Analytics and Big Data for Accountants, 2nd Edition

Analytics and Big Data for Accountants, 2nd Edition

by Jim Lindell
Released December 2020
Publisher(s): Wiley
ISBN: 9781119784623

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Book description

Why is big data analytics one of the hottest business topics today? This book will help accountants and financial managers better understand big data and analytics, including its history and current trends. It dives into the platforms and operating tools that will help you measure program impacts and ROI, visualize data and business processes, and uncover the relationship between key performance indicators.

Key topics covered include:

  • Evidence-based techniques for finding or generating data, selecting key performance indicators, isolating program effects
  • Relating data to return on investment, financial values, and executive decision making
  • Data sources including surveys, interviews, customer satisfaction, engagement, and operational data
  • Visualizing and presenting complex results

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright
  4. Overview
    1. Welcome to analytics and big data for accountants
    2. Introductory comments
    3. Topics discussed
    4. The chapters in this course
    5. Opening discussion
    6. Exercise
    7. Example
  5. Chapter 1: What Are Big Data and Analytics?
    1. Learning objectives
    2. Introduction
    3. Definition — What is big data?
    4. How big is “big”? Volume levels in big data
    5. Knowledge check
    6. Examples of volume
    7. Megabytes, gigabytes, terabytes ... what are they?
    8. Knowledge check
    9. The accountant and big data
    10. The pressure is on for finance and accounting professionals to deliver more insights.
    11. Accounting’s big data problem
    12. Big Data terminology
    13. Four types of data analytics
    14. Benefits of big data
    15. Knowledge check
    16. Practice questions
    17. Notes
  6. Chapter 2: Big Data History — Big Data Sources and Characteristics
    1. Learning objectives
    2. Introduction
    3. The accountant’s perspective — Big data = spreadsheets
    4. Big data from the accountant’s perspective
    5. Knowledge check
    6. History
    7. Knowledge check
    8. Knowledge check
    9. Examine big data through the eyes of a small business
    10. Big data sources
    11. Sources of big data
    12. Characteristics of big data
    13. Knowledge check
    14. Example: Retail survey
    15. Practice questions
    16. Notes
  7. Chapter 3: What Are the Trends in Big Data?
    1. Learning objectives
    2. Introduction
    3. Top big data and analytics trends for 2020
    4. Big Data survey
    5. Accenture trends and surveys
    6. The “Hype Curve”
    7. NewVantage Partners 2020 annual big data Executive Survey
    8. Knowledge check
    9. Practice question
    10. Notes
  8. Chapter 4: What Are the Strategy and Business Applications of Big Data?
    1. Learning objectives
    2. Introduction
    3. Knowledge check
    4. Goals of big data
    5. Business insights associated with big data
    6. Knowledge check
    7. Strategic implications of big data — Challenges
    8. Knowledge check
    9. Dangers of wrong data
    10. Five IT big data mistakes
    11. Knowledge check
    12. Practice questions
    13. Notes
  9. Chapter 5: Big Data Platforms and Operating Tools
    1. Learning objectives
    2. Introduction
    3. Big data capabilities
    4. Knowledge check
    5. What platforms can be used for big data?
    6. Knowledge check
    7. Knowledge check
    8. Top data analysis tools for business
    9. Knowledge check
    10. Hadoop — what is it all about?
    11. Knowledge check
    12. Hadoop core components
    13. Knowledge check
    14. Practice questions
    15. Notes
  10. Chapter 6: Big Data End User and Accounting Tools
    1. Learning objectives
    2. Introduction
    3. Actual example of big data
    4. Example of accessing actual corporate data — Best Buy
    5. Knowledge checks
    6. Optimization
    7. Cruise line uses big data to optimize prices
    8. Knowledge check
    9. Predictive tools
    10. Knowledge check
    11. Enterprise predictive analytic tools — 2019
    12. Other simple tools to access big data sources
    13. Knowledge check
    14. Database tools
    15. Knowledge check
    16. Big data visualization
    17. Practice questions
    18. Notes
  11. Chapter 7: Examples of Big Data
    1. Learning objectives
    2. Introduction
    3. Examples of big data
    4. Knowledge check
    5. Knowledge check
    6. Knowledge check
    7. Knowledge check
    8. Knowledge check
    9. Knowledge check
    10. Knowledge check
    11. Knowledge check
    12. Practice questions
    13. Notes
  12. Chapter 8: Big Data in the Accounting Department
    1. Learning objectives
    2. Introduction
    3. Big data for the CFO
    4. Knowledge check
    5. Big data areas of focus
    6. Accounts receivable
    7. Knowledge check
    8. Knowledge check
    9. Knowledge check
    10. Predictive analytics and accounting
    11. Analytical programs at the SEC
    12. Practice questions
    13. Notes
  13. Chapter 9: Ethics and Privacy With Big Data
    1. Learning objectives
    2. Introduction
    3. Ethical questions
    4. Knowledge check
    5. Ethical implications
    6. Examples of big data ethical lapses
    7. Knowledge check
    8. Google Maps location history is recording
    9. Knowledge check
    10. Knowledge check
    11. Knowledge check
    12. Practice questions
    13. Notes
  14. Index
  15. Solutions
    1. Notes
  16. End User License Agreement

Product information

  • Title: Analytics and Big Data for Accountants, 2nd Edition
  • Author(s): Jim Lindell
  • Release date: December 2020
  • Publisher(s): Wiley
  • ISBN: 9781119784623