The Effects of Technology on the Accounting Profession Paper

The Effects of Technology on the Accounting Profession Paper

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ACC/340

Instructor: Deborah McKinsey

Week 5

October 14, 2013

The Effects of Technology on the Accounting Profession Paper

The earliest evidence of documented accounting was found by a group of archaeologists who found clay tablets from Egypt and Mesopotamia and are claimed to date around 2000 to 3300 B.C (Bellis, n.d.). The archaeologists believe the clay tablets were created as records for tax accounting purposes (Bellis, n.d.). More recently, technology is supporting accounting by means of information systems. Consequently, information systems are changing various aspects of the accounting profession. This paper will discuss how information systems are changing the various aspects of the accounting profession. The paper will also include a description of a variety of new technologies and their effects on accounting processes. Last, this paper will discuss how these technologies have changed the way accounting is performed with my employer – Sprint.

According to Agnes Pepe (2011), technology advancements have enhanced the accountant's ability to interpret data efficiently and effectively. In previous ages, an accountant would file complex calculations in a physical file cabinet to be visited later, if needed in later business. Nowadays, technology and information systems act as a liaison database to house an archive of mathematical solutions for later use. In a previous time of life, an accountant would need adding machines, calculators, ledgers, and pencils, as needed materials to be an effective accountant. Nowadays, the only needed martial is a computer with Microsoft Excel. Arguably, Microsoft Excel is single most claimed information system that has changed many accounting process needed to manage finances in business. Microsoft Excel has revolutionized accounting processed because the system's ease of use, visibility into organizational fiscal health, and the system improves productivity and profitability ("Microsoft Dynamics Community", 2012). When an account stores data by employing information systems, the accountant can stay better organize, save time, and money.

As previously mentioned, there are a variety of new technologies that have impacted accounting processes. Presently, the most notable manufacturers in information systems for accounting are changing the user interface for ease of use. QuickBooks revolutionized the user interface in the 1990s by having its screens look like accounting forms ("Accountants Accelerator", 2013). At the time, it was pure genius.