Racial biases in recruitment by accounting firms: the case of international Chinese applicants in Australia

Article

James, Kieran and Otsuka, Setsuo. 2009. "Racial biases in recruitment by accounting firms: the case of international Chinese applicants in Australia." Critical Perspectives on Accounting. 20 (4), pp. 469-491. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpa.2008.02.005
Article Title

Racial biases in recruitment by accounting firms: the case of international Chinese applicants in Australia

ERA Journal ID19083
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsJames, Kieran (Author) and Otsuka, Setsuo (Author)
Journal TitleCritical Perspectives on Accounting
Journal Citation20 (4), pp. 469-491
Number of Pages23
Year2009
Place of PublicationAmsterdam, Netherlands
ISSN1045-2354
1095-9955
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpa.2008.02.005
Abstract

This paper documents the difficulties in finding accounting work faced by international Chinese accounting graduates in Australia in the two years after graduation. We argue that Chinese accounting graduates remain a marginalised group within today’s Australian society. The interview results support this assertion, with even high-achieving Chinese graduates finding it difficult to obtain work with mainstream accounting firms and corporations. The main reasons appear to be their lack of Australian working experience, lack of knowledge of Australian culture, and lack of 'Australian English'.
Australian accounting firms, due to a revealed preference to hire white Australian graduates, appear to be missing out on a vast reservoir of Chinese talent. Chinese accounting graduates speak two or three languages and have established business networks in China or at the very least insider knowledge of how that country’s business culture operates. Whilst their sub-cultural capital may be lower on average than white graduates on some conventional measures, it is higher in those areas of bilingual capability and cross-cultural knowledge which are becoming of increasing importance to Australian business.

KeywordsAlthusserian theory; Chinese-Australian history; Chinese graduates; employment prospects; reserve army; selection; socialisation; underclass
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020350199. Accounting, auditing and accountability not elsewhere classified
449999. Other human society not elsewhere classified
441013. Sociology of migration, ethnicity and multiculturalism
Public Notes

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Byline AffiliationsSchool of Accounting, Economics and Finance
Charles Sturt University
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