TY - CHAP AB - Abstract The purpose of this study is twofold. The first purpose is to inform faculty who are thinking of becoming a department head about the challenges they face if they choose to pursue a department head opportunity. The second purpose is to provide insight into the leadership of the accounting departments by looking at various workload aspects of department heads. The authors surveyed accounting department heads from programs with the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accounting accreditation, AACSB business only accreditation, and non-AACSB accreditation. Surveys were sent to 918 individuals listed as the leader of an accounting program in the 2016–2017 Hasselback Accounting Directory with 144 individuals responding (15.7% response rate). In addition to the workload of the department head in the areas of teaching, research, and service, the study analyzed the major challenges and difficulties the department head faces. The study also sought responses from survey participants on additional issues such as the benefits of AACSB accreditation and compensation. VL - 23 SN - 978-1-78973-394-5, 978-1-78973-393-8/1085-4622 DO - 10.1108/S1085-462220190000023002 UR - https://doi.org/10.1108/S1085-462220190000023002 AU - Noland Thomas G. AU - Mauldin Shawn AU - Braun Robert L. ED - Thomas G. Calderon PY - 2019 Y1 - 2019/01/01 TI - Accounting Department Head: The Road Less Traveled T2 - Advances in Accounting Education: Teaching and Curriculum Innovations T3 - Advances in Accounting Education PB - Emerald Publishing Limited SP - 29 EP - 45 Y2 - 2024/09/19 ER -