In March 2016, the Board of the Dutch Professional Accountants in Business (PAIB) section of the Royal Nederlandse Beroepsorganisatie van Accountants (NBA) launched a survey to gain better insight into this member group and their views on different aspects of being an accountant in business. The survey asked about their position in the organization, their connectedness, their motives for membership, and what they think the designation of “professional accountant” represents. Using the survey as a tool, the NBA wants to establish a vision for the member group and further improve the service and support to accountants in business.
No less than 1,023 Dutch professional accountants in business participated in the survey. Here are most important findings.
In general, the average Dutch PAIB was previously employed as a public accountant and is now employed in a financial management position at a listed company with over 250 employees. Topics of the most interest to survey respondents were developments in IT, innovation in business models, and trends in the specific branch of industry.
Other notable learnings from the survey are that PAIBs are particularly proud of their profession and the fact they are allowed to use the legally protected RA or AA designation (Dutch equivalent to Charted Accountant). To them, the designation is a sign of perseverance for accountants in business, as the accreditation process is hard and long, and is associated with authority and prestige. It serves as a guarantee for quality, which is essential in the accounting profession. Accountants in business also consider themselves to be very socially responsible: they feel a duty toward society to perform effectively in their job as accountants in business.
Because NBA membership ensures that accountants in business comply with a Code of Conduct and continuing professional development (CPD), survey respondents feel that NBA membership represents a high level of professional knowledge among accountants. The survey showed that accountants in business are generally satisfied with the services provided by the NBA.
These are only a few results of the survey; full results are available online.
For more information, please email aib@nba.nl. We would also love to receive your feedback on the survey results.
