AN EXAMINATION OF UNITED STATES CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS’ NEED FOR IFRS-RELATED CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION

Adena T. LeJeune
Louisiana College
ABSTRACT
As the accounting profession in the United States prepares for a possible transition to
International Financial Reporting Standards, an opportunity exists to examine the concepts of
agency theory and the sociology of professions during a time of change. If the accounting
profession exerts control over members in the ways predicted by the literature, distinct continuing
professional education preferences will be noted among peer groups within the profession.
Members of the Louisiana Society of Certified Public Accountants’ (CPAs) were invited to
participate in a survey; 436 members responded. Significant differences in need for one or more
topics were revealed based on prior International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) training
and experience, size of employer, and years of experience. The finding of differences in continuing
professional education needs among the subgroups provides evidence of the control the profession
exert over its members and the use of CPE as a mean for a profession to exert control.