Bridging the Gap in Accounting Education and Application through the Development and Use of Soft Skills

Abstract

I explore the development and use of soft skills in the accounting profession, and how these skills can bridge the education gap. Understanding the development and use of soft skills leads to conversations about the need to modernize accounting education, and how to achieve it. I focus on answering my research questions which include how to develop soft skills, and the usefulness of these skills in the accounting field. My research supports the need for change in accounting curriculum and how this curriculum is taught to students. Both professionals and educators acknowledge the gap in accounting and believe a change in how accounting is taught is necessary. Both also agree that soft skills are just as important, if not more important, than technical skills in the accounting field. My recommendation is to implement more active learning into accounting curriculum. Integrating this type of learning will better foster both the soft skills and technical skills that students need. Readers can hope to gain a better understanding of the skills necessary to succeed as an accountant, and how those skills are developed in higher education.