ABSTRACT
The focus of the accounting profession in any country is shaped by the various social, political and economic pressures that impact on the accounting needs of the jurisdiction (Wallace 1989, 1). An appreciation of the state of development of the accounting profession in a country is therefore enhanced by trying to understand the dynamics of these pressures and how they impact on the country’s accounting needs and by extension, the accounting profession. In the case of Nigeria, for instance, the various forces that have often competed for infl uence in shaping the focus of the accounting profession include: the country’s colonial history, its level of economic development and the accounting needs of the multinational business enterprises and the interests of government and local businesses.
