Succeeding in managerial accounting. Part 1: knowledge, ability, and rank

Using data on 2941 practicing managerial accountants, we explore rank-based differences in measured ability, and technical, industry, and tacit manage rial knowledge. Our data indicate that concomitant with increases in rank a re: (1) decreasing levels of, and increasing variability in, measured entry -level technical knowledge, (2) increasing measured levels of, and generall y decreasing variability in, industry knowledge, (3) increasing levels of, and non-monotonic changes in the variability in, measured tacit managerial knowledge, and (4) no differences in levels of, or variability in, measured ability. Ours is the first large-sample exploration of rank-based differen ces in the knowledge "stocks" of managerial accountants. Study results prov ide insight into knowledge acquisition processes and the matching of knowle dge to jobs across ranks in managerial accounting. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scienc e Ltd. All rights reserved.