Using practitioners’ viewpoints to improve accounting students’ communications skills

The accounting profession has recognized the importance of emphasizing written and oral communications skills in the accounting curriculum. Innovations in tech-nology have greatly enhanced educators ’ abilities to incorporate instruction in such skills. A survey of practitioners indicates strong agreement with the new writing requirements of the CPA exam. In addition, they endorse the use of information technology in preparing documents based on specific models and prescribed criteria. Key words: Accounting education, communication skills, accounting practitioners DOMINANT THEME of accounting curricular reform has been the need to improve graduates ’ writing skills. In 1986 the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) adopted the recommendations of a national committee (Ander-son, 1985) which, among other recommendations, mandated additional communications skills, and, in turn, the AICPA man-dated additional formal requirements as a criterion for member