ABSTRACT
The job of management accountant in the U.S. emerged largely during the Industrial Revolution era. Today, this role is evolving from that of being a compiler and reporter of information to one of being a business partner helping to achieve companies’ strategy. Unfortunately, the majority of firms still have management accounting functions operating at a fairly simplistic level. In this chapter, we discuss the emergence of the management accountant in the U.S. from various historical, societal and economic perspectives and how this role has evolved over time. We then examine the typical profile and status of U.S. management accountants and the impact of professional associations, certification and education.
