Competencies of Desirable Accountant of Enterprises in the Digital Era

Abstract

          This article presents the interesting points related to the accountants’ required competencies in the digital age to be a guideline for accountants on the application in their professional development to be effective and progressive. This is due to the current digital technology plays an important role in the development of progress in Thai society and the world society. This can be seen from many organizations, agencies and various occupations. They are all being interfered with by digital (Digital Disruption), especially professional accountants. It can be considered that digital has inevitably impacted society. Therefore, professional accountants in the digital era are necessary to develop themselves in areas such as technology skill, interpersonal working skill, critical thinking, and news tracking in order to bring those things as an important mechanism to drive the organization to progress. With the accountants development guidelines in the digital era, they should develop their competency in many areas in terms of knowledge, abilities, skills, morals and ethics to reach the standards as defined by the organization and company as well as responding to the needs of the enterprises in the digital era. The accountants should also develop themselves to have important competencies known as “4 knows”; that are, 1) know about technology 2) know the information that related to the profession 3) know about laws and professional ethics, and 4) know about adapting and developing their skills and competencies. In addition, accountants need to change some of their roles to keep up with the changing digital world by improving leadership, knowledge, and other fields understanding. They should also enhance their knowledge of accounting, management, and work performance as well as follow various news to keep up with the changing of professions and digital technologies in order to be an efficient accountant in the digital era. In terms of the guideline, there are three principles: academic development, professional development, and developing talents and skills related to the digital age, the Thai society contexts, and the changing world societies in order to develop the accountants’ competencies in the digital age.