turn it in and get 10
points off because you screwed up on a number. When anyone get into
business and mess up numbers, the ramifications are a whole lot

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bigger. It’s part of his job and his responsibility to check every number
or to set up a system where he knows that the numbers are correct.”

Other Advice to Students and Entry-Level Accountants

 Accept the idea that training and education are a lifelong

process.
 Be more IT/database knowledge.
 Have a passion for the business. Don’t work for a company if you
have no interest in what it does because you’re going to be
required to strategically influence that business.
 Understand that business is different overseas. Cultures are
different, the way you do business is different, and markets are
different.
 Understand relationships between data and how systems work.
 Be able to think logically. If you can do that, then you can learn
almost anything fairly quickly because you won’t be memorizing.
 Have a good business understanding. Be able to look at a
business and really understand what drives it and what the key
factors are those make it go well or not go well.
 Be able to do projections, set goals, and determine a path to get
to that goal.
 Be able to work in a team environment.
 Be able to apply what you learn.
 Be mature. I don’t know if you can teach that, but with business
comes a higher level of responsibility.
 Develop computer skills.
 Develop writing skills.
 Be patient enough to work in a bureaucracy and impatient
enough to be willing to change it.
 Be willing to take risk—it’s the only way to grow.
 Be willing to make mistakes, and don’t let them devastate you.
Be smart enough not to make the same mistake twice.
 Have a good idea of how a company runs.

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  Continually educate yourself, whether it’s formal or informal,
taking additional courses or keeping current.
 Have a process view, be very process focused, and look at things
not just where finance starts and ends but as a whole.
 Have high energy and a positive attitude. Be very proactive.
 Have integrity. If you are going to become the confidant of the
top management people, if you are going to be the advisor,
they’ve got to trust you implicitly.

We can compare undergraduates’ and employers’ perceptions of the

importance of skills across five board areas –

 Interpersonal
 Communication
 Technical
 Computer and
 Business-economic skills

The students consistently ranked all areas higher in importance than

their potential employers. In another study involving undergraduate
business students and employers, and employers ranked verbal
Routine and technical skills
communication, problem solving, and listening skills as the top three
general business skills, but for other skills there were clear
differences. There are some generic skills in the core curriculum in
accounting; these factorsAnalytical/
have beendesign skills as representing the
identified
skills that students perceived as being important to their careers,
these factors are shown in the following figure.
Appreciative skills

Personal skills

Interpersonal skills
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Combined skills
 Figure: Generic skills in the core curriculum in accounting

SQ6. What professional skills are required for complete a

standard unqualified audit report?

An Auditor is one who is responsible for reviewing, evaluating,

analyzing, and verifying particular data and information. Auditors are
most often employed in the Accounting or Financial fields, though
other fields might also utilize Auditors. An Auditor might be
responsible for examining a wide variety of data, facts and figures, and
other information, toward providing verification and integrity of the
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business at hand. Some examples of Auditor duties include:
Verification of Payroll records, insurance claims and resolutions, Bank
transactions, bookkeeping practices and figures, and other similar
responsibilities. Auditors must be honest, trustworthy, organized, not
afraid of details, statistics or numbers, and must be keenly involved in
the business at hand, to ensure accuracy and integrity of the auditing
process. Auditors must also be comfortable with mathematics,
statistical analysis, problem solving, and other similar disciplines.

Independence
Objectivity
Integrity

Proper planning Persistence

and supervision
Skills
and Professional
Flexibility
Attribut due care

Communication Confidentiality
Skills Tactfulness

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Auditor should apply these attributes in order to:

1. Obtain and assess objective evidence fairly.

2. Remain true to the purpose of the audit without fear or favors.
3. Evaluate constantly the effects of audit observations and
personal interactions during an audit.
4. Treat concerned personnel in a way that will best achieve the
audit purpose.
5. Perform the audit process without deviating due to distraction.
6. Commit full attention and support to the audit process.
7. React effectively in stressful situations.
8. Arrive at generally acceptable conclusions based on audit
observations.
9. Remain true a conclusion despite pressure to change that is not
based on evidence.

SQ7. What are employer expectations about experience of an

accounting graduate?

In the modern time the work of an accountant will be highly challenging, stretching and
non-repetitive and, as such, it would be ideal for an individual who wished to build on
their existing accounting experience on their professional job field for build a better
future on accountants’ career. In the modern every professional job requires experience
and without experience getting a job is critical.

An account will not out of this condition they are also required experience when they are
seeking for any professional job. When a student work in an audit firm as an Article
student, he will gather vital accountancy experience form the firm. This experience will
help them to become a successful auditor in his professional life.
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Employer always expects that an experienced graduate always more skillful in checking
evidence, adept in recording and mathematical calculation as well as in error correcting
of a report. The experienced also take little time than an inexperienced graduate when
they are in same work. So the experienced are always considered as the more qualified as
inexperienced.

Survey Questions and Answer at a Glance

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 Opinion
Students Perceptions Employers Perceptions

1. Importance of accounting

To build career on accounting It is the language of business,

profession because all organizations set up an
accounting information system to
Higher range of salaries is offered communicate data to help people
with accountancy job make better decisions.

Opportunity area very huge with— Primary importance:

private, public, and not-for-profit
organization
Keeping permanent record, for
preparing the appropriate financial
statements including— balance
sheet, income statement, cash flow
statement, and equity statements.

Secondary importance:

Cost control, prevention of fraud,

misappropriation, assessing the tax,
and obtaining loan facility,

Providing information about what

businesses own, what they owe, and
how they perform is an important
aim of accounting.

2. What academic qualifications are needed for being an accounting

graduate?
BBA, MBA, CA, ACCA, CMA BBA, MBA, CA, ACCA, CMA

3. What Skills and attributes are required to become an Accountant?

Academic degree it may be Academic degree it may be

graduate or postgraduate graduate or postgraduate

Depth accounting knowledge Professional degree such as CA,

ACCA, CMA etc.
Interest in accounting and good
proficiency in mathematics Professional skills and attributes

Experience in accounting related

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36
works
 Survey Questions and Answers at a Glance (Continued)
Opinion

Students Perceptions Employers Perceptions

4. What Personal Skills or Qualities are needed to become an Accountant?

Strong analytical and problem solving Good attention to detail

abilities
Independency, integrity
Independency, integrity
Logical thought processes
Good attention to detail
Good communication skills to be
Mathematical and numeracy skills able to build rapport with
clients/internal stakeholders
Computer literacy
Excellent team working skills
Knowledge about accounting
software Capable of offering effective
challenge
Interpersonal Communicating
Ability Ability to work effectively with
others

5. What professional skills does employers expect that an accounting

graduate to possess at entry level?
Self-Confidence and Self-Assurance Self-Confidence and Self-Assurance

Accounting Skills/the Basics Interpersonal

Communication, Initiative, and Communication, Initiative, and

Leadership Leadership

Critical Thinking Critical Thinking

Accuracy Accuracy

Be more IT/database knowledge. Technical

Computer and Business-economic

skills

Understand relationships between

data and how systems work.

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 Survey Questions and Answer at a Glance (Continued)

Opinion
Students Perceptions Employers Perceptions
[[[[[[

6. What professional skills are required for complete a standard

unqualified audit report?

Independence Proper planning and supervision

Objectivity
Persistence
Integrity
Tactfulness, Confidentiality
Flexibility Professional due care

Adequate training Knowledge about internal

control
Adequate proficiency
Competency on evidence
gathering
7. What are employer expectations about experience of an accounting
graduate?

Students looking for gathering Employers looking for experience

accounting experience through
internship in different organization
and working CA firms as a article
students
graduate because they are more
capable in their professional work
such as recording, error checking
evidence collecting and analysis
activities rather than
inexperienced.

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 Questions Mean SD

1. Intend to undertake postgraduate studies (MBA) 4.2 1.22

2. CA is more preferable than doing MBA 3.4 1.55

3. A core accounting major in strength of any 3.8 1.52

business
4. Undertaking a dual degree academic (BBA, MBA) 4.4 0.40
and professional degree (CA/ACCA) is very
beneficial
5. Accounting and business education in 3.87 0.78
Bangladesh today is keeping up what it actually
occurring in the business environment

Table: 1

Student’s perceptions about the value and relevance of accounting

degree at their own universities

Scale: Strongly disagree = 1, disagree = 2, agree = 3, partially agree

= 4, strongly agree = 5.

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39
Student’s perceptions about the value and relevance of accounting
degree at their own universities (Patuakhali Science and Technology
University) are included in the Table-1. Here we represents two
statistical measures for evaluation their perception about the value
and relevance of accounting degree. Two statistical measures are
mean and standard deviation. Students felt that Undertaking a dual
degree academic (BBA, MBA) and professional degree (CA/ACCA) is
very beneficial than any single degree which means is 4.40 and
standard deviation is 0.40. Students indicated a greater preference for
completing postgraduate degrees which mean is 4.2. Students felt that
a core accounting major is strength of any business or commerce
degree. Many students express their perception that CA is more
preferable than doing MBA degree which means is 3.4. Standard
deviation is 1.55, and some students think that MBA is preferable than
CA. another answer arises from students that accounting and business
education in Bangladesh today is keeping up what it actually occurring
in the business environment which means is 3.87.

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40
Page
41
Graph-1

In this graph we represent the student perception about the values

and relevance of accounting degree. In this graph we symbolize the
mean and standard deviation of several questions answered by the
students. They highly emphasizes for attaining dual degree which
consists of academic (BBA, MBA) and professional degree (CA/ACCA) is
very beneficial than the single degree (in question-4). The reason
behind that, in the present practical job field condition is very complex
and thus the students now want to undertake more than one degree.
Side by side they also like to emphasize the following subject matter
sequentially - Intend to undertake postgraduate studies (MBA),
accounting and business education in Bangladesh today is keeping up
what it actually occurring in the business environment, a core
accounting major in strength of any business, CA is more preferable
than doing MBA.

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Table: 2

Student mean emphasis ratings for skills: importance to career versus

extent delivered

Skills and Attributes Consider Extent delivered/ Differences

ed development between
important column 1 and
2
Self motivated 2.47 2.00 0.47
Professional attitude 2.53 1.86 0.67

Oral communication 2.53 1.73 0.80

Decision making 2.26 2.00 0.26

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43
Computer skills/ literacy 2.20 1.73 0.47
Risk propensity 2.23 1.98 0.25

Project management 2.75 2.50 0.25

Risk analysis 2.83 2.33 0.50

Problem solving 2.47 2.00 0.47

Critical thinking 2.53 2.20 0.33

Analytical skills and 2.53 1.93 0.60

attributes
Ethical awareness 2.13 2.00 0.13

Teamwork 2.40 2.13 0.27

Written communication 1.93 1.73 0.20

Basic accounting skills 2.33 1.93 0.40

Business awareness and real 2.67 2.33 0.34
life experience

Interpersonal skills and 2.13 1.82 0.31

facilitation skills

Continuous learning 2.80 2.27 0.53

Leadership 2.67 2.56 0.11

Accounting software 2.10 2.00 0.10
knowledge

Students indicated that all of the listed skills and attributes in the
table-2 are most important and continuous learning is rated most
important to future careers. In this table -2 we considering two
significant things- considered important and extent
delivered/developed. In this table we represent twenty principles skills
and attributes and rate of these skills. In this table we assume that
standard rate for no priority is one, priority is two and high priority is
three. Here we calculate Mean of those two components and provide
differences. Self-motivated, professional attitude, oral communication,
decision making, computer literacy, problem solving, critical thinking,

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44
analytical skills, teamwork are rated as the top skills. To add richness
to the discussion and to reduce the complexity of the finding, further
analysis of the data relating to the skills set was conducted. Students
think that there are some skills which are less important in comparison
to the above skills. Such as accounting software knowledge,
Interpersonal skills and facilitation skills, written communication, Risk
propensity, Computer skills/ literacy. But in overall all skills are
important for an account graduate.

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45
Page
46
Table: 3

Employers mean emphasis ratings for skills and attributes: importance

to their career

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47
In table-3 we represents employers mean emphasis ratings for skills
and attributes: importance to their career. Here we focus several skills
and attributes which are important for the accountant graduates
whom are think by the employer. They provide strong emphasis on
Skills and Attributes Considered Important
Average SD

Self motivated 2.67 0.82

Professional attitude 2.33 0.73

Oral communication 2.80 0.51

Decision making 2.53 0.68

Computer skills/ literacy 2.40 0.76

Risk propensity 2.20 0.91

Project management 2.80 0.93

Risk analysis 2.56 0.59

Problem solving 2.33 0.52

Critical thinking 2.40 0.88

Analytical skills and attributes 2.46 0.55

Ethical awareness 2.67 0.56

Teamwork 2.73 0.38

Written communication 2.00 0.51

Basic accounting skills 2.67 0.63

Business awareness and real life 2.60 0.78

experience
Interpersonal skills and 2.20 0.44
facilitation skills
Continuous learning 2.87 0.39

Leadership 2.88 0.32

Accounting software knowledge 2.13 0.86

some factors like – Leadership, Continuous learning, Project

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48
management, Teamwork, Written communication, Basic accounting
skills, Business awareness and real life experience etc. side they think
the following factors are less significance when it affect the
accountants skills and attributes- Accounting software knowledge, Risk
propensity, Interpersonal skills and facilitation skills, Professional
attitude, Problem solving, Critical thinking etc. but in overall all those
factors are have significance influence on accounting graduates.

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49
Page
50
Page
51
Table: 4

Rankings for most important attributes and skills based on

average scores by both students and employers

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52
In table -4 we represent the Rankings for most important attributes
and skills based on average scores by both students and employers. It
is acknowledge that the information presented in the present paper is

Skills and Attributes Overall Overall

ranking ranking
employers students
Self motivated 5 6

Professional attitude 12 5

Oral communication 3 5

Decision making 8 9

Computer skills/ literacy 10 11

Risk propensity 13 10

Project management 3 3

Risk analysis 7 1

Problem solving 11 6

Critical thinking 10 5

Analytical skills and attributes 9 5

Ethical awareness 5 12

Teamwork 4 7

Written communication 4 14

Basic accounting skills 5 8

Business awareness and real life 6 4

experience
Interpersonal skills and facilitation skills 13 12

Continuous learning 2 2

Leadership 1 4

Accounting software knowledge 15 13

from an analysis of the notes and transcripts of interviews conducted

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with persons from different employers. Interviews as used in these
studies provide information on reported behavior, attitude and
believes. When evaluated the data collected, it has to be remembered
that data yielded by different techniques differ in kinds. Although most
measurement in the behavioral sciences involved management error,
judgments made by human are especially prone to error. To overcome
this, a case has been made for the uses of aggregated data when they
meet criteria inter rater agreement.

Finally, the demographic data could have included information on prior

life experiences that might have influenced respondent perception of
the professional skill required.

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54
Page
55
Our Views

As students of BBA we think that both academic and professional skills

and attributes are truly necessary for our future career. Academic both
undergraduate and postgraduate degrees helps us to know the basic
knowledge about accounting. Without this basic knowledge it is
impossible to develop ourselves for accounting graduates in future.
Side by side professional skills and attributes are also necessary to
perform our duties and responsibilities in the job areas/ field.
Professional skills and an attributes includes adequate training,
adequate proficiency, and professional due care, knowledge about
internal control, and competency on evidence gathering.

Experience on accounting job is now the time demand for every

accounting graduate. Reasons behind that now the job is too much
complex and most of the organization require higher experience when
staffing their employees. So in short we can conclude that both
academic and professional degrees and related experience are
required to become a successful accountant.

CONCLUSION

Accounting is usually taken as one of the majors within the commerce

degree. Though the importance of accounting and auditing in making
activities transparent and corrupt free in the development process, it is
difficult to gauge the extent of their application in a mixed economy
like ours where enterprises are managed by private sector as well as
the public sector. This role would offer the successful candidate an
opportunity to work as an integral part of a relatively small
professional Accounting team and thus get involved in a very wide
range of financial activities. The work will be highly challenging,
stretching and non-repetitive and, as such, it would be ideal for an
individual who wished to build on their existing accounting experience
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56
on their professional job field for build a better future on accountants’
career.

REFERENCES

• Loebbecke K. James & Arens Alvin A., Auditing : An Integrated

Approach, Eight Edition, Prentice Hall International, Inc.,pp.75-
103 & 141-165.

• ACNielsen Research Services, 2008, Employer Satisfaction with

Graduate Skills: Research Report, Evaluations and Investigations
Programme Higher Education Division, DETYA.

• Accounting Education Change Commission (AECC), 2007.

Objectives of education for accountants: Position Statement No.
1, Issues in Accounting education 5(2), 307-312.

• Albrecht, W.S. and R.J. Sack, 2000, Accounting Education:

Charting the Course through a Perilous, Accounting Education
Series, 16, 1-72. Barrie S. 2008, A research-based approach to
Page
57
 generic graduate attributes policy, Higher Education Research
and Development, 23, (3), 261-275.

• Bath, D., Smith, c., Stein S., & Swann, R. 2004, beyond mapping
and embedding graduate attributes: Bringing together quality
assurance and action learning to create a validated and living
curriculum, Higher Education Research and Development, 23, (3),
313-328.

• Borzi, M.G. and T.H. Mills, 2009, Communication apprehension in

upper level accounting students: An assessment of skill
development, Journal of Education for Business, 76(4), 193-198.

• Boyce, G., S. Williams, A. Kelly, and H. Yee, 2009, Fostering deep

and elaborative learning and generic (soft) skill development:
The strategic use of case studies in accounting education,
Accounting Education 10(1), 37-60.

• Braun, N.M., 2009, Critical Thinking in the Business Curriculum,

Journal of Education for Business, Mar/Apr, 78 (4), 232-236.

• DeLange, P., B. Jackling, and A. Gut (2008). , Accounting

Graduates’ Perceptions of Skills Emphasis in Australian
Undergraduate Accounting Courses: An Investigation from 2
Victorian Universities, Accounting and Finance, 46.,365-386.

APPENDIX
Department of Accounting and Information System

Faculty of Business Administration and Management

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58
 Patuakhali Science and Technology University

An Interview Schedule on:

What skills and attributes does an accounting graduate need?

Evidence from student perceptions and employer expectations

Sample No: Sample type:

Name ……………………………………………………………………………
: ……………………...

Address ……………………………………………………………………………
: ……………………...
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………...
Contact No. ……………………………………………………………………………
: ……………………...
Sex ……………………………………………………………………………
: ……………………...
Age ……………………………………………………………………………
: ……………………...
Occupation ……………………………………………………………………………
: ……………………...
Designation ……………………………………………………………………………
: ……………………...
Educational ……………………………………………………………………………
Qualification : ……………………...

Q: 1. Why study accountancy?

……………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………..

……………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………..

……………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………..

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59
Q: 2. What academic qualifications are needed for being an accounting
graduate?

……………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………..

……………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………..

……………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………..

Q: 3. What Skills and attributes are required to become an Accountant?

……………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………..

……………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………..

……………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………..

Q: 4. What Personal Skills or Qualities are needed to become an

Accountant?

……………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………..

……………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………..

……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………......

Q: 5. What professional skills does employers expect that an

accounting graduate to possess at entry level?

……………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………..

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60
……………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………..

……………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………..

Q: 6. What professional skills are required for complete a standard

unqualified audit report?

……………………………………………………………………………………………
………………..………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………..

……………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………….........

Q: 8. What are employer expectations about experience of an

accounting graduate?

……………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………..

……………………………………………………………………………………………
……….……………….………

……………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………..

9. Table-1

Student’s perceptions about the value and relevance of accounting

degree at their own universities

Student Perceptions Strongly Disagree Partially Agree Strongly

Disagree (2) Agree (3) (4) Agree
(1) (5)

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61
1. Intend to undertake
postgraduate studies (MBA)

2. CA is more preferable than

doing MBA
3. A core accounting major is
strength of any business
4. Undertaking a dual degree
academic (BBA, MBA) and
professional degree (CA/ACCA)
is very beneficial
5. Accounting and business
education in Bangladesh today
is keeping up what it actually
occurring in the business
environment

10. Table-2

Student mean emphasis ratings for skills: importance to career versus

extent delivered

Considered Important Extent Developed

No Priority Top No Priority (2) Top Priority
Skills Priority (2) Priority(3 Priority (3)
(1) ) (1)
Self motivated
Professional
attitude
Oral
communication
Decision making
Computer skills/
literacy
Risk propensity
Project
management
Risk analysis

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10. Table-2 (continued)

Considered Important Extent Developed

Skills No Priority Priority (2) Top No Priority Top

(1) Priority(3 Priority (2) Priority (3)
) (1)
Problem solving
Critical thinking
Analytical skills
and attributes
Ethical
awareness
Teamwork
Written
communication
Basic accounting
skills
Business
awareness and
real life
experience
Interpersonal
skills and
facilitation skills
Continuous
learning
Leadership
Accounting
software
knowledge

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63
11. Table-3

Employers mean emphasis ratings for skills and attributes: importance

to their career

Skills Considered Important

No Priority Priority Top Priority
Self motivated
Professional attitude
Oral communication
Decision making
Computer skills/ literacy
Risk propensity
Project management
Risk analysis
Problem solving
Critical thinking
Analytical skills and
attributes
Ethical awareness
Teamwork
Written communication
Basic accounting skills
Business awareness and
real life experience
Interpersonal skills and

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facilitation skills
Continuous learning
Leadership
Accounting software
knowledge

Date:……………………
…….......... Signature of the
interviewer

Name :

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