Is management accounting mandatory or complimentary function: a case studies of some firms listed on Ghana Stock Exchange

Abstract

This study examines the perception of non-accounting business major managers about the managerial accounting function. The knowledge of these perceptions will help determine whether business entities need to be concerned about inspiring certain groups of managers to be more aggressive in acquiring the skill or function. We found that all non-accounting major managers, regardless of their major field of work think the managerial accounting function is interesting and has real-world application. The finance and management major managers think that the course is related to their field of work and it should be made a required function, but not the MIS and marketing major managers. The higher the skills (GPA) and the more the work experience, the greater is the manager’s perception that managerial accounting should be a required function and has real-world application. Based on the results, I suggest that development of methods and standards aimed at reinforcing the importance of managerial accounting function to all business majors, particularly MIS and marketing majors may overcome some barriers to obtaining the skill. This research also has implications for Ghanaian business entities and their managers as our findings indicate that listed firms that do not require non-accounting managers to take managerial accounting should make it a requirement for all managers in non-accounting majors to acquire managerial accounting skills