Evaluating the Impact of Digital Accounting Technologies on Strategic Cost Management in Public Sector Organizations: A Case Study of Benin–Owena River Basin Development Authority (BORBDA)

Onyeisue Uzoma Anthony; Awe Ayowale Azeez; Okonkwo Doris Ngozi; Adubi Akindele Olubukola; Elujoba Oyinloluwa Abimbola; Corresponding Author Awe Ayowale Azeez

doi:10.56201/jafm.vol.12.no4.2026.pg66.86

Evaluating the Impact of Digital Accounting Technologies on Strategic Cost Management in Public Sector Organizations: A Case Study of Benin–Owena River Basin Development Authority (BORBDA)

Onyeisue Uzoma Anthony, Awe Ayowale Azeez, Okonkwo Doris Ngozi, Adubi Akindele Olubukola, Elujoba Oyinloluwa Abimbola, Corresponding Author Awe Ayowale Azeez

Abstract

This study examined the impact of digital accounting technologies on strategic cost management in the Benin–Owena River Basin Development Authority . A descriptive survey research design was adopted, and data were collected from 100 respondents using a structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics. The findings revealed a moderate but increasing level of adoption of JAFM digital accounting technologies in BORBDA. The study also established that digital accounting systems significantly enhance cost planning, efficiency, decision-making, and resource allocation. However, challenges such as poor ICT infrastructure, power supply instability, and inadequate staff training hinder effective implementation. This study concludes that the adoption of digital accounting technologies in the Benin–Owena River Basin Development Authority is moderately high and has significantly improved strategic cost management practices. The study further recommend that; The management of BORBDA needs to step up its investment in the current ICT infrastructure to enable smooth running of digital accounting systems; Accounting and finance personnel should be regularly trained and capacity-built to increase their digital skills and efficiency of the systems; The organization ought to have stable and continuous power supply, which could be through alternative energy sources to minimize system disruptions; There has to be effective change management strategies to lessen staff resistance and to promote wholesale usage of digital accounting technologies; The government and management support must be enhanced by providing sufficient funding, policy support, and regular system upgrades to enhance the overall effectiveness of digital accounting.

Keywords

BORBDA; Cost Control; Cost Monitoring; Digital Accounting Technologies; Financial Management; ICT Infrastructure; Public Sector Accounting; Strategic Cost Management.

References

Ab Wahid, R., & Zulkifli, N. A. (2021). Factors affecting the adoption of digital transformation among SMEs in Malaysia. Journal of Information Technology Management, 13(3), 126– 140. https://jitm.ut.ac.ir/article_83233.html Abhishek, N., Suraj, N., Rahiman, H. U., Nawaz, N., Kodikal, R., Kulal, A., & Raj, K. (2024). Digital transformation in accounting: Elevating effectiveness across accounting, auditing, reporting and regulatory compliance. Journal of Accounting & Organizational Change. https://doi.org/10.1108/JAOC-01-2024-0039 Agostino, D., Saliterer, I., & Steccolini, I. (2021). Digitalization, accounting and accountability: A literature review and reflections on future research in public services. Financial Accountability & Management, 38(2), 152–176. https://doi.org/10.1111/faam.12301 Akande, O. O. (2021). Computerized accounting system and performance of entrepreneurs in South Western Nigeria. International Journal of Management and Applied Science, 3(2), 90–95. Al-Hattami, H. M. (2022). Impact of accounting information system success on decision-making effectiveness among SMEs in less developed countries. Information Technology for Development. https://doi.org/10.1080/02681102.2022.2073325 Al-Hattami, H. M., Abdullah, A. A. A. H., Kabra, J. D., Alsoufi, M. A., Gaber, M. M., & Shuraim, A. M. (2022). Effect of accounting information systems on planning process effectiveness: Evidence from SMEs. The Bottom Line, 35(2/3), 33–52. https://doi.org/10.1108/BL-01-2022-0001 Al-Hattami, H. M., Hashed, A. A., Alnuzaili, K. M. E., Maged, A., Alsoufi, Z., Alnakeeb, A. A., & Rageh, H. (2021). Effect of risk of using computerized accounting information systems on external auditors’ work quality in Yemen. International Journal of Advanced and Applied Sciences, 8(1), 75–81. https://doi.org/10.21833/ijaas.2021.01.010 Al-Hattami, H. M., Hashed, A. A., & Kabra, J. D. (2021). Effect of accounting information system success on performance measures of SMEs: Evidence from Yemen. International Journal of Business Information Systems, 36(1), 144–164. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJBIS.2021.112399 Al-Hattami, H. M., & Kabra, J. D. (2022). Accounting information systems and management control effectiveness: Evidence from SMEs in Yemen. Information Development. https://doi.org/10.1177/02666669221087184 Al-Matari, A. S., Amiruddin, R., Aziz, K. A., & Al-Sharafi, M. A. (2022). Dynamic accounting information systems and organizational resilience. Sustainability, 14(9), 4967. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14094967 Alquhaif, A. S., & Al-Mamary, Y. H. (2024). Examining factors influencing the adoption of accounting information systems: An analysis of behavioral intentions and usage behavior. Human Systems Management, 43(1), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1177/01672533241297453 Barna, L. E. L. (2021). The impact of digital accounting on the quality and transparency of information presented by organizations using ERP systems. Journal of Financial Studies, 11(6), 24–32. Chen, M., Wang, H., Liang, Y., & Zhang, G. (2023). Net and configurational effects of determinants on cloud computing adoption by SMEs. Journal of Innovation & Knowledge, 8(3), Article 100388. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jik.2023.100388 Cinjel, N. D., & Chujor, O. F. (2024). Digital governance and its impact on productivity in the Nigerian public sector. Nigerian Journal of Management Sciences, 25(1b). JAFM Coman, E. L. (2024). Digitalization of accounting within the concept of cost management. Social Economic Debates, 13(1). Edelmann, N., Haug, N., & Mergel, I. (2023). Digital transformation in the public sector. In Elgar encyclopedia of services (pp. 406–408). Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-53697-8_19 Garcia, R., & Martinez, F. (2021). Digital transformation in public sector budgeting: Challenges and opportunities. Public Administration Review, 81(5), 911–925. https://doi.org/10.1111/puar.13345 Ghobakhloo, M., Iranmanesh, M., Vilkas, M., & Grybauskas, A. (2022). Drivers and barriers of Industry 4.0 adoption among manufacturing SMEs. Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, 33(6), 1029–1058. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMTM-12-2021- 0505 Hasan, M. M. (2021). Artificial intelligence and its implications in accounting and auditing: A semi-systematic review. Asian Journal of Accounting Research, 6(2), 134–151. https://doi.org/10.1108/AJAR-08-2021-0143 Khin, S., & Kee, D. M. H. (2022). Factors influencing Industry 4.0 adoption. Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMTM-03-2021-0111 Kroon, D. P., Wüst, R. C., & Jansen, R. J. G. (2021). Emerging technologies in accounting: A systematic literature review. Journal of Emerging Technologies in Accounting, 18(1), 29– 50. https://doi.org/10.2308/JETA-2020-006 Kroon, N., do Céu Alves, M., & Martins, I. (2021). The impacts of emerging technologies on accountants’ roles and skills: Connecting to open innovation. Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity, 7(3), 163. https://doi.org/10.3390/joitmc7030163 Lütfi, A., Alshira’h, A. F., Alshirah, M. H., Al-Okaily, M., Alqudah, H., Saad, M., Ibrahim, N., & Abdelmaksoud, O. (2022). Antecedents and impacts of ERP system adoption among SMEs. Sustainability, 14(6), 3508. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14063508 Mardini, G. H., & Alkurdi, A. (2021). Artificial intelligence in accounting: A literature review. International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, 40, 100501. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.accinf.2020.100501 Marsintauli, F. N. (2021). An analysis of cloud accounting implementation in accounting processes. Accounting, 7(4), 747–754. https://doi.org/10.5267/j.ac.2021.3.002 Moradi, A. (2021). ERP implementation in municipal financial management. Urban Management Quarterly, 12(3), 45–62. Offoma, V. C. (2022). Digitalization-driven public service delivery: The Nigerian experience. Journal of Public Administration, Finance and Law, 22, 1–10. Phornlaphatrachakorn, K., & Na Kalasindhu, K. (2021). Digital accounting and financial reporting quality. Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business, 8(8), 409–419. https://doi.org/10.13106/JAFEB.2021.VOL8.NO8.0409 Qin, J., & Qin, Q. (2021). Cloud platform for enterprise financial budget management based on artificial intelligence. Wireless Communications and Mobile Computing, 2021, 8038433. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/8038433 Smith, J. A., & Brown, L. M. (2022). The role of artificial intelligence in enhancing municipal budget accuracy. Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting & Financial Management, 34(2), 123–141. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPBAFM-05-2021-0098 JAFM Stoica, O. C., & Ionescu-Feleagă, L. (2021). Digitalization in accounting: A structured literature review. In Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Economics and Social Sciences (pp. 453–464). https://doi.org/10.2478/9788366675704-045 Taherdoost, H. (2021). Data collection methods and tools for research. International Journal of Academic Research in Management, 10(1), 10–38. UNDP. (2022). Digitization of public finance in local governance. United Nations Development Programme. Vial, G. (2021). Understanding digital transformation: A review and research agenda. In Managing digital transformation (pp. 13–66). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003008637-4 World Bank. (2022). Fiscal transparency in local governments: Global practices and insights. World Bank Publications.

Evaluating the Impact of Digital Accounting Technologies on Strategic Cost Management in Public Sector Organizations: A Case Study of Benin–Owena River Basin Development Authority (BORBDA)

Abstract

Keywords

References

More Articles from JOURNAL OF ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT