MILLENNIAL ACCOUNTING GRADUATE EMPLOYMENT EXPECTATIONS, CONSIDERATIONS, AND SATISFACTION AT PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRMS
Open Access
- Author:
- Oliverie, Jennifer Lynn
- Area of Honors:
- Accounting
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Orie Edwin Barron, Thesis Supervisor
Suzanne Wright, Thesis Honors Advisor - Keywords:
- Millennials
Employment Satisfaction
Public Accounting
Accounting - Abstract:
- Millennials will soon make up the majority of the workforce in the United States. Therefore, it is important for companies to understand their employment preferences in order to attract and retain this generation to the workplace. The Millennial generation is especially important to public accounting firms because firms rely on talent in order to provide high-quality services to clients. This study analyzes Millennial accounting graduate’s employment preferences in order to determine what attracts and retains this generation to the field of public accounting and a particular firm, as well as what drives them to leave. Survey results indicate that a firm’s social culture, including its people, is the most important consideration employed by Millennials in the decision to join a particular firm. Additionally, enjoying the people one works with was the most commonly identified reason to stay at a firm and to join a firm after completing an internship. The survey also finds that Millennials are thinking long-term about their careers and place higher value on opportunities for career growth than on items of immediate satisfaction, such as high compensation. In addition, the study finds the most commonly identified reason to move between firms within public accounting is a lack of loyalty to the initial firm and its future vision. If firms are able to join a dynamic social culture with strong mentoring and opportunities for growth, they could likely increase firm loyalty and prevent some Millennials from moving between firms. Lastly, the study finds there may be differences between older and younger millennials that could indicate a need for further research in order to update our understanding of Millennials.