Desirable generic attributes for accounting graduates into the twenty‐first century

Abstract

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to determine the requirements of accounting graduates in relation to generic attributes. Employers have consistently maintained that graduates are deficient in this area. This Australia-wide, all-sector study addresses the issue by examining what employers mean when they make demands for universities and academics to deliver work-ready graduates. Design/methodology/approach -Interviews (recorded, transcribed and analysed with NVivo) with employers, and accounting professional bodies were conducted to ascertain their views of their needs of accounting graduates into the future. Findings -Employers held the generic attributes of communication, team work and self-management to be the most critical for graduates in the three areas of recruitment, training and ongoing employment. Demands on universities to deliver work-ready graduates are not homogeneous. Employers in different sectors construe the meaning of generic attributes in line with their specific needs. Originality/value -The study was an original piece of work that gauged the opinions of professional accounting bodies and employers of accounting graduates across Australia and in all sectors of the accounting profession. The value of the study is to inform academics as to the ranked importance of generic attributes but also alert them to the different meanings that are assigned to these skills by employers in different sectors.

Accounting Education and the Prerequisite Skills of Accounting Graduates: Are Accounting Firms’ Moving the Boundaries?

“…The findings from the ALTC study were published by Tempone et al. () confirming the non‐technical skills identified in Volume 1 of the ALTC report and described by Tempone et al. as generic attributes for accounting graduates.…”

Perspectives on graduate employability attributes for management sciences graduates

“…The same goes for the United Kingdom as Martin, Villeneuve-Smith, Marshall and Mckenzie (2008) list timekeeping, literacy and numeracy, eagerness and dedication, communication, and personal presentation skills as attributes most sought after by employers. In Australia, a study by Tempone et al (2012) suggested that employers require graduates to possess communication, teamwork and self-management skills.…”

“…Terminologies commonly used are words such as transferrable skills, key skills, soft skills, generic attributes, employability skills, key competencies, core skills, and underpinning skills. In most cases, these terms are used interchangeably to refer to graduate employability (Tempone et al 2012). …”

Developing Accounting Students' Listening Skills: Barriers, Opportunities and an Integrated Stakeholder Approach

“…Educators can also enlist the assistance of employers of accounting graduates to inform and reinforce the significance of listening to students. Presentations and guest lectures by employers are examples of interrelated contributions under the proposed integrated stakeholder approach that emphasise to students the importance of listening in practice and its status as a desirable graduate attribute (Tempone et al, 2012).…”