Accounting Informatics Professionals

Informatics is about the practical use of information technology within some domain. Informatics is about the intersection between technology, people, and information.  Accounting informatics professionals likely have a blend of accounting/reporting/audit/analysis skills, accounting information system skills, business systems analysis skills, knowledge engineering and information modeling skills, and information technology skills.

As described by the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering at Indiana University Indianapolis; Informatics is about harnessing the power and possibility of digital technology to transform data and information into knowledge that people use every day.  It is about humans using computing technology in the best and more efficient way possible.  The Luddy School uses the analogy of an architect:

With the right hardware (construction materials) and software (knowledge), engineers can create a building that is structurally sound. But the architect transforms it into a livable space, placing doors, windows, and utilities with functionality and ease of use in mind. It’s also possible to prepare food with the proper equipment and a recipe, but it takes a chef to transform ingredients into an unforgettable meal.

Likewise, informatics is about understanding how people will “live” in the digital space, with an elegance of design that makes sense to users of a particular technology. The informatician examines the data to discover solutions and determines which hardware and software will deliver the best user experience possible.

Where computer science emphasizes theoretical foundations, algorithms, and the study of computation; and information technology deals with the implementation, management, and maintenance of computer science related technology systems within organizations; informatics is about the practical use of technology systems by humans.  These three fields complement one another and bring different things to the table in terms of constructing a digital ecosystem.  An informatics professional is not a builder who actually builds things or engineers that understand how to build things effectively; an informatics professional is more of an architect that focuses on design and "livability".

Accounting informatics professionals do things like building accounting oracle machines, algorithmic regulation, accounting working paper templates, audit related schedules and working papers in the form of semantic spreadsheets, and other fun tasks! They will replace the accidental taxonomists and create XBRL taxonomies that serve the institution of accountancy better.

Or, perhaps, "Accountancy Informatics" or maybe "Informatics of Accountancy" might be better.  Accounting is the systematic reporting of financial transactions.  Accountancy is much broader.  Accountancy includes accounting; but goes beyond the recording and reporting financial information. Accountancy includes the profession and practice of financial services, accounting, auditing, tax planning, financial reporting, management reporting, management consulting, accounting information systems, forensic accounting, and so forth.

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