A framework of market-relevant accounting competencies for the Gulf Cooperation countries (GCC). (June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Komarev, Iliya; Preobragenskaya, Galina
• Is Part Of: Journal of accounting education. Volume 59(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-06
• Subjects: Accounting curriculum -- Competencies -- Skills -- Content analysis -- Job advertisements; Accounting -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; Accounting -- Study and teaching -- United States -- Periodicals; Comptabilité -- Étude et enseignement -- Périodiques; Comptabilité -- États-Unis -- Étude et enseignement -- Périodiques; 657.0711
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jaccedu.2022.100782
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0748-5751

Abstract

Highlights: The accounting curricula should adapt to evolving job market needs. The market needs in terms of competencies and skills can be extracted from job advertisements and systematically analyzed by the application of a text-mining methodology. The methodology is applied to the GCC market. The content of job ads is coded, and skills and competencies are extracted to form a comprehensive framework. Information technology and software are an important need in the GCC accounting job market, together with technical accounting knowledge and personal and interpersonal skills. Universities can use the methodology described and the proposed competence framework to help evolve their accounting curricula according to market needs. Abstract: Prior literature suggests that accounting education needs to adapt to constantly evolving market needs. This paper develops a comprehensive framework of competencies demanded by employers in the GCC region to be integrated into the local accounting curricula. The paper proposes a text-mining methodology for extracting data directly from job advertisements and generating lists of competencies. The methodology has multiple advantages: (i) it is based on readily available job market data, (ii) it produces sets of ranked knowledge and skills, supported by descriptions (learning outcomes), (iii) it allows examining a comprehensive range of competencies, (iv) it is easily adaptable to any segment of the job market. Moreover, the proposed framework highlights a different priority of competencies to be developed by undergraduate and graduate-level accounting programs.