Botes, VidaSharma, Umesh Prasad2017-10-3020162017-10-302016Botes, V., & Sharma, U. P. (2016). A gap in management accounting education: Fact or fiction? Presented at the 10th New Zealand Management Accounting Symposium, Auckland, New Zealand.https://hdl.handle.net/10289/11438Purpose: 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.application/pdfen© 2016 Copyright with the authors.accounting educationacademicspractitionersgapbalanced scorecardConference Contribution