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Exploring the impact of 4IR on skills and personal qualities for future accountants: a proposed conceptual framework for university accounting education

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  • Vangelis Tsiligiris
  • Dorothea Bowyer

Abstract

The fourth industrial revolution (4IR) presents many opportunities and challenges in a digitised world of work. This paper draws on a systematic literature review of recent research published by accounting professional bodies outlining the impact of digital technologies on the accounting profession. By taking advantage of this work this study critically assesses the types of skills and personal qualities that graduates as future accountants will need and explores the implications for accounting education and university curricula. The analysis reveals that necessary skills for future accountants may be summarised into four categories: (a) Ethical skills; (b) Digital skills; (c) Business skills; and (d) Soft skills. The analysis reveals ‘adaptability’ and ‘lifelong approach to CPD’ as the two essential personal qualities for future accountants. The practical implications for university accounting education are summarised in a proposed conceptual framework. The proposed conceptual framework: (1) acts as a roadmap for universities to align their accounting curricula with the developments in professional body syllabi; (2) helps university accounting education teachers to update, enrich, and refocus their teaching and learning approach to the requirements of the 4IR; and (3) promotes the coordination and rationalisation of the skills and personal qualities currently pursued by employability agendas at university, course, and module levels.

Suggested Citation

  • Vangelis Tsiligiris & Dorothea Bowyer, 2021. "Exploring the impact of 4IR on skills and personal qualities for future accountants: a proposed conceptual framework for university accounting education," Accounting Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 30(6), pages 621-649, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:accted:v:30:y:2021:i:6:p:621-649
    DOI: 10.1080/09639284.2021.1938616
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    Cited by:

    1. Rasa Subačienė & Ramunė Budrionytė & Jolanta Žemgulienė & Ivita Faituša, 2022. "Modern Accounting Specialist in New Economic Reality: Cases of Lithuania and Latvia," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-18, September.
    2. Simphiwe Mahlangu & Riyad Moosa, 2023. "IT Knowledge Requirements of an External Auditor," Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, Richtmann Publishing Ltd, vol. 12, July.
    3. Sinziana-Maria Rindasu & Ioan Dan Topor & Liliana Ionescu-Feleaga, 2023. "The Evolution of Management Accountants' Digital Skills in Industry 4.0: A Qualitative Approach," Oblik i finansi, Institute of Accounting and Finance, issue 1, pages 38-48, March.
    4. Apostolou, Barbara & Dorminey, Jack W. & Hassell, John M., 2022. "Accounting education literature review (2021)," Journal of Accounting Education, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    5. Valeriu Brabete & Catalin Mihail Barbu & Daniel Circiumaru & Daniel Goagara & Dorel Berceanu, 2024. "Redesign of Accounting Education to Meet the Challenges of Artificial Intelligence – A Literature Review," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 26(65), pages 275-275, February.
    6. Komarev, Iliya & Preobragenskaya, Galina, 2022. "A framework of market-relevant accounting competencies for the Gulf Cooperation countries (GCC)," Journal of Accounting Education, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    7. Monique Micallef & Cheryl Mifsud & Lauren Ellul & Peter J. Baldacchino & Simon Grima, 2023. "The Skill Set Required in the Accounting Workplace: Perspectives of Accounting Graduates and Warrant Holders," International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), vol. 0(4), pages 117-145.
    8. Grosu, Veronica & Cosmulese, Cristina Gabriela & Socoliuc, Marian & Ciubotariu, Marius-Sorin & Mihaila, Svetlana, 2023. "Testing accountants' perceptions of the digitization of the profession and profiling the future professional," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).

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