Page 47 - CMA Journal (Nov-Dec 2024)
P. 47

Focus Section



               Role of AI in Enhancing


               Accounting Efficiency


               and Fraud Detection






              The world is evolving rapidly, making it essential to stay   Artificial  intelligence
               updated in order to grow and maximize benefits. In this   enhances risk assessment
              article, I discuss the topic and explore how we can adapt   by analyzing vast amounts
              and stay competitive.                             of data in real-time and
                                                                detecting patterns that
              How does AI Improves Accounting Efficiency?       may not be immediately
                                                                visible to human analysts.
              AI-driven risk assessment and fraud detection tools go   AI  systems  process
              beyond just mitigating risks and preventing fraud—they
               also enhance overall efficiency in accounting practices.   structured and unstruc-
              By automating routine tasks such as transaction   tured data from various
                                                                sources, including financial
              monitoring and anomaly detection, accountants can   statements, transactions,   Uzair Ghouri, FCMA
              focus on higher-value activities like strategic planning,   market conditions, and   Senior Finance Lead, [Pakistan,
              financial analysis, and business advisory.                                Kazakhstan and Afghanistan]
                                                                external  factors  like
              Additionally, AI helps organizations ensure regulatory   economic trends or geopo-  Medtronic Pakistan (Pvt.) Limited
              compliance. By automating financial transaction   litical  events.  Through
              monitoring and reporting, AI enhances accuracy and   machine learning, AI continuously adapts to changing
              alignment with regulations, reducing the risk of penalties   conditions, improving its ability to detect potential risks with
              due to non-compliance.                            greater accuracy over time.

              The accounting profession is undergoing a significant   Key Advantages of AI in Risk Assessment
              transformation driven by digital innovation. One of the
                                                                • Predictive Analytics – AI evaluates past and current
              most groundbreaking advancements is the integration
                                                                  financial data to forecast future trends and risks. This
              of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into accounting. AI is
                                                                  helps accountants and financial managers make
              increasingly used to streamline financial processes,
                                                                  informed decisions and address risks proactively.
              improve decision-making, and enhance accuracy.
              Among its most crucial applications are risk
                                                                •  Real-time Monitoring – AI continuously tracks finan-
              assessment and fraud detection—areas that require
                                                                  cial transactions and activities, quickly identifying
              precision, agility, and foresight. As financial operations
                                                                  anomalies such as cash flow irregularities or sudden
              become more complex, AI provides powerful solutions
                                                                  revenue fluctuations.
              to detect risks and prevent fraud more efficiently than
              traditional methods.
              AI's Role in Risk Assessment in Accounting
              Risk assessment in accounting involves identifying and
              analyzing potential threats that may impact an
              organization’s  financial  health,  operations,  and
              reputation. Traditional methods rely on historical data,
              manual analysis, and intuition. While somewhat effective,
              these approaches can be time-consuming, prone to
              human error, and limited in predicting emerging risks.





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