USERS OF AIS

AIS are an acronym used to represent that aspect of MIS (management information system) that deals with accounting informational flows. AIS stand for accounting information system. The main classes of people that use AIS (users of AIS) are the accountants and auditors that can act in various capacities. Below are the major users of accounting information system:

THOSE THAT USE ACCOUNTING INFORMATION SYSTEM

Designers of AIS: designers of accounting information system are the main users of accounting information system. Some people call these classes of people ‘the systems analysts’. What ever name you call them does not matter what matters is that they are the primary users of AIS in the modern business environment.

Auditors: auditors make use of AIS in the bid to carryout their duties effectively. AIS enables the auditor to gather the information that are necessary to; plan, develop and implement audits as it is suppose to be done.

Managers:  as business environment become more complex by the day, managers tend to rely more on the information supplied to him or her on a real-time basis to make informed decisions that have the capability of making or marring a business. AIS is a one stop shop for financial information that business managers need just like MIS (marketing information system) serve the marketing manager in analyzing and interpreting marketing situations.

Regulators: government of the modern society are increasingly becoming aware of the importance of having a comprehensive database of the required activities of companies that operate within its jurisdiction and have placed greater reliance on AIS to supply the bulk of this information as they are primarily concerned with financial information.

Investors: investors rely on AIS to produce financial statement that is true and fair. AIS are designed in such a way that the chances for financial statement fraud/ error to occur are slim thereby boosting the confidence of the investing community.

Business process owners: business process owners (BPO) are people that run the operation of businesses; they are not the owners of business except where business operations are done by owners. I took time to bring out this point as a lot of people have misunderstood this. AIS provide information that makes the life of workers a lot much easier. A sales representative will have instant access to a company’s stock database from a remote point while accepting orders and production managers simultaneously have access to information that will signal the need for more goods to be produced.

Accounting information system (AIS) has changed the face of accounting as a field; by introducing challenging but interesting elements into accountancy. If you have interest in pursuing a career in accounting and you are not giving AIS serious thought, you had better look elsewhere as accountancy may not be for you.