Does public services accounting belong in the curriculum?

What is it about?

This paper analyses teaching on public and not-for-profit sectors within undergraduate accounting courses in New Zealand. Using a survey of educators, document reviews and semi-structured interviews, it finds there is an emphasis on for-profit entities. It offers a contemporary analysis of the focus of teaching in New Zealand at a time when accounting standards and auditing regulation is changing.

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Why is it important?

Contextually-appropriate accounting is required for public services as transactions are complex and ambiguous, have a long-term focus, and often a regulatory role is involved. Yet, profit-oriented financial accounting education in New Zealand crowds out the teaching of public services content. This paper highlights the dangers of a crowded curriculum.

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