The Development of a Management Accounting Framework for Small and Medium Enterprises Operating in Emerging Economies

Purpose: This paper proposes a management accounting framework for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) operating in developing countries. The development of the framework was motivated by the existing low uptake of management accounting and inconsistent use of Management Accounting Practices (MAPs) by SMEs, especially in emerging economies. The model framework advanced in this paper is meant to regularise and systematise the use of MAPs by SMEs. Methodology: The study adopted a qualitative research approach using semi-structured interviews. A total of thirteen focus group meetings, nineteen face-to-face in-depth interviews and twenty-one key informant interviews were conducted in five provinces in Zimbabwe. Data was analysed following a reflexive thematic analysis through content analysis using Atlas. ti. Findings: The paper proposed a six staged systematic implementation method that makes the application of MAPs less cumbersome and easy to implement. The framework can be applied to other similar contexts in the Global South. It is highly recommended that SMEs should apply management accounting as it use promotes competitive advantage and success for an entity. Originality/Value: The framework is envisaged to increase the usage of management accounting among SMEs as well as reducing inconsistencies in the application of MAPs among SMEs.