THE STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS AND EMPLOYERS’ EXPECTATIONS OF THE EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS OF GRADUATING ACCOUNTING STUDENTS OF JOSE MARIA COLLEGE IN ACADEMIC YEAR 2016-2017

Abstract

In tradition, undergraduate accounting degree programs
focused on technical skills in the accounting discipline. However,
professional accountancy bodies and employers increasingly expect
graduates to possess a combination of technical skills, soft skills and
values. This study aims to investigate the graduating accounting
students perceptions and employers expectations on the employability
skills of graduating accounting students. Furthermore, the study
determined whether there is a significant difference between the
students’ perceptions and employers’ expectations on employability
skills. This was conducted using paired t-test having twenty-two (22)
graduating accounting students and five (5) employers each from the
private and public practice as respondents to the survey-questionnaires
used for gathering primary data. The research produced a number of
key findings: graduating accounting students perceive that they have
much preparation on employability skills in their accounting program;
employers very much needed the employability skills on graduating
accounting students for employment; and there is a statistically
significant difference between students’ perceptions and employers’
expectations.

KEY WORDS: Students’ perceptions, employers’ expectations,
employability skills, accounting students, Jose Maria College