Using Alteryx to Teach Accounting in the Era of Big Data: A Case Approach

Accounting education has undergone significant changes over the past 20 years. A curriculum that focuses on GAAP principles and ledger-based accounting rules is being quickly replaced by technology. It is necessary to develop a curriculum that enables universities to prepare students with critical job skills for entry-level accounting positions where students can competently manage big data applications. This paper provides an academic case for classroom use to enable students to acquire those skills. The STARHunter case examines the workflows associated with the audit process and allows for transactions testing, risk assessment, and forensic evaluation. This case would typically be used in an upper-division course in auditing and could be easily adapted to other accounting courses.