Volume 3 Issue 3 | 2026 | View PDF
Paper Id: IJMSM-V3I3P101
doi: 10.71141/30485037/V3I3P101

Role of Management Accounting Education in Developing Leadership Skills among Management Accounting Graduates of A Catholic Higher Education Institution

Gladys T. Tumbali, Katreen L. Alquiza, Marjorie M. Ballad, Elizah S. Mallillin, Michaela Jade S. Malvas

Citation:
Gladys T. Tumbali, Katreen L. Alquiza, Marjorie M. Ballad, Elizah S. Mallillin, Michaela Jade S. Malvas, "Role of Management Accounting Education in Developing Leadership Skills among Management Accounting Graduates of A Catholic Higher Education Institution" International Journal of Multidisciplinary on Science and Management, Vol. 3, No. 3, pp. 01-17, 2026.

Abstract:
Leadership in an organization has a critical role in an organization’s outcome and effectiveness. It is recognized as one of the key factors influencing job performance, motivation, and job satisfaction. In this study, the role of the Bachelor of Science in Management Accounting (BSMA) program was explored in developing leadership skills among its graduates. While existing literature affirms the importance of leadership competencies in management accounting, there remains a limited body of research specifically examining how academic programs within Catholic higher education institutions contribute to leadership development among management accounting graduates. A qualitative research design was employed, utilizing purposive sampling to select thirteen (13) BSMA graduates from batch 2018 to 2024 who held managerial positions or operated their own businesses for at least one year. Data were gathered through an online written interview using open-ended questions and analyzed through thematic analysis. Findings revealed five major themes, highlighting that the BSMA program provided a transformative and holistic learning experience that developed both technical and leadership competencies. Graduates identified experiential learning, collaborative activities, values formation, co-curricular engagements, and academic rigor as significant contributors to their leadership readiness, confidence, and professional adaptability. Thus, management accounting education plays a substantial role in cultivating foundational leadership competencies among graduates, while affirming that leadership development is a continuous, lifelong process that extends beyond formal academic instruction.

Keywords: Higher Education Institution, Leadership Development, Management Accounting Education.

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