全部 标题 作者
关键词 摘要

OALib Journal期刊
ISSN: 2333-9721
费用:99美元

查看量下载量

相关文章

更多...

Does Automation of the Accounting Profession Affect Employability? An Exploratory Research from Lebanon

DOI: 10.4236/ojbm.2020.81011, PP. 175-193

Keywords: Automation, Accountancy, Unemployment, Lebanon

Full-Text   Cite this paper   Add to My Lib

Abstract:

Technology advancement and automation of job functions will impact negatively numerous job categories, among these are accounting jobs. This paper aims to qualitatively assess the impact of automation of the profession of accounting on employability by conducting a qualitative research using semi-structured interviews with a convenient sample of Lebanese employees, employers, instructors and students who were willing to participate and offer their insights. For that purpose, a literature review is first conducted to build the theoretical platform followed by pinpointing what researchers have contended about the impact of automation. Findings of this research suggest that respondents were aware of the fact that specific accounting jobs will disappear though new jobs may substitute the aforementioned specially jobs that necessitate skills such as critical thinking and consultancy. Findings, as simple as these are, are used as initial indicators to shed light on the impact of automation on Lebanese management and policy makers in private and public institutions as well as universities. Other researchers may benefit by conducting more in depth qualitative and/or quantitative analysis to generalize the outcomes.

References

[1]  Pasinetti, L. (1981) Structural Change and Economic Growth: A Theoretical Essay on the Dynamics of the Wealth of Nations. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
[2]  Saviotti, P.P. and Pyka, A. (2004) Economic Development, Qualitative Change and Employment Creation. Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, 15, 265-287.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.strueco.2004.02.003
[3]  Saviotti, P.P. and Pyka, A. (2008) Product Variety, Competition and Economic Growth. Journal of Evolutionary Economics, 18, 323-347.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00191-008-0097-5
[4]  McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) (2017) MGI Jobs Lost Jobs Gained Report.
https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/mckinsey/featured%20insights/future%20of %20organizations/what%20the%20future%20of%20work%20will%20mean%20for%20 jobs%20skills%20and%20wages/mgi-jobs-lost-jobs-gained-report-december-6-2017.ashx
[5]  Perisic, I. (2018) How Artificial Intelligence Is Already Impacting Today’s Jobs.
https://economicgraph.linkedin.com/blog/how-artificial-intelligence-is-already-impacting-todays- jobs
[6]  Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency EACEA (2017) Overview of the Higher Education System. European Union.
[7]  Hejase, H.J. and Alaeddine, A.H. (2017) Fostering Academic Relations between Lebanon and the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Journal of Middle East and North Africa Sciences, 3, 22-38.
https://doi.org/10.12816/0038021
[8]  El Khaled, D., Novas, N., Gázquez, J.A., García, R.M. and Manzano-Agugliaro, F. (2016) The Women Education in Lebanon: Lessons for Middle East. Espiral: Estudios sobre Estado y Sociedad, 9, 27-36.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/301790183_THE_WOMEN_EDUCATION_IN _LEBANON_LESSONS_FOR_MIDDLE_EAST_La_formacion_educativa_de_la_mujer_en_el_ Libano_lecciones_para_Oriente_Medio_Enviar_correspondencia_a_fmanzanouales
[9]  Ministry of Education and Higher Education MEHE (2016) Private Universities.
http://www.higher-edu.gov.lb/arabic/privuniv/personal_univ.html
[10]  Center for Educational Research and Development CRDP (2019) Statistical Bulletin 2017-2018.
https://www.crdp.org/files/201904031143321.pdf
[11]  Hakim, R.R.C. (2016) Are Accounting Graduates Prepared For Their Careers? A Comparison of Employees’ and Employers’ Perceptions. Global Review of Accounting and Finance, 7, 1-17.
https://doi.org/10.21102/graf.2016.09.72.11
[12]  Majzoub, S. and Aga, M.A. (2015) Characterizing the Gap between Accounting Education and Practice: Evidence from Lebanon. International Journal of Business and Management, 10, 127-151.
https://doi.org/10.5539/ijbm.v10n12p127
[13]  Dibeh, G., Fakih, A. and Marrouch, W. (2016) Youth Employability and Skill Mismatch in Lebanon.
http://www.databank.com.lb/docs/Youth%20employability%20and%20skill%20Mismatch% 20in%20Lebanon%202016.pdf
[14]  International Labour Organization ILO (2015) Matching Skills and Jobs in Lebanon: Main Features of the Labour Market—Challenges, Opportunities and Recommendations.
https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---arabstates/---ro-beirut/documents/publication/wcms_559673.pdf
[15]  O’Neill, E. (2016) How Is the Accountancy and Finance World Using Artificial Intelligence?
https://www.icas.com/ca-today-news/how-accountancy-and-finance-are-using-artificial-intelligence
[16]  Vasarhelyi, M.A. and Rozario, A.M. (2018) How Robotic Process Automation Is Transforming Accounting and Auditing.
https://www.cpajournal.com/2018/07/02/how-robotic-process-automation-is-transforming-accounting-and-auditing
[17]  Nagarajah, E. (2016) Hi Robot. What Does Automation Mean for the Accounting Profession?
https://www.pwc.com/my/en/assets/press/1608-accountants-today-automation-impact-on- accounting-profession.pdf
[18]  Tornqvist, E. and Forss, L. (2018) Automated Accounting in Accounting Firms: A Qualitative Study on Impacts and Attitudes. Master’s Thesis, Department of Business Administration, Umea University, Sweden.
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/9c26/dfea081fd035a6070e382f1b5f0727faa37a.pdf
[19]  Sun, Z. and Lu, X. (2017) Fault Detection and Diagnosis System in Process Industry Based on Big Data and We Chat. MATEC Web of Conferences, 139, Article ID: 00008.
https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/201713900008
https://www.matec-conferences.org/articles/matecconf/pdf/2017/53/matecconf_icmite2017_ 00008.pdf
[20]  Dimitriu, O. and Matei, M. (2014) The Expansion of Accounting to the Cloud. SEA—Practical Application of Science, 2, 237-240.
http://seaopenresearch.eu/Journals/articles/SPAS_4_24.pdf
[21]  Ionescu, B.S. and Prichici, C. (2013) Potential Beneficiaries of Cloud Accounting Technology: Small or Large Companies? Change and Leadership, 17, 282-292.
[22]  Frey, C. and Osborne, M. (2017) The Future of Employment: How Susceptible Are Jobs to Computerization? Technological Forecasting & Social Change, 114, 254-280.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2016.08.019
https://econpapers.repec.org/article/eeetefoso/v_3a114_3ay_3a2017_3ai_3ac_3ap_3a254-280.html
[23]  Goos, M. and Manning, A. (2007) Lousy and Lovely Jobs: The Rising Polarization of Work in Britain. The Review of Economics and Statistics, 89, 118-133.
https://doi.org/10.1162/rest.89.1.118
https://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/10.1162/rest.89.1.118
[24]  Shim, M. and Yang, H.S. (2018) Interindustry Wage Differentials, Technology Adoption, and Job Polarization. Journal of Economic Behaviour and Organization, 146, 141-160.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2017.11.014
[25]  Villanova, P. (2019) Voices: Why Automation Is a Positive Turning Point for Accountants.
https://www.accountingtoday.com/opinion/why-automation-is-a-positive-turning-point-for-accountants
[26]  Boomer, J. (2018) The Value of Big Data in an Accounting Firm.
https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/firm-management/article/12424744/the-value-of-big-data-in-an-accounting-firm
[27]  Hejase, A. and Hejase, H. (2013) Research Methods: A Practical Approach for Business Students. 2nd Edition, Masadir Inc., Philadelphia.
[28]  DiCicco-Bloom, B. and Crabtree, B.F. (2006) The Qualitative Research Interview. Medical Education, 40, 314-321.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2929.2006.02418.x
[29]  Lebanese Association of Certified Public Accountants LACPA (2019) Directory.
https://www.lacpa.org.lb/directory/practicing-members
[30]  Ministry of Economy and Trade MoET (2014) Lebanon SME Strategy: A Roadmap to 2020. Inventis.
https://www.economy.gov.lb/public/uploads/files/6833_5879_4642.pdf
[31]  Yamane, T. (1967) Statistics: An Introductory Analysis. 2nd Edition, Harper and Row, New York.
[32]  Rkein, H., Issa, Z.A., Awada, F.J. and Hejase, H.J. (2019) Impact of Automation on Accounting Profession and Employability: A Qualitative Assessment from Lebanon. Saudi Journal of Business Management, 4, 372-385.
[33]  Lupasc, A., Lupasc, I. and Zamfir, C.G. (2012) Impact of Intelligent Modern Technologies in Business. Ovidius University Annals Economic Sciences Series, 12, 580-585.
https://ideas.repec.org/a/ovi/oviste/v10y2010i1p1695-1699.html
[34]  Uwadiae, O. (2015) Financial Reporting Automation. Deloitte.
https://www2.deloitte.com/ng/en/pages/audit/articles/financial-reporting/financial-reporting-automation-1.html
[35]  Alarcon, J.L. and Staut, M.T. (2017) The Internet of Things: The CPA’s Role in the New World of Business. Pennsylvania CPA Journal, 1, 26-31.
https://www.picpa.org/articles/picpa-news/2016/11/28/the-internet-of-things-the-cpa-s -role-in-the-new-world-of-business
[36]  Taipaleenmaki, J. and Ikaheimo, S. (2013) On the Convergence of Management Accounting and Financial Accounting—The Role of Information Technology in Accounting Change. International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, 14, 321-348.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.accinf.2013.09.003
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/286097180_On_the_convergence_of_ management_accounting_and_financial_accounting_the_role_of_information_ technology_in_accounting_change
[37]  Drum, D.M. and Pulvermacher, A. (2016) Accounting Automation and Insight at the Speed of Thought. Journal of Emerging Technologies in Accounting, 13, 181-186.
https://doi.org/10.2308/jeta-51441
[38]  Gass, J. (2018) AIS Impact on Accounting and Finance.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/theyec/2018/09/10/ais-impact-on-accounting-and-finance/#404fdcc2e855
[39]  Dimitriu, O. and Matei, M. (2015) Cloud Accounting. A New Business Model in a Challenging Context. Procedia Economics and Finance, 32, 665-671.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S2212-5671(15)01447-1
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/289993037_Cloud_Accounting_A_New_Business_Model _in_a_Challenging_Context
[40]  Ionescu, B.S. and Tudoran, E.L. (2013) Financial Information Security in the Cloud. Annales Universitatis Apulensis Series Oeconomica, 15, 443-449.
[41]  Ionescu, B.S., Prichici, C. and Tudoran, L. (2014) Cloud Accounting—A Technology That May Change the Accounting Profession in Romania. Audit Financiar Journal, 12, 3-15.
[42]  Deloitte (2016) Transformers: How Machines Are Changing Every Sector of the UK Economy.
https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/uk/Documents/technology-media-telecommunications/deloitte-uk-transformers-2016.pdf
[43]  Vermeulen, B., Kesselhut, J., Pyka, A. and Saviotti, P.P. (2018) The Impact of Automation on Employment: Just the Usual Structural Change? Sustainability, 10, 1661-1687.
https://doi.org/10.3390/su10051661

Full-Text

Contact Us

service@oalib.com

QQ:3279437679

WhatsApp +8615387084133