The Expectations and Readiness of Accountants in ASEAN Economic Community from the Perspective of Entrepreneurs in Songkhla Province.

Abstract

This research aims to study the expectations and readiness of accountants in Thailand in order to be a part of ASEAN Economic Community from the perspective of entrepreneurs and to compare the gap between the expectations of entrepreneurs and the readiness of accountants. questionnaires for this
study were collected from 310 entrepreneurs in Songkhla province of Thailand. The statistics used in the analysis include mean, percentage, standard deviation, pair sample t-test and One Way ANOVA. The research found that the expectations of entrepreneurs for the accountants’ skills in general were
considerably high. The most expected skills from entrepreneurs were responsibility and accountability. In overall readiness of the accountants for all skills are at a moderate level. The most skills of accountants were responsibility and accountability. The research also found that readiness of the accountants was less than the expectations of entrepreneurs. The most different skill between the expectations of entrepreneurs and readiness of the accountants was the use of ASEAN other languages. The results can be used as a guide line for educational institutions and agencies involved in the design and development of training accounting courses to understand needs of enterprises as well as to increase their capability to compete in the AEC