Essay, Research Paper: Accounting And Computer

In our society today, computer technology plays an
important role in many form of business, especially in the field of accounting.
As technology advances, not only does the use of computers penetrates individual's
everyday life, it also helps to mange and improve many business operations from
service, manufacturing to retail.
Ken, an accounting graduate, works as an accounting clerk
at Advance Manage, a service operation located in Markham, Ontario.
The small business is in the form of a partnership, and has only 5 employees.
Advance management mainly provides service for property owners who are
seeking proper management for their estate such as small plazas and condominiums.
Since, Ken is aware of the importance of computer skills in the job market. He devotes
many time self-studying his PC at home. With his expertise in bookkeeping and his
adequate knowledge of computers, he finds that computerized accounting is easy to
work with and is very timesaving.
With computer technology changing at such fast pace, many businesses
try to keep up by upgrading computer system constantly in order to stay competitive
in the example of Advance Management; the computer equipment they have are quite advance.
For example, they own 3 computers of which one is solely far accounting purposes.
The system includes a CPU Pentium II with 300 MHz microprocessor, a 64 MB SD Ram
on board, a 56 K modem, a 32+CD-ROM, and also a 4.3 GB Hard Disk. These high quality
equipments are brought recently and they have already contributed a lot in improving the
business' operation by making better works done more quickly.
Advance management also has its own great software to match with its advance
computer system. The software is specifically design for the use of property managing and
is called AFEX. This accounting software for property management has been in used for
almost a year and is a very helpful in working with the company's accounting routine. The
company uses the accounting software to a great extent. All Account Receivables, Account
Payables, payrolls and financial statements are done conveniently, on the computer. For Account
Receivable, by entering all information (ex. Account number, name, addresses, rental payments,
and lease term) into the database, an account receivable ledge is being formed. As each center's pay
his/her rent monthly, the amount is automatically debited into the individual's rent receivable account.
The spreadsheet form of software shows update amount outstanding, amount and date paid, and
time remaining on lease term of each renter accurately.
For the account payable, information on the vendor's must be inputs into the system for the
creation of the Account Payable ledge. Upon receipt of invoices or statements, Ken, the accounting
clerk, credits the amount into individual vendor's account. When making payments, cheques
are printed up and the system computes the correct balance of cash and Account Payable accounts.
The program also allows the monthly payroll schedule to be calculating accurately. Just by having
all employees' info like name, working hours, wages etc enter into database, payroll can be done with
the guide of the program.
This special software has many advantages. According to Ken Wong, the system is good
for its specialty in the field of managerial accounting. He uses this program mainly because it's easy
to use and it's effective and efficient in organizing and calculating rental income and maintenance expense.
The multi-function of the advance system is also an important factor for the company to use the software.
Although the system has many useful functions and advantages, there are still needs for improvements
. For instant, Ken is not completely satisfy with the level of manual works involve with the accounting procedures.
He suggests a higher degree of automatic money transferring, possibly having the centers and vendor paying and
receiving payments through computerized banking system. This might save Ken's time having to organize and cheques.
Also, a system that can organize and identify other maintenance charge is also useful since these charges make up most
of the expenses for the company. In the hopes of making all these improvement on the computer system, the company
plans to upgrade the system step-by-step, by spending more resources on the technology as to create new ways to save
time and manpower.
Although Advance Management is a small business, it makes efficient use of the advance technology
and has ambition to discover more. Computers have great impact on the profession of accounting. With the rapid
growth of technology today, there's no doubt that computer will become a common asset in all professions.