A Study on the Impact of Digital Transformation on Job Roles of Accounting Professionals: Evidence from Sri Lanka

Abstract

The study aims to identify the impact of digital transformation on the job roles of accounting professionals in terms of the functions of the role, the objective of the role, specific duties and responsibilities assigned to the role, and the knowledge and skills required to perform the job role.The study attempts to answer the following question: How has digital transformation impacted the job roles of accounting professionals in Sri Lanka?Accordingly, 25 Sri Lankan accounting professionals whose organizations have been subjected to digital transformation during their tenure were interviewed to identify the impact of digital transformation on their job roles.The study revealed that the use of blockchain technology, use of big data, artificial intelligence, and the use of cloud computing are the most prominent digital transformations that have impacted the accounting profession in Sri Lanka. Further, the study revealed changes in accounting job roles including job tasks, job tools, and required skills as a result of digital transformation.