The Bristol Center for Management Accounting Research (BRICMAR)

The objective of BRICMAR, which is based at the University of Bristol, is to provide a forum for engagement between management accounting practice and research communities. We are relaunching BRICMAR with an afternoon workshop that will consider the following question:

How is technology disrupting management accounting?

In recent years, new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital platforms and the like, have been at the centre stage of business discourses and decisions. But what does this mean for management accounting in practice? This half-day workshop will bring together practitioners and academics seeking to answer this question. The advent of new technologies provides challenges and opportunities for the future of accounting. Yet, the implications of such technologies for management accounting practices and professionals are still unclear. On the one hand, new technologies have the potential of transforming accounting by allowing accountants to analyse large amounts of data more quickly and accurately and, based on these analyses, helping with business decision-making. On the other hand, new technologies also bring new risks, and care needs to be taken to avoid unintended consequences. As a result, it is important to build our understanding around what these technologies are, can do, or cannot do for accounting, and how accountants can exploit (or suffer from) these technologies. Attending to these questions could have important implications for enabling the profession to respond to the complex and unpredictable data and strategic demands of global challenges such as sustainability.

To this aim, this workshop focuses on three questions:

· How are different technologies reshaping performance measurement and management accounting more generally?

· What are the challenges of new technologies for management accounting? For example, is technology a threat to independent judgment? Or is it an opportunity?

· How are new technologies changing the nature and role of the profession? And what are the skills required from accountants to navigate these new trends?

In the first half of the workshop, research on new technologies and recent management accounting practices will be introduced. In the second part of the workshop, participants are invited to discuss best practices and explore the potentials and challenges of new technologies for management accounting in discussion groups facilitated by members of the Management Accounting Research Group at the University of Bristol. We will conclude with a drinks reception.

Our practitioner keynote speaker is Richard Churchill.

“Richard is a Finance & Technology professional. An ACMA fully qualified accountant widely experienced in leading teams in finance, development & procurement projects. He’s been an independent contractor working at the interface of finance & technology initiatives for over 20 years – supporting & leading projects that digitally transform organisations across industries and sectors. Experienced in the practical delivery of what works, he assists organisations in the art of the possible in their situation of IT maturity and heritage. He has learned, led and worked with teams in Analytics, Big Data, AI and DevOps – while maintaining auditability and improving financial systems & processes.”

If you have any questions, please contact the organising committee:

uob-bricmar@bristol.ac.uk

Bristol Center for Management Accounting Research (BRICMAR) Workshop