Assignment Details

Background

You are working in an accounting/management consultancy firm. Your firm is focusing on different aspects of the accounting information systems. One of your firm’s clients is currently evaluating its accounting system, and the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of your client thinks that they needed to invest in cloud-based accounting software to support the growth of the business.

Required

You are required to prepare a report to evaluate and recommend a cloud-based accounting software for an Australian ASX-listed company of your choice (your firm’s client).1 The report should include the following components:

1. Background

• Describe your client and its business activities.

• Briefly describe the basic business activities involved in the revenue and expenditure cycles of the selected company.

• And identify the weak internal controls in these business activities. Further, identify the risks associated with these weak controls. 

2. Systems requirements

• Outline the software features and functionalities that your client should consider to support its business activities.

 3. Software selection

• Visit the websites of at least two (2) accounting software package vendors (e.g. SAP, MYOB, Xero, etc.) and provide a brief description of each vendor and its products.

• Compare and contrast the features/functionalities of two cloud-based accounting software packages offered by accounting software package vendors.

• Identify the most suitable vendor and accounting software package for your client and explain why it is the best option.

Assignment Structure

The report should include the following components. 

Executive Summary

Contents Page

Introduction

Typically, the introduction is a short paragraph which includes background, scope and the main points raised in the order of importance. There should be a brief conclusion statement at the end of the introduction.

Main Body Paragraphs with Numbered Sub-headings

This section contains the detailed information which elaborates on the main points raised in the introduction. Each paragraph should begin with an exact topic sentence, then supporting sentences with facts and evidence obtained from research and finish with a concluding sentence at the end.

6. Conclusion

This section contains a logical and coherent evaluation based on a thorough and objective assessment of the research performed.

7. Appendices

This section includes any additional explanatory information which is supplementary and/or graphical to help communicate the main ideas made in the report. Refer to the appendices in the main body paragraphs, as and where appropriate.