Business Commons^™

Analysis Of Public Accountants: What Personality Traits And Skill Sets Distinguish Auditors And Tax Accountants In The Public Accounting Sphere?, Lauren Madison Wood

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

The two main career paths within public accounting are auditing and tax accounting. Auditors render an opinion as to whether a client’s financial statements are fairly presented, while tax accountants provide tax-planning services and prepare tax returns. This study examines the personality traits and non-accounting skill sets of practicing auditors and tax accountants to determine whether there are significant differences between the types of people working in each field. Prior research has analyzed the personality and skill sets of accountants in relation to marketing professionals or financial analysts, but little research has compared the two types of public accountants directly. …