SHAPING FUTURE PROFESSIONALS: EMPLOYER PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING STUDENT COMPETENCY IN INTERNSHIPS

Abstract

Accounting students face continuous difficulties navigating the demands of the workforce as they go from the academic to the professional world. This research aims to investigate the viewpoints and requirements of employers concerning the preparedness of accounting students to meet the demands of the modern work environment. Based on the data collected from a survey of 102 employers who have supervised accounting students during internships, this research provides valuable insight into skills and competency gaps identified by employers, thus shedding light on areas for improvement in accounting education. The findings of this study showed that accounting students are thought to be underprepared. The most common weaknesses are in the areas of interpersonal skills, technical competencies, motivation or initiative, confidence, Information Technology (IT) proficiency, ability to perform under pressure, and time management. These results show a significant gap between the expectations of employers in the accounting field and the abilities acquired in academic environments. This study was carried out using a survey distributed to employers where accounting students are completing their internship programme. The survey instrument was designed to collect in-depth employer observations and experiences about accounting students, resulting in rich, qualitative data that could be analysed. This study has implications for accountants, legislators, and educators. By identifying the areas in which accounting students may be underprepared, educational institutions can modify their curricula to better suit the needs of the industry. In addition, this study acts as a call to stakeholders in accounting education to collaborate in bridging the gap between academic preparation and the demands of the profession. By addressing identified skills gaps and meeting the needs expressed by employers, educational institutions can play an important role in preparing accounting students to meet the dynamic and complex challenges of the modern workplace.