22708 Accounting Information Systems

Subject level: Postgraduate

Handbook description

This subject provides students with a broad knowledge of the fundamentals of accounting data management, accounting for e-business, IT project management, AIS-assurance, information integration, and modelling of business processes. It introduces examples of standard and modified-canned accounting information systems for SMEs and large enterprises (ERP-software). Models and software tools are used in order to plan and simulate the process of the transformation of real-world complexity into accounting figures and in order to highlight the interdependencies between different business functions.

Subject objectives/outcomes

On successful completion of this subject students should be able to:

1. Understand and communicate basic accounting concepts and techniques and to appreciate the role of accounting in today's business;
2. Understand and explain the interdependencies between IT/IS and accounting;
3. Understand the role, the elements and the controls in accounting cycles from the internal and external perspective and communicate problems and solutions in accounting;
4. Perform accounting transactions using selected AIS-packages;
5. Analyse accounting data using mainstream analysis tools and present the results of the analysis; and
6. Understand and explain the specifics of accounting in the context of integrated enterprise systems.

Contribution to graduate profile

In today's complex business environments, the quality of information management and information systems has become a key factor of success. Information management is a cross-functional issue: Different business functions provide and use specific or general information, information technology departments basically maintain the information infrastructure, accounting – above all management accounting – is primarily concerned with the provision of high-quality information on all business processes for internal and external information customers, or, in other words: accounting is business information integration based on a conceptual and technical information infrastructure.

Today's managers have to understand both the basic accounting concepts and the impact of information technology on accounting. Accountants have to become aware of their role as 'information managers'. Accountants nowadays often have to have substantial skills in information technology, information systems, business modelling, IT project management, and also e-business (ICAEW 1998). The professional use of information systems is a major portion of the working life of a graduate accountant and also manager.

This subject can be regarded as an essential part of a postgraduate program in business: it provides an integrated view on accounting information management and related business processes in companies, it provides students with a broad knowledge of the fundamentals of accounting data management, information integration, and modelling of business processes, and it introduces examples of standard and modified-canned accounting information systems for SMEs and large enterprises (ERP-software).

Teaching and learning strategies

The material for this subject will be presented in mixed lecture/seminar mode, i.e. depending on the topics covered, some classes well have a stronger 'lecture'-character, whereas others will be predominately workshops/seminars.

Issues in accounting information systems are best learned through hands-on experience. As such, students are expected to participate actively in class and complete the regular in-class exercises. The focus of the student learning process will be in the seminars where students will experience practical exercises, discussion of important concepts and hands-on experience with mainstream accounting software. The lectures will support these seminars by providing the theoretical background to the material and demonstrating practical applications of the theory.

Outside class, students can use the ITD-labs located at level 1 of building 5 to practise MYOB and MS Excel and to complete the individual assignments.

Content

• Introduction to Accounting from the Systems Perspective
• Transactional Accounting Systems:
• Managing the Purchase to Pay Process
• Managing the Order to Cash Process
• End of the Period Transactions and Financial Reporting
• AIS and Control
• Management Accounting:
• Software Applications used in Management Accounting
• Management Reporting with MS Excel
• Planning and Decision Models for Management Accounting (using MS Excel
• Accounting with Enterprise Systems
• Management Accounting, Business Intelligence and Corporate Performance Management

Assessment

Recommended text(s)

Ossimitz, Maria-Luise (2007), Lecture Notes for 22708 AIS

Pazmandy, G. (2006), MYOB Version 15 - A Practical Guide to Computer Accounting, Tekniks Publications

Indicative references

Amor, D. (2000): The B-Business (R)Evolution. Hewlett-Packard Company.

Boockholdt, J.L. (1998). Accounting Information Systems: Transactions Processing and Controls. 5th edition. Richard Irwin.

Green, P. F., Buckby, S. (1995). IT Knowledge and the Accounting Graduate: An Investigation into the IT knowledge requirements of accounting and finance graduates in Australia. Melbourne: Australian Society of Certified Practicing Accountants.

Greenstein, M.; Feinmann, T.M. (2000). Electronic Commerce – Security, Risk Management and Control. Irwin.

Hall, J.A. (2001). Accounting Information Systems, 3rd edition, South-Western Collage Publishing, Ohio.

McCarthy, W. (2000). Inter-Enterprise REA Models. ECAIS 2000, Munich, Germany.

Wilkinson, J.W., Cerullo, M.J., and Raval, V. (1999). Accounting Information Systems: Essential Concepts and Applications. 4th edition. John Wiley and Sons.