Unpacking Turnover in Public Accounting

Study finds job embeddedness, not engagement, drives retention.

Know-How Korner
With Donny Shimamoto
Center for Accounting Transformation

A new study by Dr. Amy Cooper, CPA, CFE, CGMA, an assistant accounting professor and program director at University of Alaska Fairbanks, challenges conventional wisdom, revealing that job embeddedness—not engagement—is the key to keeping accountants in public firms. 

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“I assumed smaller firms would foster stronger embeddedness, but my research showed the opposite,” says Dr. Cooper. “Larger firms offer more career mobility, specialization, and structured support, which increase long-term commitment.” 

While job engagement—enthusiasm for daily tasks—seems important, it did not significantly predict turnover intentions. Instead, employees with deeper professional and community ties were less likely to leave.