(FEB NEWS) — At the ninth International Conference and Ph.D. Colloquium for Economics and Business (ICEB) held at Campus B Universitas Airlangga on Tuesday (June 3), Prof. Dr. Arnel Onesimo O. Uy of De La Salle University, Philippines, invited accounting academics and practitioners to reconsider their roles amidst the challenges of the times. He emphasized that research, practice, and teaching must be carried out with an understanding of the what, how, and why of the accounting profession.
Prof. Arnel stated that accountants face the risk of becoming a "useless class" amidst the rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology. He highlighted a concrete example: ChatGPT version 4.0 successfully passed the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam in a short time. This indicates that technology is now capable of mimicking professional accounting skills.
However, he still rejects the notion that the accounting profession will lose its relevance. He believes that humans remain vital in ensuring truth, ethics, and moral values, and that machines cannot completely replace them. "Are we still relevant? Let's answer this question using two perspectives I'll offer," he said.
In his presentation, he offered two important perspectives. First, he called accounting the language of business. Terms like ESG, SDG, and accounting for human rights and business activities must be understood and integrated into educational practices and curricula.
The second perspective touches on the essence of accounting as a form of public service. He cites accounting expert Garry Carnegie's question about whether accounting is still relevant in shaping future societies. The answer lies in social collaboration and the courage to establish comprehensive standards, both for large corporations, MSMEs in the ASEAN region, and other stakeholders.
Prof. Arnel also emphasized the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in accounting research. He stated that global challenges such as climate change, social inequality, and ethical pressures require a cross-disciplinary perspective. Therefore, accounting must evolve from simply reporting results to becoming a means of realizing collective aspirations, such as achieving net-zero carbon emissions.
This guest lecture also highlighted the need for a redefinition of the accounting research agenda. Prof. Arnel suggested considering alternative theories from other disciplines to make accounting more effective in addressing real-world problems, from poverty to social exclusion. This is also crucial for attracting younger generations to the accounting profession, which is currently declining.
Closing his presentation, Prof. Arnel encouraged participants to examine the relationship between three crucial elements of the profession: AI as technology, sustainability, and ethics. He described these three as a nexus that must be comprehensively integrated into accounting practice, research, and education for a brighter future.
"We must ensure that AI is merely a tool for thinking, not a substitute for our accountability as humans. Ethics must be our foundation, and sustainability must be our guiding principle," he said.
Author: Dhamar Gandhang Panji N. (E-Radio FEB UNAIR)