The role of technology in financial reporting

Technology plays a critical role in financial reporting, especially in today’s digital age. Financial reporting refers to the process of preparing and presenting financial information about an organisation’s financial performance and financial position to its stakeholders. 

Here are some ways in which technology has impacted and helped financial reporting: 

1. Automation: Technology has made it possible to automate many financial reporting processes, including data entry, reconciliation, and financial statement preparation. Automation can help reduce errors and improve efficiency in the financial reporting process.
2. Real-time reporting: Technology has also made it possible to access financial data in real-time, which can help companies make more informed decisions about their finances. Real-time reporting can also improve transparency and accountability in financial reporting. 
3. Data analytics: Technology has made it possible to analyse large volumes of financial data quickly and accurately. This can help companies identify trends, patterns, and outliers that may be difficult to detect through traditional analysis methods. 
4. Cloud computing: Cloud computing has made it easier to store and access financial data from anywhere, which can help companies collaborate more effectively on financial reporting tasks. 
5. Blockchain technology: Blockchain technology has the potential to revolutionise financial reporting by providing a secure, transparent, and tamper-proof ledger of financial transactions. 

If we look at this in more detail, the financial services sector has been significantly impacted by information technology, particularly with regard to financial reporting. The quality of financial reports has improved as a result of the information technology industry’s ongoing advancements, which have also encouraged more financial reports to be created in an effective and understandable manner. 

IT plays a significant role in improving information accessibility for all users, easing location restrictions, and speeding up financial reporting processes. IT has also changed how tasks are carried out and digitalised paper-based processes. Here are some examples of how technology has affected financial reporting: 

Problems with Technology in Financial Reporting 

For many financial organisations, the fundamental reporting process entails manually compiling data and reviewing reports. A financial report must be able to include particular details and qualities, also referred to as Qualitative Characteristics. They consist of: 

• Reliability: Full and honest with no deceptive content 
• Understandability – Convenient, easily accessible, and manageable data 

• Comparability – Reliable and accurate data 
• Relevance – Validated, anticipated, and a specific selection of information 

Users used to frequently receive notifications about events that happened weeks or even months earlier, which might have an impact on a lot of business choices. The needs of users were not addressed and satisfied because of the late reporting. Receiving real-time data is highly achievable with current financial technology, which greatly enhances corporate decisions. 

Information technology’s effects on financial reporting 

The reporting process can be shortened and enhanced with the use of modern technology in the financial services industry. Analysts now have better access to reports at a faster rate thanks to the rapid pace of technological progress, making it possible to create reports more quickly and with a smaller margin of error. The financial sector as a whole has reaped the rewards of such technical advancements. 

Regulators and auditors 

Data analytics has helped auditors to undertake audits more efficiently and potentially give higher quality reporting. They can now send reports more regularly thanks to it. 

Investors 

To track the growth of their investments, investors are continuously looking for standardised quantitative data. With the advancement of financial technology, investors may now get faster, more accurate research in real time. Also, this enables analysts to conduct more accurate forecasting analyses, which may ultimately assist businesses and investors in determining what the best course of action is. Investors can then use this updated analysis to make better investment choices that will benefit the market. 

Policymakers 

In order to enhance society as a whole, regulators and policymakers also need to be well-versed in current affairs. Legislators used to be restricted to obsolete reports that could have been months or even years old due to numerous technological restrictions. Data can now be readily extracted and presented in more relevant formats thanks to modern breakthroughs, which can assist policymakers better comprehend the circumstances that are inherent in society at the moment. 

Technology and finance have never been natural bedfellows, especially in terms of growth and viability. However, the financial sector’s technological advancements have significantly changed how the financial services sector now produces and disseminates information. The ability to manage data in a more organised, quantitative manner while keeping an eye on both the consumer and the bottom line is made possible through improved reporting. 

To conclude, technology has played a significant role in transforming financial reporting by automating processes, enabling real-time reporting, providing powerful data analytics capabilities, improving collaboration, and offering new technologies like blockchain to enhance the accuracy and security of financial reporting. 

If you would like to see how Itas Solutions can help you and your organisation reap the benefits of IT and the latest cloud solutions for your business accounting needs with powerful cloud accounting software such as Sage’s Intacct, we will only be too happy to show you the benefits and how we can help. 

Who we are

Itas Solutions began in 1995 with just one client and today serves over 200 businesses around the UK and we are always on call to help our clients. 

Itas is a company trusted by our clients for more than 20 years, and we have grown through customer and IT professional recommendations who appreciate the knowledgeable yet individualised service we provide. 

You can reach out to us at info@itassolutions.co.uk, give us a call at +44 (0) 1824 780 000, or send an email to learn more about how Itas can assist your company with finance automation, Sage implementation, and improved purchasing control.