Accounting Information Systems Investigation

Accounting Information Systems Investigation
Learning Objectives:

1. Familiarize the student real world application of accounting information systems
2. Allow student to interact with business professionals (experiential learning)
3. Document accounting information systems

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Assignment:  Identify a service, manufacturing or retail company that interests you or where you have a connection.  The size of the company or if it is private or publically traded.  Contact a person in the leadership (CEO, president, partner, general manager, controller, etc.) of the company (does not have to be an accountant) and request a meeting to discuss the company’s accounting information system.  Your objective similar to an auditor’s objective is to learn about the company’s accounting information system.  Assure the company leader that you do not want them to share any confidential information about the company by completing the non-disclosure agreement available in D2L.
For example: the store manager at your local Lowes Home Improvement Center or the partner of a local CPA firm. 
The following subheadings are required in your five page paper:
Leadership- Name, titles and contact information (e-mail & phone number of the individual(s) you met with and a picture as appendix to your paper with the individual(s) person you met in front of a company logo (if possible).
Company Overview*- A brief description of the company as well as the location details as follows:

1. Provide a brief overview of the company and their primary business- (e.g. Lowes is in the home improvement business, operates in XX states and XX countries worldwide and is headquartered in YY city established in 19XX.)
2. Discuss the overall company size (sales & employees), location (sales & employees), operating structure (decentralized or centralized) (e.g. Lowes has centralized administration and decentralized management control. The company is structured in 4 regions West, East, Midwest and Southwest with Vice Presidents of store management over each region).

*Depending on the company/firm, a tour prior to your discussion may be helpful. 
Accounting Information Systems- The focus of this section is the technical part of the company’s accounting information system.

1. What software does the company employ?
2. When was it installed (if known)?
3. What accounting system is the company using?
   1. This could be an enterprise resource planning system (e.g. SAP, Oracle), quickbooks, peachtree, green ledger paper, a spiral notebook or any other system that the company uses to maintain their accounting records
4. Challenges with current system
5. What the controls for adding employees, items, general ledger accounts?
6. Where is their system maintained?
7. What are the threats to their system?

General Ledger Structure- Discuss how the AIS systems categorizes sales (revenue) and expenses.  In this section you should discuss the following:

1. the fiscal year of the company when and why does it end- is there logic for when the company has a yearend
2. structure of the general ledger accounts
3. is the location a profit center or cost center (e.g. For Lowes each store would be considered a profit center because they generate revenues & expenses and have a store P&L/income statement).
4. how does the company segment sales and expenses- in other words what departments do they use (e.g. Lowes uses millwork, garden center, lumber , plumbing, electrical, flooring etc.; a public accounting firm might use consulting, bookkeeping, audit & tax).

Key Performance Indicators- A discussion of the key performance indicators (KPI’s) the company uses to manage their business.  This section should include the following:

1. KPI’s used at the location level and the frequency
   1. Revenues (internet vs. in-store), expenses, budget, comparisons (region/nation)
2. Industry specific KPI’s (e.g. Lowes sales by department or inventory shrink, public accounting billable hours or new clients)

Insight- Please write one paragraph about your insight into how this experience enhanced your learning and understanding of accounting information systems.