It is a growing trend in companies that young accountants are being promoted earlier to management roles with the average age of junior managers sitting at 25, according to a survey by the Institute of Chartered Accountants. This compares to the situation 5 years ago, when it is estimated that management positions were usually open to people from their mid 30s onwards.

The shortage of accountants seems to be a factor putting pressure on companies to nurture their best young performers, or risk having them leave. The large chartered firms indicate slightly higher than industry average ages, with Ernst and Young estimating that most of their managers reach their first position about 5 years after joining as graduates, and after they have mastered their technical discipline.

Sufficient training and maturity to handle sometimes tough management decisions is needed in many of these roles, according to a Melbourne management consultancy, Humark Solutions. Accountants in management are seen to be at a particular disadvantage when they first become managers, as some who are attracted to accounting in the first place can often lack the more sensitive interpersonal skills. The appointment of mentors to coach young managers in the early days is seen to be one way to address the problem.

Summary of article by Bruce Andrews from Business Review Weekly, November 17-23, 2005, p.68.