Regulatory compliance of financial control systems and its implications for accountants: some evidence from Italian experience

The research examines the compliance of firms with laws and rules concerning accounting information and financial control systems. In par-ticular it investigates the role of accountants and the skills they employ during the adoption of laws and regulations (regulatory compliance). In the preliminary step, the research suggests a reviewed concept of regulatory compliance: it is based on the idea that firms must consider compliance as a strategic opportunity, able to activate key changes in accounting proce-dures, information tools, organizational roles, control mechanisms. In the following step the research examines how the revised vision of regulatory compliance affects accounting positions, accountants’ role and their skills. Using data collected on a sample of Italian accountants, an empirical research provides some evidences on key skills and competen-cies requested for an effective regulatory compliance.