Is accounting as a first course going extinct? What motivates student’s choice of accounting as a career? How true is it that if you are not chartered, you are not an accountant? These are few of the questions that this book responds to. It is an orientation tool for intending students, students, lecturers/tutors, researchers, practitioners, policy makers, parents and the general public on the neglected story of accounting profession. It is written with the sole aim of enlightening its reader on who accountants are; career paths of accountants and their role in society; providing information to assist students in deciding a choice of career in the field of accounting. It places emphasis on the role-relevance of tertiary institutions in the development of accountants with robust acumen. This book opens up on the unsung story of the accounting profession, bringing to the fore the fact that the profession has emerged with three wings, that is practice, policy and research. As we continue to face an increasingly competitive market, the need to produce graduates with requisite knowledge and skill competence to fill vacancies in industries, which are faced with apparent economic circumstances are overwhelming. Howbeit, while it may be acceptable to find a meantime solution, a long term sustainable solution is better, which is to focus on breeding efficient, effective and productive accountants, who can sustain the objectives and goals of the going concern. Tertiary institutions must not underestimate the need to concentrate energy on creating awareness, arming graduates with necessary knowledge and skills on elements of accounting profession, which is a better way out to solve the problem rather than the fire brigade approach to salvage the situation. As the industry look up to institutions to step up the game, we must wow them by producing graduate accountants who will not only be able to practice, but also can in their circumference engage with policy issues and research in the work place environment for increased and sustainable productivity.
