Accountants and the professional project

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to offer a critique of the sociological model of professionalisation known as the “professional project” put forward by Magali Larson, which has become the prevailing paradigm for accounting historians. Design/methodology/approach The paper challenges the use of the concepts of monopoly, social closure, collective social mobility and the quest for status as applied to the history of accountancy. The arguments are made on both empirical and theoretical grounds. Findings The use of the concept of monopoly is not justified in the case of accounting societies or firms. The only monopoly the accountants required was the exclusive right to the titles, for example, CA in Britain and CPA in the USA. They were right to argue that the credentials were merely to distinguish themselves in the market place from untrained accountants. The validity of the concept of social closure via artificial barriers to entry is questioned and new evidence is provided that the elite accountants have always recruited heavily from classes lower in the social hierarchy than themselves. The concept of the collective social mobility project is found wanting on a priori and empirical grounds; accountants behaved no differently to other business classes and have probably not enhanced their social status since the formation of their societies. Originality/value The paper offers, in the case of accountancy, one of the few critiques of the accepted model of professionalisation. It demonstrates the weak explanatory power of the sociological paradigms used by accounting historians.

Institutional work in the birth of a carbon accounting profession

“…Larson, 1977). On the contrary, our research, in line with Matthews (2017), is a case of “non”-closure or ring-fencing around the expertise (and the tool) created. Our study emphasizes how a professionalization project where the expertise was constantly extended to a wider network foster the emergence of a profession.…”

“…In the past, the accounting professionalization literature has drawn extensively on the notion of "closure" and monopoly around a new professional project concept, insisting on the need to exert control over knowledge (eg, Larson, 1977). On the contrary, our research, in line with Matthews (2017), is a case of "non" closure or ring-fencing around the expertise (and the tool) created. Our study emphasizes how a professionalization project where the expertise was constantly extended to a wider network foster the emergence of a profession.…”

Deprivation, social class and social mobility at Big Four and non-Big Four firms

“…Thus, whilst the accountancy profession has limited social mobility, the reality does not appear to be as extreme as is often portrayed. Lee (2004) and Matthews (2017) showed that around a third of the earliest chartered accountants had experienced upward, vertical, inter-generational social mobility. A contribution of this paper is the finding that this situation appears to have largely persisted over time with 2009 cohort not being substantially different from the earliest ones.…”

“…The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland was formed in 1951 by amalgamating the Society of Accountants in Edinburgh with the Institute of Accountants and Actuaries in Glasgow (founded in 1853) and the Society of Accountants in Aberdeen (founded in 1867). providing a more nuanced picture of the early profession than some other literature suggests (Lee 2004, Matthews 2017.…”

Accounting and Finance Graduate Employment Outcomes: Underemployment, Self‐employment and Managing Diversity

“…Jacobs’ () study of the Big 5 firms in Scotland found class disadvantages were further perpetuated with a growing focus on non‐technical skills in graduate applicants. Matthews (: 313), however, criticises the notion of social closure in the accounting profession and draws on evidence which suggests ‘accountancy seems to have been more socially open than the business elite generally’.…”