An empirical investigation of demographic and work environment factors affecting the recruitment and retention of accounting professionals

Abstract

Recruitment and staff retention have become a substantial problem in the Australian professional accountancy environment. Although this issue has been canvassed in the professional literature, little academic research has been conducted into the area. By contrast, staffing problems have been a fertile field for research in foreign countries, especially the US. This thesis presents the results of a survey of practitioners employed by the 20 largest public accountancy firms in Eastern Australia. The method of the survey, ' is broadly similar to that used by some US researchers. These authors have cross-correlated the demographic characteristics of respondents, with their responses to attitudinal questions regarding an array of factors which affect their propensity to enter, and stay within, the profession. Such factors include salary remuneration, working conditions, job satisfaction and working pressure. Hypotheses development is based on contentious issues contemporary to the professional environment, and is divided functionally into the demographic areas of educational background, gender, country of origin, and size of firm. The results provide substantive evidence on a wide field of issues, including: the ability and motivation of university compared with non-university graduates, barriers to female accountants, and the merits and demerits of working in a larger or smaller accountancy firm. Show more