Artificial intelligence diffusion among accountants in Malaysian listed companies

Information technology to some extent has changed the landscape of the accounting process and thus, the accountants will have to be alert of the technological changes to remain relevant. The emerging of IR 4.0 has been discussed in many platforms abroad, yet little is known if any, on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and accountants especially in the context of Malaysia. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a technology that enables machine to learn quickly in real time and it can be applied to the whole organization. It was predicted that when industries adopt AI at full scale, most of the traditional accounting processes would be driven by machine and this implied that the traditional accountants’ functions must be redefined or remodelled. Thus, the objective of the study is to investigate the job scope and roles of accountants in AI environment companies as well as to develop an AI implementation model. This study adopts qualitative method using interviews with accountants in the industry and in accounting/audit firms who work in the AI setting companies. Accountant’s nature of work, tasks and changes to the traditional accountant’s task would be investigated. Further subjects could be identified via snowballing methods, by asking for similar companies that practice AI in their operations. Thus, it will help to resurface the important elements of how accountants job scope and roles would be under the AI settings. Data will be analysed using thematic analysis. It is expected that the outcomes from the findings will be a model to assist the government especially in accelerating the adoption as well as the implementation and extending the full benefits of Artificial Intelligence among professionals. This study could contribute to achieve the national agenda outlined in NITA and TN50 by increasing the implementation of AI (innovation) among accountants.