Sunday Ukeje Okanta

(Department of Social Science, Federal University Otuoke, Bayelsa State, Nigeria)

 

 

Abstract: This paper assessed the integrated accounting competencies/skills of owner-managers of smallscale enterprises in the South-East Nigeria. The objective was to identify these competencies and justify their applications, benefits, challenges and the future for the growth of owner-managers and their firms. The design and plan of the research methodology followed the work of a US-based Executive Search firm — Heidrick and Struggles. Critical integrated accounting job competencies/skills were identified and administered to fifty-three CEOs of small firms through structured questionnaires. The responses generated were analyzed using the simple mean method percentages and chi-square technique. The aim was to extract some signals about how ownermanagers’ integrated accounting competencies were evolving. One theme that ran consistently through the findings was that owner managers were educationally aware of the existence of integrated accounting systems (IAS), their uses, benefits and challenges. However, they were short of applying or using them in accounting for their businesses; and they appreciated the fact that the new IAS technologies (software) and a brighter future for their use, is good for the growth of the owner-managers and their businesses. The paper recommended that the authorities, including professional accounting bodies, should hasten to design training and development programmes to train existing and potential owner-managers for greater achievement.

 

 

Key words: accounting; integration; books; competencies; software

 

JEL code: M40