TY - JOUR

T1 - Do We Need to Use an Accountant? The Sales Growth and Survival Benefits to Family SMEs

AU - Barbera, Francesco

AU - Hasso, Tim

PY - 2013/9

Y1 - 2013/9

N2 - This article explores the relationship between the usage of an external accountant and family firm sales growth and survival. Using a longitudinal panel of Australian small and medium sized family enterprises, we find that external accountants have a positive impact on sales growth and survival. We also find that the degree to which the accountant is acquainted with the family and the firm's needs, which we term as embeddedness, moderates these positive outcomes. Furthermore, we find that appropriate strategic planning processes are necessary to maximize the sales growth benefit; however, these processes are not necessary to gain the survival benefit. © The Author(s) 2013.

AB - This article explores the relationship between the usage of an external accountant and family firm sales growth and survival. Using a longitudinal panel of Australian small and medium sized family enterprises, we find that external accountants have a positive impact on sales growth and survival. We also find that the degree to which the accountant is acquainted with the family and the firm's needs, which we term as embeddedness, moderates these positive outcomes. Furthermore, we find that appropriate strategic planning processes are necessary to maximize the sales growth benefit; however, these processes are not necessary to gain the survival benefit. © The Author(s) 2013.

KW - Management studies

KW - accountant

KW - advisor

KW - family firm

KW - sales growth

KW - survival

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84881606044&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/04f05033-ab01-3ef5-acab-bb4ecdd3517a/

U2 - 10.1177/0894486513487198

DO - 10.1177/0894486513487198

M3 - Journal articles

AN - SCOPUS:84881606044

VL - 26

SP - 271

EP - 292

JO - Family Business Review

JF - Family Business Review

SN - 0894-4865

IS - 3

ER -