engleski

Professional accountant of today - analysis of essential competency requirements

Change is inevitable in accountancy as in all professions. In this case, it implies a broader set of responsibilities for professional accountants. Among the many causes of change, the development of technology is certainly one of the most significant cause. Adapting to change is a prerequisite for survival. This adjustment for professional accountants means constantly acquiring new knowledge and developing new skills and attitudes. Due to the changing conditions in which professional accountants operate, the nature of the knowledge and skills that they require in order to be able to face the challenges, and the meaning of the term competent professional accountant today require thorough re-examination. Hence, the main research question in this paper is, what knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSAs) are essential for a professional accountant of today? According to the research conducted over the last three decades there is no clear consensus on the required KSAs that are expected from accounting professionals by all involved parties: academics, accounting professionals and employers. The main objective of this paper is to analyse the KSAs of the accounting professionals that have been promoted by the prominent international professional accountancy bodies (PABs) and associations. It analyses the requirements stipulated in the most recent competency frameworks issued for all accounting professionals as well as the specific requirements issued for management accountants, the public sector, audit professionals, internal auditors, and accounting technicians, as well as for the students entering the accounting profession. The paper aims to provide a review of the prerequisite knowledge, skills and attitudes of professional accountants in order to identify the expectations for professional accountants and the aspiring professional accountants that will serve as a basis for providing the recommendations for accounting education in the given context. The results of the conducted analysis should provide useful information to higher education community as well as the overall professional community.

professional accountant, professional competence, knowledge, skills, attitudes

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