...IMPACT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ON THE ACCOUNTING PROFESSION IN NIGERIA By: Idongesit Efiong Utah ABSTRACT This research focuses on assessing the impact of information technology on the Nigerian Accounting profession by examining four areas: Impact on the public and private sector, the challenges and reaction to the challenges posed by information technological innovation and information technologies enhancing effect on the Accounting profession. INTRODUCTION It is evident that we are in information driven age where information technology is a driving tool in the public and private sectors. The replacement of mainframe computers with personal computers which were affordable to most users has ushered us into an era of proliferation of information, speed of assess to and ability to disseminate information. The information technology revolution has brought about a drastic change in the business environment, its structure and the business process. Information technology has become a strategic tool that drives the strategic initiatives of organizations and businesses. Manual processes have been replaced with automated processes, routine bookkeeping and recording of financial information is being done electronically, and the ease and speed of transacting business has greatly increases. The accountant as a major player in the public and private sectors cannot afford to be left out. To function properly and competently the accountant must take the changes brought about by information...
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...The Effects of Technology on the Accounting Profession Robin Bragg ACC/340 July 27, 2015 Professor Samuel Smith The Effects of Technology on the Accounting Profession Once we become accountants, we will know it means that accounting is the language of the business. Through the years with all the changes made in technology for accountants, it has become easier. Technology has improved the bookkeeper’s qualification to clarify the information professionally and successfully. We now can clarify the language of the company that the bookkeeper is the most reliable. Bookkeeping changes through the years When bookkeeping first started with the creation of the abacus to follow the estimations in business the accounting started. They started with an adding machine that helped accountants with mathematical solutions. We came up with the calculator for information accuracy that helped add the big numbers ("The Evolution Of Technology For The Accounting Profession ", 2011). With all the new gadgets to help them calculate the figures they still needed to keep track of the financial information on paper. Twentieth Century At the end of the century came computers and accounting software that changed everything. Pencils, calculators, and ledgers were eliminated with the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet program ("How To Use Microsoft Excel For Accounting", n.d.). With the processor, a bookkeeper can complete mathematical accounting or planning study with more competence...
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...The Effects of Technology on the Accounting Profession Paper Amy Everett ACC/210 December 7, 2015 The Effects of Technology on the Accounting Profession Paper The accounting profession has seen many changes with the advancements of technology and has given accountants with various tools. Examples of these tools include computer-integrated manufacturing, image processing, communications technology, the Internet, and software systems. These examples are a few of the many tools provided by technology and whose purpose is to provide more detailed and accurate information in a timely manner. Advancing technology allows companies to maintain more accurate financial records which are available at the touch of a key. While the advancements have benefited companies everywhere, it also creates new challenges for the accounting profession. Corporate Tax Network (2013) believes that the concept of the spreadsheet has allowed accountants to quickly make calculations with formulas, perform forecasting analysis, and create visualizations that show what the client’s finances and tax requirements from the past, present, and into the future look like. Computers, scanners, faxes, and printers have had a positive impact on the accounting profession. The software that is available makes efficient work of the figures that are reported and provides more accuracy as the calculations are done automatically. With the use of accounting software, the accountant can interpret the financial data...
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...The impact of technology on the public accounting profession By Ricardo Ruiz Bentancourt IC Member | Represents Latin America To ask oneself what impact technology has on the public accountant’s work is redundant. And the reason for this is that the development of technology has been inherent to human progress and it has affected practically all aspects of life; the accounting profession not having escaped this influence. However, if this question were to have been asked merely thirty years ago, the answer would not have been so obvious. In my opinion, the change that has had the greatest impact on this profession is, without doubt, the electronic worksheet. “Visicalc, the first worksheet would take some 20 hours of work per week for an accountant and has now been reduced to 15 minutes, allowing accountants to be more creative”1. When I first used this worksheet back in 1986, I immediately sensed the effect that it would have in my work. In particular, I had that same sensation when another important moment for my practice came about which was the wide-spread use of personal computers - the PCs. At that time, a computer was assigned to me at my job and with it, I was able to perform a series of analyses that complemented the reports issued at that time by an AS 400 from IBM. I even became an expert in Lotus 123 and was given the opportunity to give courses on this program. But this was not only a change at a personal level. Agnes Ann Pepe pointed out...
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...THE EFFECTS OF TECHNOLOGY ON THE ACCOUNTING PROFESSION PAPER JEANETTE SANDERS XACC/210 JUNE 8, 2014 RICHARD VINCENT Abstract THE EFFECTS OF TECHNOLOGY ON THE ACCOUNTING PROFESSION PAPER Thirty years age most financing accounting was done by hand, which indeed left a long paper trail. “Currently, most accounting information is recorded via computers and wide area networks (Journal of Accountancy, 1994). Technology has changed the face of accounting over the last fifty years. It is unclear whether technology’s has an impact on accounting which can be interpret as being positive and negative. It is clear that technology has changed the accounting period. Some of the impacts of technology are either positive or negative which are simply changes, The impacts of technology on accounting field has been positive, negative and neutral, but the impact results cause an demand on the profession to confirm ti the changes but sudden results ti cause a huge demand the profession to conform to the changes. The advantage of technology is the various tools that it has provided. One example would be computer-integrated manufacturing, communications technology, Image processing and the Internet. An example of the many tools of technology whose purpose is to provide detailed and correct information in a short period of time. The advantage of technology is computer-integrated manufacturing technology. Computer –integrated manufacturing has a significant and positive...
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...The Effects of Technology on the Accounting Profession Eliot Sherman ACC/340 June 11, 2015 Michael Raponi According to Accounting Web, the next decade will see industries transition to a Cloud-enabled world where work can be accomplished anywhere, anytime. This will especially be true of the accounting profession, according to Intuit, as such tools as Cloud-connected smartphones and tablets will enable firms to provide clients with an "accountant in their pocket" at all times. In the modern age, technology is constantly evolving and this has an effect on every profession, especially accounting. Processes and procedures are becoming less manual and more automated. Accounting begun being all written and having hard copies as the only backup. Systems are becoming more advanced and powerful which allows them to aggregate large amounts of data. As time went on, new software and hardware allow calculations to occur more quickly and allow backup to be more readily accessible. As well, with accounting constantly changing, the standards and regulation overseeing the profession were as well. As well, a lot of companies in the early 2000s when the technology bubble was building, companies such as Enron and WorldCom tried to take advantage of lax audit rules and committed extensive fraud. This constantly requires technology to change to allow for it to be in line with what is required, specifically in relation to audits and GAAP. In this digital age, technology adapts and improves...
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...Technologies and the accounting profession Jamie Lee XACC/210 May 18, 2014 Carla White Technologies and the accounting profession Technology is changing at a constant pace. Within people’s lives, it has become the norm to have the newest and greatest in technology and everything it has to offer. The same goes for companies and the technology that they have. One of the differences is that those companies need to have the newest and greatest when it comes to technology. Their business depends upon it. If they do not have that technology, then the company is at a risk for not functioning at their utmost best, and could possible suffer or shut down. Accounting professions are not new to the advancements of technology either. In fact, they are probably more affected by the new ways of technology. Just as mentioned before, it a business does not keep up with the advancing technology, then their future is not bright. With accounting, many of the same effects this profession. If they do not keep up with the changing times, their methods become outdated and slow. We can go back to when the abacus was invented. It kept track of calculations in the business. Then the calculator was invented. This allowed for more accuracy with the number (Pepe, 2001). However, accountants still had to keep track of the business’s functions on paper. The process of measuring, identifying, and communicating financial information was documented by paper records (Pepe, 2011). Then towards the...
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...1. Introduction “The only constant is change”, as Heraclitus points out (Brainyquote.com). There is no doubt that the world has changed over time physically, economically, and culturally. As the world has evolved, so has business, and as business has evolved so has auditing. The concept of auditing is as old as civilization. The need for a knowledgeable, external, third person to verify transactions or accounts and detect fraud has been present since the advent of trade and accounting. Thus the goal of auditing, in this sense, has not changed since. Teck-Heang Lee observed that “auditing serves as a mechanism to monitor conduct and performance, and to secure and enforce accountability (Lee 2008). All in all, an audit function plays a crucial role in maintain welfare and stability in society.” However, what has changed is how the roles and responsibilities of auditors have changed to reflect the needs of the business environment of the time. As such, auditors and the auditing profession have always played a very important role in business and, more recently, in society in general. As business in today’s world becomes more dynamic, accounting (and therefore by extension auditing) must also evolve to become more dynamic. The evolution of auditing is a complicated history that has always been changing through historical events. This can be seen in the shift in the role of external auditors from a cyclical audit approach to now more of a top-down risk-based continuous audit. The...
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...EFFECTS OF COMPUTER ON THE ACCOUNTING PROFESSION NAMES MAT NO: OTOMEWO DANIEL WILLIAMS 6050 EKHATOR OSAYUWAMEN PRECIOUS 6951 ONI JOY ADELEMON 7029 EGBE PRINCE ISAIAH 7114 ODIASE PRECIOUS IYOBOSA 7033 EKUASE AUSTINE OSAMUDIAMEN 7031 ABSTRACT The aim of this study is the effect technology on accounting profession. The results of this study shows that technology causes decrease in book keeping. Also, it causes increase accuracy in accounting process, to shorten the time of providing reports, to decrease cost of gathering information, to improve reports in management accounting and to provide a background for executing techniques of costing. Technology has affected accounting profession in a great extent, in the sense that they need to acquire new skills like as applied software’s of accounting, excel and access. Also as it reduces book keeping and saving time, an accountants participation need to increase in the processes, planning, analyzing management. Therefore, it can stated that if the use of technology applied effective, it will be provide a better background for improving accounting profession and role-creating more suitable accountants in organizations. TABLE OF CONTENT INTRODUCTION BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY Technology over the last few decades has drastically changed the face of the accounting profession. For accountants, new technology is always trying to figure...
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...Effects of Technology on the Accounting Profession Businesses have become more competitive, consumers are more informed, and technology has changed the way the world communicates. Information technology (IT) and the resulting ‘information age’ are continuously impacting every facet of accounting. (Bagranoff, Simkin, & Strand-Norman, 2006) This paper will examine how accounting information systems (AIS) are bringing about changes within the accounting profession. Additionally, a variety of technologies and how they affect accounting practices at Exclusively Yours Salon will be discussed. Accounting Information Systems and the Accounting Profession Today’s business environment is marked by increased competition and the need for better and faster information for decision making. According to Bagranoff, Simkin, and Strand-Norman, 2006: Because IT now captures transactions, AISs can produce financial statements almost in real time. Of course, some of the adjustments that accountants must make to the records are not done minute-by-minute, but a business can certainly track sales and many of its expenses continually. (p. 15) Additionally, large amounts of accounting records are increasingly presented only in an electronic fashion. Companies are reporting their financial outcome quarterly and an increasing number of companies are transferring their financial records to a public network. (Shafer, 1998) For several reasons, companies are facing growing competition. In order to remain...
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...Development Challenges Faced by Accounting Profession ACCT 5100 Professional Development Challenges Faced by Accounting Profession Introduction Accounting has evolved, like many other professions, over time and is playing an increasingly significant role in today’s business environment. The key accounting practices are still identify, measure and communicate the economic condition of an entity with both inside and outside stakeholders. Accounting professionals have widened their attention beyond technical skills to incorporate social implications over the past several decades. Over the past few years, the whole world witnessed the impact of modern advances in information technology, globalization, and many other factors, all of which increased the public awareness of changes in global business environment and also brought many challenges to this profession. In response to these difficulties, modern accountants must develop a broader range of knowledge and skills to better perform their financial responsibilities. This paper examines several key challenges concerning the profession: 1) independence, 2) globalization and IFRS, 3) knowledge and skills gap. Challenges faced by accounting profession Independence and objectivity Independence is not a new issue faced by accountants; however, it has been and always will be one of the biggest challenges faced by this profession. Accounting to the research done by Beverley, Barry...
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...How Technology is Changing Accounting Accounting 525 Melissa Holland-Mitchell December 20, 2014 Professor Jones K. Kasonso Computer technology is always changing, so fast that many companies will simply update their current computer system continuously. Technology and the computer are a part of our lives; it helps managers make decisions to improve business operations, allows for faster transfer of information, and is simply a basic necessity to do business in many professions including accounting. There are technological trends that will have a tremendous impact on the accounting profession: cyber security, cloud, mobile devices, and big data. The Cloud and mobile technology available today is transforming the job of the tax and accounting professionals (Proformative.com, 2012). Where technology used to be behind the scenes at the office, its use is increasingly extended beyond internal use and out to the client. Mobile accountants work remotely between 5.8 to 8.6 hours per week. By 2015 the number of mobile workers is in North America and Latin America is to exceed 212 million (Proformative.com, 2012). More accountants are using smart phones for work; mobile access allows firms to connect with clients outside of regular business hours, and other locations. Smartphone’s are quickly being adopted by the accounting professional, many still think of the Smartphone as just a mobile phone with additional features such as texting and music player. However with the...
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...Effects of Technology on the Accounting Profession University of Phoenix ACC/340 Accounting Information Systems Effects of Technology on the Accounting Profession Businesses have become more competitive, consumers are more informed, and technology has changed the way the world communicates. Information technology (IT) and the resulting ‘information age’ are continuously impacting every facet of accounting. (Bagranoff, Simkin, & Strand-Norman, 2006) This paper will examine how accounting information systems (AIS) are bringing about changes within the accounting profession. Additionally, a variety of technologies and how they affect accounting practices at Exclusively Yours Salon will be discussed. Accounting Information Systems and the Accounting Profession Today’s business environment is marked by increased competition and the need for better and faster information for decision making. According to Bagranoff, Simkin, and Strand-Norman, 2006: Because IT now captures transactions, AISs can produce financial statements almost in real time. Of course, some of the adjustments that accountants must make to the records are not done minute-by-minute, but a business can certainly track sales and many of its expenses continually. (p. 15) Additionally, large amounts of accounting records are increasingly presented only in an electronic fashion. Companies are reporting their financial outcome quarterly and an increasing number of companies are transferring their financial...
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...(2011), everyone understands that accounting is the mode of communication in business. It is the channel through which investors and businessmen get to understand whether their investments are worth it or not. It helps in giving the value of an investment at any given time. The contemporary accounting practice and methods are quite diverse. However, they have not been so since the beginning. According to Waweru (2010), there are numerous changes that have marked the evolution of accounting. This research paper seeks to look into the accounting evolution process. Reese and Janes (2012) indicate that accounting has changes both in terms of accounting theories, as well as application of technology in accounting. Therefore, when looking at the history and evolution of accounting, it is imperative to look at the changes that have occurred. These changes are both in theory, and the application of technology in accounting. It is also worth looking at the various accounting theories that have come up. These have to be related to the changes in technology, higher literacy levels, and more complex business operations which call for the review of accounting practices. The need to protect the interest of the public is also a chief reason why changes in the accounting practice needed to occur. This essay looks at the changes both in practice and application of technology. Evolution in Theory and Practice According to Alexander (2002) observes that accounting in the ancient times was propagated...
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...Development Challenges Faced by Accounting Profession ACCT 5100 Professional Development Challenges Faced by Accounting Profession Introduction Accounting has evolved, like many other professions, over time and is playing an increasingly significant role in today’s business environment. The key accounting practices are still identify, measure and communicate the economic condition of an entity with both inside and outside stakeholders. Accounting professionals have widened their attention beyond technical skills to incorporate social implications over the past several decades. Over the past few years, the whole world witnessed the impact of modern advances in information technology, globalization, and many other factors, all of which increased the public awareness of changes in global business environment and also brought many challenges to this profession. In response to these difficulties, modern accountants must develop a broader range of knowledge and skills to better perform their financial responsibilities. This paper examines several key challenges concerning the profession: 1) independence, 2) globalization and IFRS, 3) knowledge and skills gap. Challenges faced by accounting profession Independence and objectivity Independence is not a new issue faced by accountants; however, it has been and always will be one of the biggest challenges faced by this profession. Accounting to the research done by Beverley, Barry...
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