Abstract
In our case study of a Finnish bank, we found that the role identity of management accountants is becoming fluid, i.e., it is constantly adjusting to accommodate shifting role expectations and changing context-specific demands. Digitalization and information technology (with such tools as artificial intelligence and robotic process automation) are key drivers of change. Furthermore, banking is also a regulated field with an increasing amount of data to be interpreted. The combination of these rather different trends is challenging for management accountants as they strive to cope with multiple pressures. We explore the role identity of management accountants (called ‘controllers’ in our case), and we find varying and fluid roles, including the roles discussed in the existing accounting literature, including the traditional ‘bean counter’ role and the ‘business partner’ role, as well as new, typically IT-related, specialist roles. We suggest that their fluid role identity enables controllers in our case to cope with continuously evolving tasks, and with changing role expectations. In this context, controllers are increasingly working in agile teams with specialists with diverse educational backgrounds and expertise.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 101341 |
Number of pages | 15 |
Journal | The British Accounting Review |
Early online date | 2 Feb 2024 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 2 Feb 2024 |
Bibliographical note
Acknowledgments:The authors would like to thank the anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments. The authors are also grateful for comments on this project from a wide range of colleagues, including during visits to the Alliance Manchester Business School, and at the European Accounting Association over the years. The Finnish authors acknowledge the following research : OP Group Research Foundation grant number 201600095 in 2016; Foundation for Economic Education grant number 200123 in 2020; and Hannes Gebhard Fund grant in 2020.
Keywords
- Digitalization
- Role identity
- Banking
- Accounting change
- Management accounting
- Controllers