The accounting professional’s competencies: does the supply fit with the demand? Evidence from Portugal

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ABSTRACT Studies examining the alignment between supply and demand for accounting professional’s competencies have been conducted worldwide. However, these studies have predominantly relied on questionnaires and interviews, and have often been limited to similar contexts. Our study adopts a novel approach to diversify this body of literature. We applied content analysis to 306 job advertisements (demand perspective) and 32 accounting course programs (supply perspective) to assess the supply – demand alignment of competencies among entry-level accounting professionals in Portugal. This research offers practical contributions by supporting Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), students, and professional bodies in identifying gaps in the alignment of courses with the job market. Additionally, it makes a theoretical contribution by employing a segment of the university-market convergence framework for the accounting professional’s competencies. The findings revealed a strong alignment of the essential technical competencies. However, the data also highlight room for improvement in less specific (generic) competencies such as information technologies and foreign languages. Moreover, an analysis of the alignment of various courses with the respective areas of accounting expertise yielded interesting results, albeit not consistently positive. These findings underscore the importance of HEIs to remain vigilant regarding labor market changes and adjust their curricula accordingly.