What IT knowledge and skills do accounting graduates need?

Author:
Thomas Tam, Manukau Institute of Technology

Abstract: Rapid advances in information technology (IT) have produced significant changes to the ways in which businesses operate. Accountants are involved in wide-ranging roles in business. It is important for them to possess IT knowledge and skills relevant to their roles to provide competent and professional services. Accounting graduates would benefit in better employment opportunities if they are equipped with relevant IT knowledge and skills in today’s IT-intensive business world. This research has identified 18 topics in IT knowledge and skills relevant to accounting graduates and proposes a model for the delivery of IT content in an accounting curriculum named as the Induction- Diffusion-Assimilation model.