What factors affect the choice of accounting as a career? The case of Romania

Cristina-Florina Ticoi,Nadia Albu

doi:10.24818/jamis.2018.01007

Abstract

This paper aims to examine the motivations of choosing accounting as a profession in Romania. The paper is motivated by the recent interest at the international level in understanding the trends in the accounting profession. The theoretical tension arises from the Romanian context given the significant challenges for the profession triggered by the transition from communism to a market-based economy. We use a survey-based approach. The sample consists of 112 students undertaking accounting courses both for Bachelor’s Degree or Master Courses at two Romanian universities and 125 professionals belonging to The Body of Expert and Licensed Accountants of Romania. We find that the most important group of factors in choosing the accounting career includes the intellectual motivation, followed by relational and financial incentives. There are a few significant differences between men and women, and between students and professionals. When differences occur, women manifest a lower level of motivation, and professional accountants a higher level of motivation. The results show the driving forces behind the composition of the accounting profession and inform the sociology of the profession, of interest for both academia and practice. Our study contributes to an emerging national and international literature investigating the accounting profession by providing concrete information about the motivations of choosing it in Romania.

Highlights

This paper explores the motivation of choosing accounting as a profession in the context of Romania, a former communist country
Based on prior studies investigating the motivation for choosing the accounting profession (McDowall & Jackling, 2010; Germanou et al, 2009; Sugahara et al, 2006) we developed an instrument with potential factors serving as motivators, grouped in seven areas: education, personal, financial, social, intellectual, relational and creative factors
Out results contrast with the traditional image of accountants that involves dullness and lack of creativity (Carnegie & Napier, 2010; Hunt et al, 2004; Jeacle, 2008) and with the communist traits involving low thinking skills (Tobór-Osadnik et al, 2013). These results might be an indication of a change in the Romanian accounting profession

Summary

Introduction

This paper explores the motivation of choosing accounting as a profession in the context of Romania, a former communist country. We respond to recent calls (Brock, 2016) to investigate the accounting profession in an emerging economy. Several studies (e.g., Germanou et al, 2009; Manganaris & Spathis, 2015; McDowall & Jackling, 2010; Sugahara et al, 2009) investigate in various countries the motivating factors for choosing an accounting career. We complement this literature by investigating the motivating factors in the context of Romania. There is a limited focus on the choice of the accounting profession as a career, especially given the recent opportunities and challenges raised for the profession by the current economic environment (ACCA, 2012)

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