Skills Needed by New Accounting Graduates in a Rapidly Changing Technological Environment

Abstract

Current research indicates that newly-hired accounting graduates may lack some of the skills necessary to be successful in their chosen profession. This paper examines recent research to determine what skills are needed by accounting graduates. A number of papers suggest that accounting graduates may not have the soft skills, such as analytical thinking skills and communication skills, necessary to succeed. This may be due in part to differences between Millennial students and students of prior generations This paper concludes by examining specific skills needed by accounting graduates and who should be responsible for providing those skills—universities, employers, or both.