Preliminary analysis of employer’s required skills of accountants

Abstract

Тhe paper is aimed to analyse the required competencies (skills) signalled in jobs’ advertisements for an accountant position. Content analysis is performed on jobs advertisements in job.bg and zaplata.bg. The coding framework is construed on the base of technical competencies (IES 2) and professional skills (IES 3) of IAESB. Research is preliminary which means that the formulated conclusions are not constructive and generalized. The findings of the research outline that the mostly employers demand is English language as a professional competency. Bulgarian employers require teamwork, collaboration and cooperation, critical thinking and time management. In conclusion, to be successful in the labor market accountants should possess more than technical skills. Also, employers’ signals challenge the accounting teaching in competence-based manner and in transversal skills. Whether the topic received inadequate attention, the results can be useful in change management of accounting programs. Business entities can be advised about changing landscape of interconnectedness of digitalization, accounting duties and required competencies.

Keywords

• skills
• competencies
• accountant