Professional skills required of accountants: what do job advertisements tell us?

TLDR

Accountancy is shifting from back‑room number crunching to a role that requires business‑oriented engagement. The study investigates which employability skills accountants need, based on Australian and New Zealand job advertisements. Job ads consistently prioritize interpersonal and personal skills—especially teamwork, a positive attitude, and communication—underscoring the need to embed these competencies in accounting curricula.

Abstract

This study examines the employability skills of accountants cited in job advertisements in Australia and New Zealand, as they indicate the skills that are most valued by employers. The results indicate interpersonal and personal are the most frequently requested skills. Of the 31 identified skills, the most sought-after skills included the ability to collaborate with colleagues, present, discuss and defend views, and having a positive attitude. Overall, a team player with a positive attitude and good communication skills appeared to be the most valued behavioural skill as perceived by employers. This reflects the changing work of accountants, from being ‘backroom number crunchers’ to engaged business professionals. Although the results indicate some differences in skills requested across the five accounting occupational subgroups, interpersonal and personal skills again stood out as the most frequently cited skills. The results indicate the importance of incorporating such skills development in the accounting curriculum.