Guide against data theft, Wema Bank MD charges accountants

Wema Bank Managing Director, Ademola Adebise, says accountants in the digital age must be knowledgeable and know how to guide against data theft.

Adebise was speaking at the 16th Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN, Western Accountants Conference at Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, on Wednesday.

With the theme of the conference as ‘Digital Economy: ‘Whither the Professional Accountant’, Adebise said the mosern accountant moust get acquainted with modern issues on cybersecurity.

“The accountant must know contemporary issues on cybersecurity – ensuring that digital information is safe and secure, at all times. Going digital exposes you to risk from hackers. So, as an accountant, you need to have an in-depth knowledge of cybersecurity and must know the various data and information security standards to audit the environment,” Adebise said.

Apart from being security conscious and storing data securely, the MD/CEO further noted that modern accountants should understand the changes taking place in the profession, including the evolution from traditional data collection methods.

“These include using Enterprise Resource Planning systems that are interconnected to process data from production, distribution, marketing, and sales. The accountant, therefore, needs to be skilled to understand the complexities, transaction flows of the new ways of doing things and understand what data is saying.”