On Application of Accounting Data Analytics in the Accounting Curriculum

Abstract

Data analytics are an important part of the accounting profession and accountants are more and more in need of data analytics skills. There is a debate as to where should be the focus of analytics in accounting curriculum. Our paper introduces a road map for the integration of accounting data analytics in the accounting curriculum. To integrate data analytics some emphasize mastery of certain tools and propriety data set, others suggest focusing on statistical tools and data crunching. Accounting data can be used to improve analytical thinking skills of students in various accounting courses. We encourage our students to ask “interesting” questions, then we use data and tools to answer them in class.This paper reports on some experiences of accounting professors using analytics in accounting courses. We utilized publicly available accounting data products/services in the classroom and developed a series of questions for students that require accounting data analytics. These questions are carefully designed to relate to the course subject matter, and require quick responses, given data services/tools available in class. Overall, the integration of accounting data analytics we offer seems to help students apply classroom learning to the real world, and therefore make learning more effective. Too often the focus on textbook materials could get boring without any “action” or live data analytics demonstration regarding the topic of interest. We can make accounting more interesting if students in the classroom can quickly analyze a scenario and come up with potential answers. We restrict our discussion to data services/tools that are freely available to academics. Finally, this paper is intended to primarily show the accounting faculty opportunities available to integrate accounting data analytics into selected accounting courses. As such it is not a classroom teaching case, thought examples are suitable for classroom use.