The widening shortage of accountants has begun showing up in financial statements. Companies such as car-parts provider Advance Auto Parts, electric-air-taxi firm Joby Aviation and German biotech company Evotec in recent months have disclosed efforts to address material weaknesses due at least in part to a lack of accounting staff.
“You need highly skilled people to be able to know that what we’re doing here is still going to be secure and someone can’t come in and manipulate that part of the operation,” said Ben Foster, Professor of Accounting.