Kroon, NanjaAlves, Maria do Céu2026-04-132026-04-132026-04Kroon N, Alves MG (2026;), "The influence of professional accounting organizations on the supply and demand of the accounting professional’s competencies: a Portuguese case study". Journal of Accounting & Organizational Change, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/JAOC-12-2024-04081839-5473http://hdl.handle.net/10400.19/9764The ability of accounting professionals to adapt to evolving competency demands is critical in the current business and financial landscape. Professional accounting organizations (PAOs) – here understood as formal bodies representing the accounting profession – play a central role in shaping this adaptation. This paper examines how PAOs perceive and influence the competencies of accounting professionals, based on the perspectives of three PAOs. An a priori conceptual framework was constructed from the literature and refined through an embedded case study of Portuguese PAOs. The analysis identified four main categories of activities through which PAOs influence the supply and the demand of accounting professional’s competencies: certification and regulation, professional development and training, standardization and oversight, and advocacy and representation. The refined conceptual framework clarifies how PAOs, through these activities, interact with higher education institutions (HEIs), regulators, and employers, and distinguishes between direct and indirect mechanisms of influence on both the supply and demand of competencies. The study contributes by operationalizing PAOs’ influence into interconnected categories that can be applied for comparative analysis across contexts. Practically, the framework enables PAOs to identify strengths and areas for improvement, while providing HEIs and policymakers with insights to bridge competency gaps. By highlighting the mechanisms through which PAOs shape professional competencies, the study underscores their constructive role in preparing accountants to remain relevant and create value in rapidly changing environments.engprofessional accounting organizations (PAOs)competenciesskillsconceptual frameworkcompetency supply and demandPortugalresearch articlehttps://doi.org/10.1108/JAOC-12-2024-0408