CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study
Accounting is the art of recording, classifying and summarizing in a significant manner and in terms of money, transactions and events which are, in part at least, of financial character, and interpreting the results thereof. Accounting can also be referred to as an information system that measures, processes and communicates financial information about an economic entity. Advancements in information technology have dramatically improved accounting systems and transformed economic life. Computers and other digital technologies have increased office productivity facilitating the rapid exchange of documents, research, collaboration with far-flung partners and the collection and analysis of data. Information technology gave all sorts of individual economic actors the new valuable tools for identifying and pursuing economic and business opportunities. Information Technology (IT) deals with the application of computers and telecommunications equipment to store, retrieve, transmit and manipulate data. This may also be described as anything that renders data, information, or perceived knowledge in any visual format through any multimedia distribution mechanism.
Applying in the context of business, it is designed to help management in their stewardship function, support management in their day-today operations and decision making. In 1880, machines where invented to help in the accounting system. As year years passed by, advancements on information technology also transformed accounting systems and its processes. There were many developments in the Accounting Information System (AIS). This is designed to help in the management and control of activities related to the firms’ economic and financial area. Accounting system is essential for majority of the business entities. The advancements of technology have lead in the creation a computerized accounting system which is commonly adopted by business entities at present. This has created a competitive market. Thus, entities need to improve their systems in order to match their information needs for better decision making. An information system is a set of interrelated subsystems that work together to collect, process, and store, transform, and distribute information for planning, decisions making and control. The use of computer in information systems can improve the efficiency of information collection, processing, storing, transformation and distribution. Accounting information system (AIS) is a tool which was incorporated in the field of Information and Technology systems. It is very important for business entities. This is the one responsible in generating reliable financial information needed for decision making. There are many varying designs of the system for they must consider factors that influence the way in which information is gathered and reported. It will still depend on the anticipated users of the information and the types of decisions they are expected to make. The design of the system may also depend on the size of the firm, volume of transaction data, nature of operations, organizational structure and business form.