THE IMPACT OF BIG DATA ANALYTICS ON IMPROVING FINANCIAL REPORTING QUALITY

Purpose – The current study aims to clarify the importance of big data analytics and its role in changing the accounting profession and the roles of accountants, in addition to testing the impact of big data analytics on improving financial reporting quality in the Saudi environment. Design/ methodology/ approach – To achieve the study's goals and validate hypotheses, relevant previous literature and research are referred. Also, a field study is conducted by distributing a questionnaire of (154) individual academics, financial analysts, accountants, and experts in the field of analyzing big data in the Kingdom of Saudi in 2019. Data are analyzed by using the program of Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS 17.0). Findings – The study concluded that although business organizations face several challenges when analyzing data, big data analytics has a significant role in achieving high competitiveness for institutions, improving the accounting information quality, providing appropriate information that helps in rationalizing decisions within the economic unit, and providing future information affecting stakeholder's decisions. The study also has proved that there is a statistically significant effect of big data analytics on improving the quality of accounting information, as big data analytics clearly affects the characteristics of the accounting information quality, positively affecting the quality of financial reports. Originality/ Value – Originality/ Value – The analytics of big data is one of the most important topics where it positively affects the improvement of accounting information quality, which reflects on financial reporting quality. Hence, academics and institutions should pay attention to this topic and follow their new ideas. The present study is one of the first studies that deal with this topic and examine the relationship between big data analytics and the characteristics of accounting information which positively affecting financial reporting quality

The European Federation of Organisations for Medical Physics (EFOMP) White Paper : Big data and deep learning in medical imaging and in relation to medical physics profession

Big data and deep learning will profoundly change various areas of professions and research in the future. This will also happen in medicine and medical imaging in particular. As medical physicists, we should pursue beyond the concept of technical quality to extend our methodology and competence towards measuring and optimising the diagnostic value in terms of how it is connected to care outcome. Functional implementation of such methodology requires data processing utilities starting from data collection and management and culminating in the data analysis methods. Data quality control and validation are prerequisites for the deep learning application in order to provide reliable further analysis, classification, interpretation, probabilistic and predictive modelling from the vast heterogeneous big data. Challenges in practical data analytics relate to both horizontal and longitudinal analysis aspects. Quantitative aspects of data validation, quality control, physically meaningful measures, parameter connections and system modelling for the future artificial intelligence (AI) methods are positioned firmly in the field of Medical Physics profession. It is our interest to ensure that our professional education, continuous training and competence will follow this significant global development.Peer reviewe

The impact of big data analytics on the detection of errors and fraud in accounting processes.

This study aims to discuss and investigate the role of big data analytics (BDA) in promoting error detection and preventing fraud in accounting operations. It uses a secondary method of data collection (desk study) to explore the potential impact of BDA in enhancing error and fraud prevention on six key considerations including data quality and integrity; data privacy and security; real-time monitoring and alerts; integration with internal controls; ethical implications; and human experience. The analysis shows that the BDA enhances fraud detection by integrating data from multiple sources, using sophisticated algorithms to identify anomalies. Reduces false positives and improves accuracy. However, human expertise is essential for ethical standards and transparency. It has significant implications for the accounting profession, as it provides an addition in both theoretical knowledge and practical applications, theoretical implications include developing accounting knowledge, developing data-driven models, establishing ethical frameworks, and promoting interdisciplinary insights. On a practical level, it provides guidance for improving financial accuracy, fraud prevention, regulatory compliance, data-driven decision-making, and professional development for accountants. It contributes to bridging the research gap in the aspect related to the analysis of big data and its impact on the quality of accountants' work, as this topic is of high importance to researchers, governments, policymakers, industries, companies, investors, and regulators, bridging the gap between accounting and data analytics. This interdisciplinary approach is critical in understanding the evolving landscape of the impact of big data analytics on financial transparency and accuracy of financial reporting

Artificial Intelligence and Medicine

The introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) has resulted in numerous technological advancements in the medical profession and a radical transformation of the old medical model. Artificial intelligence in medicine consists mostly of machine learning, deep learning, expert systems, intelligent robotics, the internet of medical things, and other prevalent and new AI technology. The primary applications of AI in the medical industry are intelligent screening, intelligent diagnosis, risk prediction, and supplemental treatment. Presently, medical AI has achieved significant advances, and big data quality management, new technology empowerment innovation, multi-domain knowledge integration, and personalized medical decision-making will exhibit greater growth potential in the clinical arena

Psychophysiological Responses to Data Visualization and Visualization Effects on Auditors’ Judgments and Audit Quality

We conduct experiments with practicing Big 4 auditors and business students in order to investigate the psychophysiological responses to Big Data visualizations and the effects of different visualization techniques on auditor judgment and ultimately audit quality. More specifically, the first experiment with students examines whether visualizations can be designed to increase the level of a users’ arousal. Such increases in arousal have the capacity to yield significant benefits to the audit profession by drawing auditors’ attention to important patterns in data and promoting the evaluation of these patterns during evidence evaluation. Results of the first experiment using cognitive pupillometry and eye gaze measurement indicate that different visualization techniques produce significant differences in the level of arousal without interfering with information evaluation efficiency. The second experiment then investigates whether visualizations that were shown to promote higher and lower levels of arousal have differential effects on auditor judgments and audit quality. In addition, the second experiment investigates whether the reliability of the data sources underlying visualizations affect auditors’ judgments. Results from the second experiment indicate that visualizations that increase arousal enhance auditors’ ability to recognize disconfirming evidence and incorporate this evidence into their decisions. That is, auditors who view visualizations of disconfirming evidence that are designed to promote arousal recommend greater reductions to management estimates of reported revenue and increase their budgeted audit hours more than auditors who view visualizations that promote less arousal. In addition, auditors who view visualizations that increase arousal are more likely to attend to the reliability of data used to create the visualizations. Overall, the experiments reveal that understanding the root causes of different visualization techniques on arousal and auditor judgment present multiple opportunities to enhance audit quality

Fraud, corruption in the private sector and internal control quality

The global economic crunch had a big impact on the private sector all over the world. Media and controllers presented cases of corruption in business and identified special areas where companies, governments, investors, consumers and stakeholders can contribute to stop fraud and corruption. Controllers and auditors are rebuilding public trust in the accounting profession, in order to provide high-quality training, regulation, specialist knowledge and professional advice.Fraud and corruption are strongly connected in the private sector and the level of corruption in the last few years remains very high, despite the efforts of governments to reduce it. It is well known that local and multinational companies are paying bribes in order to win public contracts or benefits. The level of fraud became very high during the economic crunch, due to the globalization and expansion of computer systems. All the data is on-line on the computer systems and has became very vulnerable.  Thus, the governments are becoming more interested in securing the computer information and financial data. 

The effect of secondary mathematics on future choice in stem professions

Reducing leakage from STEM to non-STEM professions is important, mainly due to the great demand for quality manpower in STEM fields. This study aims to characterize learners who have the potential to drop out of STEM fields, as well as examining various pathways in which dropout occurs. Using big-data analysis based on 534,590 records retrieved from the CBS in Israel for several points in time over one and a half decades, we identified eight pathways to choosing a profession from secondary school to graduating a bachelor's degree, and characterized learners in each pathway based on educational characteristics. Findings reveal three dominant pathways of which one reflects a leakage from STEM in secondary school to non-STEM in higher education. Further, advanced secondary math is the best indicator of completing a STEM degree

The Effect of Auditor’s Work Stress on Audit Quality of Listed Companies in Indonesia

Audit failure practices have been the headlines in the past decade. At the same time, auditing is associated with high stress and over-timed work. However, a concern regarding the importance of audit quality rises nowadays. This research aims to find the effect of auditor’s work stress to audit quality. Additionally, it is intended to find how the presence of certain condition, such as such as initial audit partner engagement, audit firm size, and client litigation risk, impact the effect of auditor work stress to audit quality. This research utilizes data of listed Indonesian companies during 2014 – 2016. The methodology used is multiple linear regression. This research finds that auditor’s work stress affect audit quality significantly and negatively. This finding enhances Interaction Theory, where generally in Indonesian audit profession; the increased job-demand is not balanced by good job-control and social support. However, initial audit partner engagement and big audit firm size can mitigate the effect of such stress. While client litigation risk does not affect the impact of auditor’s work stress to audit quality. This study suggests that public accounting firms pay attention to job demand, low job control, and low social support, which are elements of work stress, to improve audit quality

Digital transformation to the sustainability of public relations profession in the era of disruption

Digital transformation is a change in the way work is handled by using information technology to gain efficiency and effectiveness. Since April 2011 the government has echoed Indonesia 4.0, through the ministry of the industry it has made Indonesia 4.0 a Roadmap that has been integrated as the implementation of many strategies in entering the industrial era 4.0. The public relations profession has become a target for the era of technological disruption 4.0 which is capable of producing big data, analytic data, artificial intelligence, internet of things (IoT) which exponentially boosts the quality and effectiveness of various public relations functions. This research is a qualitative descriptive study that aims to conduct in-depth interviews with predetermined respondents. This type of research uses field research, namely research that goes to the field to make observations about a phenomenon in a scientific situation. The data were obtained from two sources including one Pertamina MOR I Medan worker and one Head of BPC Perhumas Medan. The data analysis technique used is data reduction which is the process of selecting, focusing on simplification, and transforming data that arise from written records and research locations. Based on the research results obtained through interviews with resource persons, human performance opportunities in the public relations profession still have a good and exciting future for the world to be disrupted because this era will become rivals for public relations practitioners to be more advanced. Because artificial intelligence (AI) can support and facilitate public relations practitioners in carrying out their duties

La technologie digitale et la profession d’audit : Quel impact ?

The purpose of this article is to take stock of the auditing profession in the age of digital technology and explain how it can improve the quality of the auditing profession. To this end, we have conducted a qualitative approach by interview guide with auditors from major audit firms (Big 4 and Mazars) and emerging audit firms in Morocco. Data analysis is performed through thematic analysis. Our research results show that digital technology through its Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Analytics models can improve the quality of the audit, while making it possible to evaluate the audit offer, to develop new services of audit firms and redefine the profile of auditors in the future. Thus, some predictions from this study concerning future audit practices include an increasing automation of audit procedures, time management that guarantees high added value tasks and an increasingly global perspective on audit activities.   JEL Classification: H83 , L24, O14 Paper type: Empirical ResearchL’objet du présent article est de mettre le point sur la profession d’audit à l’ère de la technologie digitale et d’expliquer comment elle peut améliorer la qualité du métier d’audit. À cet effet, nous avons mené une approche qualitative par guide d’entretien avec des auditeurs des grands cabinets d’audit (Big 4 et Mazars) et des cabinets d’audit émergeants au Maroc. L’analyse des données est effectuée via une analyse thématique. Nos résultats de recherche démontrent que la technologie digitale à travers ses modèles de Blockchain, d’Intelligence Artificielle et du Big Data Analytics peut améliorer la qualité de l’audit, tout en permettant d’évaluer l’offre d’audit, de développer des   nouveaux services des cabinets d’audit et de redéfinir le profil des auditeurs dans le futur. Ainsi certaines prédictions issues de cette étude concernant les futures pratiques d'audit incluent une automatisation croissante des procédures d'audit, une gestion du temps qui garantit des tâches à forte valeur ajoutée et une perspective de plus en plus globale concernant les activités d'audit.   Classification JEL : H83 , L24, O14 Type du papier : Recherche Appliqué