Information Technology Knowledge and Skills for Accounting Graduates: An Insight from Public Accounting Firms

摘要

This research seeks to discover the IT knowledge and skills for accounting graduates which are essential for them to work competently in the industry at the early stage after graduation. In line with the evolvement in technology, it is crucial for accounting graduates to acquire and master accounting-related skills and topics associated with technological innovations, including hardware and software, for them to be resourceful, starting from their first day on the profession. Hence, this study is proposed to provide insight on the expected IT knowledge and skills among accounting graduates from the perspective of industry, specifically public accounting firms in Malaysia. Our descriptive findings reveal that knowledge and skills in accounting software, accounting system, database concept and analysis, project management and business process are essential for accounting graduates. This finding may be used as basic guideline to enhance IT knowledge and skills for accounting graduates, by incorporating these IT elements into specific accounting degree program course, which is accounting information system. With this, it is hoped that the supply of future accountants by educational institutions are of high quality as expected by the industry.