Analyzing Depreciation: A Financial Accounting Data Analytics and Visualization Case

This case uses a financial accounting context to help instructors incorporate data analytics in the accounting curriculum. The case’s flexible design allows it to be used in a data analytics or financial accounting course for instructors with little to no data analytics experience. For an analytics course, students extract, transform, and load fixed asset and depreciation data from a company’s five sites. Students will then validate the accuracy and completeness of the data by creating visualizations. The case can be accomplished using any data analytics tool; Teaching Notes are presented using Power BI. The case and Teaching Notes include modifications for a financial accounting course where students are given data visualizations to identify depreciation anomalies (where no analytics software is required). An extension for audit courses is also discussed. The case serves to develop students’ analytics skills while simultaneously reinforcing their understanding of depreciation concepts.