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Quantitative skills: is there an expectation gap between the education and practice of management accountants?

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  • Graham Francis
  • Clare Minchington

Abstract

The extent to which management accountants are receiving appropriate training in quantitative methods is examined. It finds a disparity between the wide range of quantitative techniques covered within the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants' syllabi and the limited use made of many of the techniques in practice. It also reports a rich picture of differing expectations of the role of quantitative skills in the work of a management accountant. The study finds that quantitative skills are seen by both employers and accounting educators as contributing to the portfolio of skills required by management accountants. Also, they give a rigour to the examination process that is seen as a challenging 'rite of passage' into the profession. It is concluded that knowledge and understanding of the range of quantitative techniques available to organizations is a powerful differentiator for the accounting profession, even if the occasions upon which accountants are required to draw upon much of that knowledge are few and far between.

Suggested Citation

  • Graham Francis & Clare Minchington, 1999. "Quantitative skills: is there an expectation gap between the education and practice of management accountants?," Accounting Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 8(4), pages 301-319.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:accted:v:8:y:1999:i:4:p:301-319
    DOI: 10.1080/096392899330810
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Matthews, Derek & Anderson, Malcolm & Edwards, John Richard, 1998. "The Priesthood of Industry: The Rise of the Professional Accountant in British Management," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780198289609, Decembrie.
    2. Coccari, Ronald L., 1989. "How quantitative business techniques are being used," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 32(4), pages 70-74.
    3. Easton, George & Roberts, Harry V & Tiao, George C, 1988. "Making Statistics More Effective in Schools of Business," Journal of Business & Economic Statistics, American Statistical Association, vol. 6(2), pages 247-260, April.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Satoshi Sugahara & Roanne Coman, 2010. "Perceived Importance of CPA’s Generic Skills: A Japanese Study," Asian Journal of Finance & Accounting, Macrothink Institute, vol. 2(1), pages 124-124, December.
    3. Wan Ying Hill & Margaret Milner, 2003. "Guidelines for graphical displays in financial reporting," Accounting Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 12(2), pages 135-157.
    4. Marc Bollecker, 2009. "Contrôleur de gestion : une fonction en danger ?," Post-Print halshs-00456209, HAL.
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    6. Marc Bollecker, 2007. "Les Publications Europeennes Et Americaines Sur Les Contrôleurs De Gestion : Un Essai De Synthese," Post-Print halshs-00522301, HAL.
    7. Lin Mei Tan & Fawzi Laswad, 2018. "Professional skills required of accountants: what do job advertisements tell us?," Accounting Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(4), pages 403-432, July.

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