Technology is evolving and we are seeing changes in the way that goods and services are being produced in many industries. Accounting is no exception. As the nature of technology change is exponential, it is imperative as an accounting student to consider the future direction of the profession. This will help to ensure that the skills developed in training align closely with the skills required in future for the workplace.
There is considerable existing research. However, two key areas of difference in the current research are the method, and the location of the research (Hamilton, NZ). A questionnaire using T-Paired sampling is the basis for the quantitative analysis, whilst an interview with a partner of a Big-4 accounting firm provides further depth for the research.
The interim results support the hypothesis that there has been a shift in what clients expect from their accountants. The research has also found evidence to suggest that the nature of the work undertaken for clients has changed along with expectations.