Exploring Accounting as a Career Choice: A Qualitative Exploration of the Irish Perspective

Torwudzo, Mawuena (2024) Exploring Accounting as a Career Choice: A Qualitative Exploration of the Irish Perspective. Masters thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.

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Abstract

There has been a lot of work done in the area of career choice, however, mostly using quantitative methods to draw a connecting line between pre-determined variables and the choice of a career. This study explores the factors influencing the choice of accounting as a career using Ireland as the focal point for the investigation. With the Social Cognitive Career Theory as the theoretical underpinning, this study gathered data following the qualitative method with a semi-structured interview, sampling the opinions and perspectives of ten (10) post-graduate students living and studying in Ireland. The use of the qualitative method helped to provide extra context for the choices of respondents although time limitations impacted the number of respondents.

Using thematic analysis, this study set out to explore the impact of an individual’s perception of their self-efficacy, career outcome expectations and other external determinants on their choice of accounting as a career and discovered three(3) main themes of self-efficacy beliefs, socio-cultural determinants and job related determinants, within which sub-themes of identity, perception of personal strengths, mimetic pressure, familial pressure, career goals, prestige, salary, demand for accountants and opportunities for exposure were found as presented by table 1.0.

This study is positioned to add to literature on the subject of career development and for employers, encourage the development and implementation of measures to attract and retain motivated talent. For educators and career guidance professionals, findings from this study can help in matching students to careers that best fit them.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Supervisors:	Name Email Kelly, Peter UNSPECIFIED
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > Economics > Business > Accounting H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management > Human Resource Management > Careers D History General and Old World > DA Great Britain > Ireland
Divisions:	School of Business > Master of Science in Accounting
Depositing User:	Ciara O'Brien
Date Deposited:	18 Jun 2025 10:31
Last Modified:	18 Jun 2025 10:31
URI:	https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/7901

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