The Effect of the Implementation of Enterprise Resource Planning (Erp) System on the Duties of Accountants: a Survey of Kenyan Parastatals

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of the implementation of enterprise resource planning (ERP) system on the duties of accountants: a survey of Kenyan Parastatals. The research objective was to explore the effect of implementation of ERP system on the duties of accountants in Kenyan Parastatals. The research design adopted was descriptive research design. The target population was 300 staff members of Kenyan Parastatals who had a sample size of 30 respondents. A questionnaire was used as an instrument of data collection and the data was analyzed by statistical packages for social sciences (SPSS).The study findings concluded that when management accountants are involved in the implementation of an ERP system there is an increased likelihood of success. However, in the successful implementations, data quality increases, there is more timely access to information, and decision-making is improved. Furthermore, a successful ERP implementation results in significant changes in the tasks of the management accountants. The study further concluded that management accountants become more closely involved in business decision-making and perform other value adding tasks rather than the routine reporting tasks that are now performed automatically using the ERP software.