Can stakeholders be satisfied with Accountants' Education to act as advisors to Self-Managed Superannuation Funds

Abstract

This article investigates to what extent accountants are taught about self-managed superannuation funds (SMSF) in their Australian undergraduate accounting degrees and subsequent professional education programs. The article reports a survey of 138 academics teaching into Australian undergraduate accounting degrees. The results indicate that during their undergraduate accounting degrees, students are likely to be taught little about SMSFs. In a curriculum audit of their subsequent professional studies through professional bodies there is also minimal coverage of SMSFs. The evidence presented in this paper supports reforms to increase the educational requirements for accountants to give specialist advice in this area.