Accounting Information Systems
How accounting data flows through business processes and systems: process documentation, relational databases and the REA model, SQL for accounting data, the revenue, expenditure, payroll and reporting cycles (with CPP and EI), internal control under COSO, COBIT and NI 52-109, IT general and application controls, ERP implementation, cybersecurity, fraud prevention and privacy under PIPEDA and Quebec Law 25, CRA record retention, and emerging technologies such as e-invoicing, RPA and AI.
ACCT-240 Year 2 3 credits 12 lessons · 5 h 5 min
Offered by HSM University · Accounting
This is the Canadian version of this course. See the American version.
What you'll learn
- Explain the components of an accounting information system, distinguish data from information, and describe how transaction cycles feed the general ledger in an integrated ERP.
- Document business processes with narratives, swimlane flowcharts, data flow diagrams and BPMN, and use documentation and walkthroughs to identify control gaps.
- Explain relational database concepts, data integrity rules and data quality, and model accounting data with the resources-events-agents (REA) model.
- Write SQL queries for accounting tasks, including aging reports, trial balances, duplicate payment tests and Benford first-digit tests, and reconcile extracts to the ledger.
- Analyse the revenue cycle, including credit control, shipping and billing, cash application, lapping risks, online payment reconciliation and collection measures.
- Analyse the expenditure cycle, including supplier master controls, the three-way match, payment controls, discounts, AP automation and analytics.
- Evaluate production, inventory, payroll and general ledger controls, including CPP and EI source deductions, manual journal entry review and the financial close.
- Apply the COSO 2013 framework, COSO ERM and COBIT 2019, assess segregation of duties and grade deficiencies, and explain officer certification under NI 52-109.
- Distinguish IT general controls from application controls, design input, processing and output controls including batch totals and check digits, and explain how controls are tested.
- Explain how ERP systems are structured and configured, design a segmented chart of accounts, and manage the risks of ERP implementation and data conversion.
- Apply cybersecurity governance, payment fraud controls such as out-of-band verification, PIPEDA and Quebec privacy requirements, and CRA records retention rules in an accounting function.
- Evaluate controls for RPA, AI, digital reporting, e-invoicing and blockchain, and design a risk and control matrix for a procure-to-pay process.
Course content
12 lessons · 5 h 5 min total · final exam
- 1 What an accounting information system is 27 min · quiz
- 2 Documenting business processes: flowcharts, data flow diagrams and BPMN 26 min · quiz
- 3 Data, databases and the REA model 26 min · quiz
- 4 SQL for accounting data 26 min · quiz
- 5 The revenue cycle 25 min · quiz
- 6 The expenditure cycle 25 min · quiz
- 7 Production, payroll and the general ledger and reporting cycle 25 min · quiz
- 8 Internal control frameworks: COSO, COBIT and Canadian certification 25 min · quiz
- 9 IT general controls and application controls 25 min · quiz
- 10 ERP systems and implementation 25 min · quiz
- 11 Cybersecurity, fraud prevention and privacy for accountants 25 min · quiz
- 12 Emerging technologies and capstone: designing controls for procure-to-pay 25 min · quiz
- E Final exam 20 questions
Requirements
Recommended background. You can start any course at any time.
Description
How accounting data flows through business processes and systems: process documentation, relational databases and the REA model, SQL for accounting data, the revenue, expenditure, payroll and reporting cycles (with CPP and EI), internal control under COSO, COBIT and NI 52-109, IT general and application controls, ERP implementation, cybersecurity, fraud prevention and privacy under PIPEDA and Quebec Law 25, CRA record retention, and emerging technologies such as e-invoicing, RPA and AI.
Part of the Business stream, typically taken in year 2.