USF School of Accounting Receives Top Rank in Accounting Information Systems Research

TAMPA – The University of South Florida’s School of Accountancy iis ranked first in the nation in the accounting information systems field. With its faculty leading the way in research at the intersection of accounting and information technology, the school is continuing to help contribute as a local economic engine by graduating highly-skilled professionals into the region.

The ranking is featured in the preliminary national accounting research rankings for 2012, which were recently released by BYU. The School of Accountancy, which was previously ranked third in accounting information systems research, is also in the top 30 in two additional areas of research: audit (21st) and tax (29th).

“The fact that we’re now ranked first validates our strength in accounting information systems and our focus on that area,” said Uday Murthy, interim director for the School of Accountancy. “We are also one of the few schools in the country that produce PhD students that specialize in accounting information systems.”

The field of accounting information systems (AIS) seeks to understand and improve all aspects of the processing and use of accounting information as enabled by information technology. Research in AIS investigates optimal designs for computer systems used to process accounting transactions, configuration of internal controls that should be in place, how to audit information in such systems, and how best to use systems for both internal and external reporting. It is a particularly specialized area of accounting research because it requires knowledge in two separate fields.

“You really need a solid understanding of both accounting and information systems to teach and conduct research in AIS,” said Murthy, who is ranked third nationally as an individual researcher in the field and has been recognized for the practical relevance of his research and its influence on accounting practices. “You need to have a foot in both camps.”