A gap in management accounting education: Fact or fiction?

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this paper is to identify and gain insights into the gap that persists between management accounting education and practice. Design/ Methodology/ Approach: Management accounting education is examined from the four perspectives of the balanced scorecard: customer satisfaction, learning and growth, internal business and finance. The academics and practicing management accountants were selected randomly from the South African community for the study. Findings: The study establishes that differences exist between the perception of academics and practitioners regarding the perceived role of management accountants in business today. Research limitations/ implications: As one of the few studies on gaps between management accounting education and practice, the study provides insights to the potential gaps. The findings serve as a basis for further empirical and theoretical enquiries. Originality/ Value: The study extends the management accounting literature by suggesting that management accounting students are not developed with required skills to face the challenges in today’s business environment.