Accounting graduates: Are they still accountants?

Abstract

This study examined accounting graduates of a public university in Malaysia. Specifically, this study examined whether accounting graduates of a public university in Malaysia are in the accounting profession or whether they are in a profession that is not related to accounting. This study also determined whether age and gender influence the accounting graduates’ profession. Using a questionnaire survey on 1003 accounting graduates, this study shows that most of the accounting graduates are working as accountants or accounting related positions in various industries. Surprisingly, this study also shows an alarming sign of accounting graduates not in the accounting profession. This study further shows that gender and age influence the profession of accounting graduates. The findings in this study provide some awareness on accounting graduates’ choice of profession. This study provides some understanding to the management in public universities to sustain accounting graduates in the accounting profession.