The question addressed in this paper addresses whether the presence of accounting
practices in sustainable rural communities is perceived to be important by regional
redevelopment and local government officers who have an interest in promoting the
sustainability of rural communities. It asks: “How do regional development officers
perceive the potential contribution from establishing and maintaining resident
accountants in rural communities?”
Three broad themes emerged from the analysis of transcripts from the interviews
with rural development officers:
. having resident accountants provides a competitive advantage to the rural
communities through the provision of essential information and advice to
business owners in the region face to face;
. resident accountants are important contributors to the morale of local residents
through their regular presence and face-to-face availability; and
. individual accountants make contributions to direct and indirect communities in
both a personal and professional capacity.