Employer-Employee Perceptual Differences in Job Competency: A Study of Generic Skills, Knowledge Required, and Personal Qualities for Accounting-Related Entry-Level Job Positions

To be successful in the job career, it is important to satisfy the needs of the employers. Hence it is crucial to find out what are perceived to be more important by the employers as compared to the employees. The aim of the study is to examine if there is a perceptual gap between the employers and the fresh accounting graduates in terms of the generic skills, knowledge and personal qualities. The study adopts a quantitative approach where an online survey was conducted. Fifty employers and 80 employees participated in the survey. The study found a perceptual gap exists in terms of generic skills and knowledge. However, there is no perceptual gap on personal qualities. Employers rated ability to work in team, the ability to handle stress and the ability of problem-solving skills as the most important generic skills that need to be possessed by the fresh accounting graduates. In terms of knowledge, professional standards for accounting and auditing reporting and professional conduct are critical. In addition, employers expect employees to be responsible, reliable and trustworthy. The results of the study can be used as a guide to the employees in living up to the expectation of the employers. It can also be used as a basis for the accounting education providers to develop their future accounting curriculum.