AN EVALUATION OF IMPACT OF COMPUTERIZED ACCOUNTING SYSTEM

ABSTRACT

This research was carried out on the topic, problem, and prospect of the computerized Accounting system in Nigeria Banks. Using the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Nigeria Plc, Ahmadu Bello way branch as a case study. The researcher intention was to find out how the use of the computerized accounting system is of benefit to Nigerian Banks to know whether the computerized accounting system can increase the speed at which withdrawals and deposits are made, to know the extent to which banks’ staff have acquired  the knowledge for the proper application of the system and to find out the problems associated with the use of the system. To achieve these, the researcher made use of both primary and secondary sources of data. The primary source of data used for this work was the questionnaire and interview though the questionnaire was mainly used. It was administered on the total number of staff in the processing department of the bank i.e. the sample size for this work. The sample size was ninety-five (95). That is to say, there were ninety-five (95) employees in the processing department of UBA Nigeria Plc, Ahmadu Bello way Branch. The questions asked in the questionnaire were based on the research questions answers to which were not 40 positive. That is to say, though a large variety of the respondents responded positively, some had opposite views. All said and done, the researcher came up with findings, that the use of the computerized accounting system had improved the effectiveness of the banks operating. It has also increased the speed at which customers of the bank can make deposit or withdrawal. The findings of this research project also had it that employees of the bank still need to be trained in computer technology so as to increase their knowledge of computer operation. Some problems found out be associated with the use of the system where the issues of fraudulent transactions can be done easily without being detected through the computer, unauthorized transaction, and change in program instructions so as to affect some accounting information. After concluding that the use of the computerized accounting system had done well to the banking sector of Nigeria considering the positive changes witnessed by banks in Nigeria since its introduction, we recommended that Nigerian banks diverse. Their resources into implementing modern computer-based system. They should try to meet up with their foreign counterparts who are applying more advanced computer technology in their operations. Banks in Nigeria should develop the means or ways of detecting fraudulent transactions. That might be committed by the same employees and also provide opportunities from time-to-time for their staff to go for computer training and skills improvement.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0.  INTRODUCTION

During the primitive age very little or no notes were taken into proper record especially those activities and transactions involving money. The records and notes were usually taken either in memory (human being) or some marks on the ground or trees. As man developed from this primitive era to a more complex economic society, there occurs notable growth and expansion in his way of life and activities he undertakes. During this time, the most disturbing problems that man faced was that there were no accounts and records. Being properly kept and stored. These, therefore, allow for inefficiency and breach of contract and trust. The more developed man became the more the need for systematic record-keeping and storage. The complexity of society leads to chronological order of manual development in record keeping. Important records can be kept manually for future use but still in a tedious way. A more technological era, more work was done in the accounting system. Accuracy, efficiency, and durability became pressing problems that faced the manually kept and processed records in the accounting system, hence the development and introduction of the electronic mechanical machine into the accounting system became very vital. A systematic technological advancement however gradually gave birth to what is known today as the computer. A computer is an electronic device capable of accepting data as input, applying prescribed processes on such data and giving out an output which is called information, the computer can also be said to be a machine that manipulates in accordance with given rules in a pre-determined manner. It is an electronic device that is used to process complex and variety of data within the shortest possible time: This is because it has a very high speed of operation. Data can get into the computer for processing via the input devices such as keyboards, diskette, CD Rom, punch cards, flash drive, etc. the actual processing of data within the shortest possible time: this is because it has a very high speed of operation. Data can get into the computer for processing via the input devices such as a keyboard, diskette, CD Rom, punch cards, flash drive, etc. the actual processing of data takes place in the arithmetic and logical unit (ALU). The control unit (CU) is where all the activities of a computer system are being monitored or coordinated and planned. There also is the memory that is the unit in charge of storing or keeping all data or information in a computer system for a long and short period of time. This storage is made possible under the supervision of the ROM and RAM. There are various types of computers. They are classified as either analog, digital or hybrid computers. A computer can also be a single purpose computer or a general-purpose one. The computer is being used as an accounting device to perform various types of routine office jobs which formerly required the services of the clerical officer. Where the computer is installed and used effectively. It could perform payroll calculations, update accounts receivable and payable, control inventories, process insurance data, prepare dividend, keeping depositors accounts, distribute costs and expenses. The accounting system in common use ranges from the simple system in which accounting records are maintained by hand to a sophisticated system on a magnetic disk. The accounting to be used in any given company should be well-tailored to the size and to the information need of the business in a computer-based accounting system, he accountant needs only to enter the data needed for the computer to prepare journal entries. All the writings and postings to general ledger and subsidiary accounts are then handled by the computer.

1.1      BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The computer being a new remarkable thing in the banking system in the country has increased the rate of which financial records such as ledger, customer accounts, balance sheets, etc. are prepared. Since their immemorial banks usually process information such as calculations of money, updating of customers’ accounts, etc manually, or with the aid of pocket calculators. In recent times, the number of customer operation accounts with the banks has increased. As a result of this, banks, therefore, decided to employ a means through which information can be processed efficiently and to ensure reliability in a speedy manner and this, therefore, initiated the introduction of computer operation into the banking system.  Many Nigeria banks had since computerized their system of accounting, UBA Nigeria Plc is not an exception. It is therefore expected that by now the computerized accounting system whole has increased the speed in the deposit and withdrawal of money from the UBA Nigeria Plc Ahmadu Bellow Way branch. It is also expected that this system would be of immense benefit to the bank and that staff of the bank especially the cashiers would have by now, acquired the necessary skills that would enable them to perform effectively using the computer. Apart from these, the UBA is expected to have discovered problems (if there are) associated with the use of a computerized system of accounting.

1.2      STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Banks in Nigeria have been using the computerized accounting system in their day-to-day activities. The UBA had adopted this system also. The efficiency however of using this system by banks in Nigeria needs to be ascertained alongside its problems. Identifying how efficient the computerized accounting system has to be would go a long way in accessing it i.e. knowing the advantage and disadvantages associated with it. Also one can be able to conclude that their advantage outnumbered its disadvantage or their disadvantage over-power its advantages. Besides this, one can also have an insight into how Nigerian banks had changed or improved over the years in terms of efficiency and accuracy since the introduction of the computerized accounting system. Into Nigerian banks, the following therefore are the problems that promoted the undertaking of this research study. They include:

i.    Persistent system failure hinders the effective rendering of service to customers.

ii.  Break down or temporary lack of service in the system also affect the operation of the bank.

iii.   Manipulation of the computers by the staff with the attempt to defraud the bank also make an important effect on the operation of the bank.

iv.    Frequent changes in the computer packages and without proper and adequate training also affect the operation of the bank.     

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