2022/02/14 by Fernanda Leão, Delfina Gomes · 17 citations
Business, Management and Accounting · Psychology · #Accounting #Big Five personality traits #Business #Conscientiousness #Context (archaeology) #Extraversion and introversion #Job Satisfaction and Organizational Behavior #Originality #Personality #Personality Traits and Psychology #Psychology #Social psychology #Stereotype (UML) #Test (biology) #Value (mathematics) #Workaholism, burnout, and well-being
paper · pdf · doi:10.1108/aaaj-12-2019-4294
published in Accounting Auditing & Accountability Journal 35(9), 234-271 (Emerald Publishing Limited)
openalex publication_date 2022/02/14 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
Purpose In the context of Portugal, this study examines the stereotypes of accountants held by laypeople and how they are influenced by financial crises and accounting scandals. Design/methodology/approach To better understand the social images of accountants, the authors adopt a structural approach based on the big five model (BFM) of personality. The authors test this approach on a Portuguese community sample ( N = 727) using a questionnaire survey. The results are analyzed considering the socioanalytic theory. Findings The results suggest the existence of a stereotype dominated by features of conscientiousness, which is related to the superior performance of work tasks across job types. This feature comprises the core characteristics of the traditional accountant stereotype, which survives in a context challenged by financial scandals and crises. The findings highlight the social acceptance of accountants as an occupational group but do not suggest the possibility of accountants benefiting from the highest levels of social status when considered in relation to the traditional accountant stereotype. Originality/value By combining the BFM and the socioanalytic theory, this study provides a unique theoretical approach to better understand the social images of accountants. The findings demonstrate the suitability of using the BFM to study the social perceptions of accountants. They also indicate a paradox based on the survival of the traditional stereotype. This stereotype appears to be resistant to scandals and financial crisis, instead of being impaired, giving rise to another prototype with concerns about integrity.