Looking in the mirror
Abstract
Purpose
There is a widely held stereotypical view that accounting is structured, precise, compliance-driven and repetitive. Drawing on social psychology theory, this paper aims to examine how accountants may contribute to these stereotypical perceptions.
Design/methodology/approach
Individual perception data were collected through questionnaires and interviews with accountants from the corporate, public practice and not-for-profit sectors, along with “Chartered Accountants” who no longer work as accountants.
Findings
These findings suggest that, contrary to results from an earlier study, the targets of the accounting stereotype contribute to the stereotype formation and maintenance and that increased exposure to accountants may serve only to confirm and reinforce the accounting stereotype.
Research limitations/implications
There are a small number of participants in this study, and this limits the ability to generalise the findings.
Practical implications
These findings have important implications for the profession in how it communicates and promotes the role of the accountant in society. Failure to address the issues identified may lead the stereotype to become self-fulfilling. This may result in the recruitment of future accountants who lack the required skills and capabilities. This could lead to the loss of non-compliance-related accounting work to other business professionals.
Originality/value
This study responds to criticism that little is known about how and why the accounting stereotype is formed and how contact with an accountant may increase stereotypicality. Additionally, this paper proposes a strategy to reduce stereotypicality through contact with accountants.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The author is grateful to Kate Kearins, Kim Watty, Steve Dellaportas, Chris Chapman, Lee Parker and two anonymous reviewers for helpful feedback and suggestions made on earlier versions of this work.
Citation
Wells, P. (2015), "Looking in the mirror", Pacific Accounting Review, Vol. 27 No. 4, pp. 486-507. https://doi.org/10.1108/PAR-09-2013-0091
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited