The research framework illustrated in Fig. 1 shows foundation for this study which
demonstrated the multi-layered and multi-tiered framework of IT related
competencies for professional accountants. The main research question is “How IT
competency profile changes with change in job description of a professional
accountant working in Malaysian small to medium accounting practices?” followed
by three sub-questions: (1) what are the IT related competencies that help professional
accountants to perform their job better?, (2) what are the IT skill sets required for
professional accountants at each stage of their professional lifecycle?, and (3) what is
an appropriate framework for developing IT related competencies for professional
accountants in Malaysian small to medium accounting practices.
The inner layer of the framework represents the first sub-question of the study
which deals with the generic skill set of IT competencies. It takes a comprehensive
view of IT competence for professional accountants, and investigates the issue at hand
in technical, organisational, people, and conceptual dimensions. The second layer of
the framework seeks to find the answers for second sub-question i.e. to identify the IT
related competencies that help professional accountants to perform their job properly.
The aim is to employ the above mentioned skill set in the perspective of experience,
organisational culture, formal accounting education and the international standard for
accounting practices. These elements are major contributing factors that set the
Information Technology Skills and Competencies standard of quality of professional accountants. The third layer of the frameworkrecognises the actual competencies of professional accountants in using IT forjurisdiction specific. For the purpose of this study, it will be focused to Malaysianjurisdiction specifically within Malaysian small to medium accounting practices. Itaddresses improvement of the main accounting professional regulators in Malaysiawho set the national accountants standard through national accounting board. Inaddition, higher education has been the main education provider in generatingaccounting graduates in Malaysia.