engleski

Perspectives of the information technology use in accounting - implications of the COVID-19 pandemic

The continuous development of information technology and its application in accounting has provided new opportunities but also numerous challenges for accounting practice. It is possible to identify a wide variety of information technologies that have had a significant impact on accounting in the 21st century but also certain constraints that have slowed the integration of information technology into accounting. The COVID- 19 pandemic dictates new business conditions and models that create numerous changes in business operations where the use of information technology has become extremely important for the survival of businesses. The changed conditions did not bypass the accounting profession either which also had to adapt to the new circumstances. This paper aims to analyze whether the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the integration of information technology into accounting and the transition to 'Accounting 4.0'. Also, the paper reviews recent studies and analyzes challenges that accountants faced in a pandemic and the ways they have adapted to the changing environment. In this context, the paper analyzes various types of information technology that enabled accountants to become more efficient and effective with special emphasis on Cloud-based technology, Blockchain, and Artificial Intelligence. The paper also identifies the advantages and risks of information technology integration in accounting and future directions of integration. The fast development of information technologies creates a continuous need for accountants to acquire knowledge and skills related to new technologies. Therefore, skills that are expected of accountants concerning information technology are also highlighted in the paper. The current pandemic has had a severe impact on business operations and demonstrated the benefits of using information technology but not without certain risks. In this context, the implications for accounting and the accounting profession have also been investigated

technology ; the accounting profession ; IT skills ; COVID-19

nije evidentirano