Keywords

Accounting Information Systems, Information Technology, Cloud Accounting, The Accounting Profession.

Introduction

Professions generally appear based on the needs of society, and vice versa. It may be due to the needs shifting to other different areas or as a result of their inability to meet the existing needs of society. On the other hand, the emergence of technology, which invaded most areas of life, with the aim of meeting the increasing needs for the society more easily, quickly and within the reach of everyone, was represented by the so-called cloud accounting.

Among the professions that have been fundamentally affected by cloud accounting technology is the accounting profession, a profession in which the effects of this technology extended to advanced levels of detail and depth. The effects of cloud accounting have been embodied in the accounting profession in several areas, the most important of which are:

1. How does cloud accounting work?

2. The application of accounting policies in cloud accounting created an integrated virtual environment for the implementation of these policies, which constitute the nucleus for preparing financial statements

3. The impact on the components of the accounting profession contributed to stripping this profession of several components on which it is based in professional practice.

Together, these areas contributed to the effects of cloud accounting on the accounting profession towards reducing the need for it in the future.

Based on the foregoing, the researcher will try to prove this vision by conducting a field study by designing a questionnaire with three axes and analyzing it statistically to come up with results that prove that cloud accounting has effects on the accounting profession towards reducing the need for it in the future.

The First Axis: Research Methodology

First: The research problem

The developments in information technology were reflected in accounting and resulted in a new trend in the mechanism of work of accounting information systems. This trend was embodied in cloud accounting. The emergence of cloud accounting led to structural and intellectual effects in the intellectual system of the accounting profession while at the same time affecting the vision and future directions of this profession. Therefore, the research problem can be formulated in the following questions:

1. Does cloud accounting reduce the need for the accounting profession in the future?

2. Does the mechanism of cloud accounting work lead to outweighing its weight over the accounting profession?

3. Does the application of accounting policies under cloud accounting push towards dispensing with the accounting profession in this regard?

4. Does cloud accounting contribute to stripping the accounting profession of its basic components and pillars?

Second: The aim of the research

The research aims to study the effects that cloud accounting can have on the future of the accounting profession, and at the same time raise awareness and draw attention to the burdens that cloud accounting technology can bring to replace the burdens carried out by the accounting profession. To achieve this goal, the researcher relied on: the areas in which cloud accounting can fundamentally affect the accounting profession, the future of this profession, and even its existence and continuity.These axes were represented by: The working mechanism of cloud accounting and the application of accounting policies in cloud accounting and its relationship to the components of the accounting profession.

Third: The importance of research

Cloud accounting is a virtual accounting information system that can be accessed at any time and from any website that has an Internet connection. This in itself needs thinking about the reasons or justifications that call for the permanence of the accounting profession mainly because cloud accounting can accomplish all the tasks performed by a profession which is accounting through this virtual system. Therefore, the importance of the research stems from the nature of the effects that cloud accounting can have on the future of the accounting profession, which is likely to affect it towards dispensing with it or reducing the need for it due to the nature of cloud accounting and the benefits and advantages it provides. Its sway over the accounting profession. This trend acquires great importance in the field of thinking by making use of this technology in developing and expanding the tasks that can be performed by accounting professionals and their transition to areas and responsibilities broader than just recording data and preparing financial statements.

Fourth: The research hypothesis

The research starts from the following main hypothesis:

"Cloud accounting affects the future of the accounting profession towards reducing the need for it", and the following sub-hypotheses are derived from it:

1. Cloud accounting reduces the need for the accounting profession through the working mechanism of cloud accounting.

2. Cloud accounting reduces the need for the accounting profession through its implementation mechanism for accounting policies.

3. Cloud accounting reduces the need for the accounting profession through its impact on the components of accounting profession.

The Second Axis: The Intellectual Structure of Cloud Accounting

First: The concept of cloud accounting

The cloud is a platform that helps access data and software over the Internet, at anytime, anywhere and from any device connected to Internet (Efe Efosa & Joseph Oseikhuemhen, 2022).

Cloud computing involves storing and managing very large volumes of data, as well as managing, sharing and allocating resources in a dynamic and flexible way, and this in turn facilitates the efficient handling and sharing of data (Coman et al., 2022). It can be expressed as a presentation of computer hardware, applications and software as services through the Internet, and it allows users to save data and use applications through various devices located in several locations (Dimitriu & Matei, 2014b). Also, it generally refers to the business that is carried out on the Internet without the use of licensing hardware or computer software. In view of the facilities and services provided by cloud computing, and at the same time the desire of accountants to use this emerging technology for the purpose of performing their tasks efficiently and effectively (Walakumbura, 2021), cloud computing platforms have been employed as a technology in the field of accounting under the name of cloud accounting, which has become a necessity and not an option (Rîndașu, 2017).

Cloud accounting is a modern concept that consists of processing accounting data through cloud computing (Coman et al., 2022). The concept of cloud accounting was first defined it as the use of cloud computing on the Internet to build a virtual accounting information system, i.e.: Cloud computing + accounting = cloud accounting (Zhang & Gu, 2013). In other words, it is online accounting that works as an application program on users' computers, but it provides services over the Internet and allows access to users from remote servers(SAHA et al., 2020). Based on the foregoing, cloud accounting is an accounting information system that can be accessed at any time and from any location with an Internet connection, and without the need for prior installation and prior management on local servers (Prichici & Ionescu, 2015). Business owners or accountants can access their financial data from any website on the Internet.

Second: How does cloud accounting work?

The cloud and cloud computing are a cornerstone in the work of cloud accounting, where the data is sent to the cloud, processed and returned to the user, and all application functions are implemented outside the site and not on the users’ desktop. This in turn helps to eliminate the burden of installing and maintaining its software on individual office computers.

By way of comparison, traditional accounting software is purchased as a product and installed on each user's desktop, while cloud accounting is provided as a service. When the accounting data is accessed by users over the Internet, the users buy the use of accounting software from an experienced service provider, not the software itself (Khanom, 2017). Also, since the program is provided over the Internet, this in turn helps users to always access the updated version of this technology without the need for any other procedure for the purpose of updating because it is done automatically (Dimitriu & Matei, 2015). This means the cloud service provider Backup is done from time to time, software is updated automatically, and nothing needs to be installed on the company’s computer (Rajpoot & Pandey, 2022). Therefore, cloud accounting changes the way accounting applications are used and thus modernizes the entire business environment.

The cloud application can be accessed through a web browser from anywhere or from any device using an internet connection, in this way there is no need to install any software or invest in infrastructure. The company’s financial data can be securely saved and run on the provider’s servers, in the cloud, so cloud accounting enables all users (such as business owners, accountants, auditors or customers) to use the same financial data regardless of their location, whether it is the office, home, or any other place (Dimitriu & Matei, 2014a). Cloud accounting provides an alternative to switching from paper-based financial statements to real-time financial dashboards. Its software can give companies the opportunity to transform the relationship with the customer by improving collaboration and communication, and accountants can enable business partners to access accurate and real-time data from anywhere and through an Internet connection. Through collaborative work, companies can eliminate the burden of transferring data (or paper documents), a process that is costly, time-consuming and insecure. With improved remote access, customers can easily pay bills online, and other business partners can use the latest financial information to make wise financial decisions (Dimitriu & Matei, 2015).

The basic steps necessary to use the cloud accounting program can be identified as follows (Rao, 2019 :

1. Scan or copy documents: The first step is to scan or copy the required financial documents, and this is done through a variety of devices such as a mobile phone camera or an office scanner.

2. Upload files to the cloud: Under this step, the cloud accounting service provider gives the customer a login ID (ID) and a password so that this customer can access his account in the cloud and upload documents to the cloud, and immediately these documents become part of the provider’s records the service.

3. Access to documents whenever needed: In this step, and using cloud accounting, a flexible service is accessed that allows users to follow or view their commercial accounts whenever and wherever they are required and through any device.

Third: The benefits of cloud accounting

A number of benefits can be achieved from the application of cloud accounting, as follows:

1. Accessibility: Cloud accounting allows users to access and update financial data and information from any location, at any time, and through any device connected to the Internet without the need to install any other software on their devices, thus providing a great deal of flexibility for the relevant institutions. And data sharing becomes very easy, unlike traditional accounting, in which access to business information and comprehensive financial information is restricted by many tasks such as access to the office to review paper records or even the office computer in which the information is kept (Efe Efosa & Joseph Oseikhuemhen, 2022; Rao et al., 2018).

2. Financial Information Security: Cloud accounting allows maintaining financial information securely, because all financial records are kept online, unlike the process of saving data on the desktop, through which these data may be exposed to the risk of theft or virus penetration into computers, thus the personal information could not be retrieved, while this information can be accessed via the cloud according to cloud accounting (Khanom, 2017).

3. Automatic data backup and restoration: Automatic data backup and restoration is an essential part of the cloud accounting program. It helps to avoid the problem of forgetting to do this task and reduces the human errors because the accounting information is saved automatically in an external location, and this in turn helps protect data from unexpected disasters due to the unlimited storage capacity, unlike the traditional accounting in which an organizations person is assigned to perform a physical backup of the latest accounting records (Efe Efosa & Joseph Oseikhuemhen, 2022).

4. Instant fixes: Cloud accounting allows to address problems that appear in its programs as soon as they occur, in contrast to traditional accounting that is imposed on users, when problems arise during the application, either waiting for the next update to address the defects or contacting a technician (specialists) to adopt correcting errors or addressing the problem (Khanom, 2017).

5. Team-Wide Availability: Cloud accounting provides financial data for all teams working in the facility from authorized users on a permanent basis and at the same time, and this in turn makes cooperation and participation an easy matter. Thus, there is no need to gather in one office or come from different locations for the purposes of reviewing important documents, as is the case in traditional accounting (Efe Efosa & Joseph Oseikhuemhen, 2022).

6. Cloud accounting contributes to updating information immediately and providing this information to the user as soon as transactions are inserted into the systems, and this in turn ensures timely management of financial affairs and then making better and faster decisions (Rao et al., 2018).

7. Cloud accounting allows to simplify the activity of financial accounting by eliminating the repetition of operations, preventing errors, increasing the accuracy of data resulting from its electronic processing and the automated performance of various recurring tasks. These results are positively reflected on the use of time and costs associated with accounting activities and thus create a kind of end user satisfaction as a result of the positive impact on the quality of information and meeting his needs for this information (Coman et al., 2022).

8. Cloud accounting allows for an increase in productivity as a result of not being bound by specific working hours and the availability of the cloud over (24) hours a day, in addition to the low costs of investing in this technology (Dimitriu & Matei, 2015).

9. Cloud accounting contributes to ensuring the accuracy and quality of financial data and reducing the processing time of transactions, and then the integration of accounting functions through a central system of calculation and analysis. So, this helps improve performance by enhancing the agility and flexibility of business (Prichici & Ionescu, 2015).

Fourth: The impact of cloud accounting on accounting policies

Accounting policies indicate the principles, foundations, agreements, rules and accounting practices adopted by the organization when preparing and presenting the financial statements (Vasilescu, 2008).

By following the nature of cloud accounting and its mechanism of action, it can be said that it has developed as a means to simplify the complex, repetitive and resource-intensive tasks that accountants have to perform on a daily basis (Dimitriu & Matei, 2014b). Here, it has become possible to conduct virtually all financial operations in the cloud accounting environment (Efe Efosa & Joseph Oseikhuemhen, 2022). On this basis, the effects of cloud accounting have extended to include accounting policies, including the mechanisms through which the tasks are carried out by accountants. One of the most important accounting policies in which the effect of cloud accounting appears clear are inventory policies and methods of dealing with them, and policies of fixed assets and methods of dealing with them.

Through cloud accounting, it is possible to implement the automatic processes related to the processing, production and processing of inventory, where automatic reports are prepared on the inventories by allocating electronic documents for each transaction, as well as the automatic preparation of the list of required equipment. It is automatically sent to each supplier after being validated. Also, time and workers involved are reduced in costly operations (Coman et al., 2022). Thus, the use of data virtualization solutions through cloud servers provides customers with immediate and permanent inventory control through the integration of operational and accounting functions (Prichici & Ionescu, 2015).

As for fixed asset solutions in the cloud, through the virtualization of the fixed asset unit, time savings can be ensured by simplifying the process of data collection. This in turn is reflected in companies that operate in more than one business point where they eliminate the need to send single records of fixed data assets for data centralization purposes, and then replaced by the process of system integration and operation according to the same accounting rules and under the same life cycle policy. Thus, setting and implementing policies becomes an automatic process for each entry of a new fixed asset into the system. This process helps to eliminate potential errors in classifying assets or allocating the life cycle of the fixed asset, as well as significantly reducing the time required to enter data for the new asset through virtualization. It can be said that through cloud accounting, a complete list is maintained for each fixed asset that is updated instantly. There is also a permanent access to all data related to fixed assets and from all operational departments of the economic entity, as well as automatic updating of the program, including the latest changes in legislation and tax treatment of fixed assets as well as central control over depreciation policies and preparation of various reports on the depreciation and amortization of these assets. It enables to automatically modify the data with purchases, sale, transfer, improvements or re-evaluation of fixed assets(Coman et al., 2022).

Based on the foregoing, cloud accounting, in the context of its impact on accounting policies, has become an integrated virtual work environment that can be relied upon in implementing accounting policies that constitute an articulated tool for preparing and presenting financial statements.

The Third axis: The Intellectual Structure of the Accounting Profession

First: The concept of the accounting profession

The accounting profession is a service activity represented by an information system that seeks to provide information according to certain characteristics, including all areas of its practice. The profession in general is the advantage of having a specific intellectual style acquired through special training that can be applied in various areas of life, and the intellectual style is represented by a set of mental knowledge, practices, experiences or applications (Al-Hawash, 2005). It represents the language of money and business, and it is an information system that depends on the measurement and delivery of financial information (Erdini, 2007). The accounting profession is distinguished from other professions in several areas, including (Al-Shirazi, 1990):

1. It is the language of money and a means of communicating information about the performance of the economic entities of the various social sects. Also, it has its own symbols represented in numbers and debt and credit words, and it also has its linguistic rules represented by a set of general procedures to be followed in preparing data and information for the economic entity.

2. The accounting profession is one of the important means through which a historical record is provided about the economic entity and its dealings with the surrounding environment.

3. The accounting profession has a fundamental impact on the various decisions of the economic entity and society alike, through the various accounting data and information.

The accounting profession aims to achieve the economic and social well-being of society in general and at the same time achieve the highest professional standards to reach the highest levels of performance and meet the requirements of public opinion (Juma, 2015). On the basis of these goals arise the moral obligations represented in the ethics of the accounting profession and expressed in the rules of professional coduct. The goals of the accounting profession require the fulfillment of four basic requirements (Abdel-Wahab & Shehata, 2007):

1. Credibility, which is embodied in the credibility of information and accounting information systems.

2. Professionalism, which is embodied in individuals who can be clearly identified by clients, employers and other professional groups as professionals in the field of accounting.

3. The quality of information, which is embodied in the services provided by professional accountants and represented in the levels of performance.

4. Trust, the accounting profession should give the beneficiaries of this service a sense of confidence by relying on a system of professional ethics that govern this profession.

Second: Characteristics of the accounting profession

The most important characteristics of the accounting profession can be summarized as follows (Maddoukh, 2014):

1. Mastering a specific cultural skill obtained through training and learning.

2. Accepting duties towards society as well as duties towards the client.

3. An objective view of things.

4. Providing services based on human effort and not dealing with a commodity or a transaction.

Third: The components of the accounting profession

The accounting profession can achieve its goals when a set of components are available, the most important of which are presented below:

Conceptual framework of accounting: The conceptual framework of accounting is a coherent system of concepts that are derived from the objectives that define the purposes of financial reporting. The concepts serve as a guide or director for diagnosing the limits of financial reporting, as well as selecting transactions, events and other conditions to be presented, as well as defining methods for recognition, measurement, summarization and reporting of these transactions (Kieso et al., 2016). The conceptual framework serves as a logical basis for arriving at a consistent set of assumptions, principles and standards consistent with the objectives and basic concepts of the financial statements. It aims at finding scientific solutions to the problems faced by the accounting profession and thus increasing the confidence of the users of financial statements in the objectivity of the information contained therein.

1. Accounting Standards: The accounting standard means that it is a standard, model or basic principle, which aims to find a sound basis for identifying, measuring, presenting and disclosing the elements of the financial statements, and the impact of operations, events and conditions on the financial position of the institution and the results of its work. On the basis of accounting standards, a set of reports and financial statements is prepared, which has different effects on users' decisions. Hence there are interests in setting rules and standards for regulating the accounting profession in order to achieve justice, transparency and comparison (Belouro & Kotaib, 2014).

2. Experience: Professional experience in accounting is defined as knowledge related to specific accounting problems, as well as the possibility of solving these problems in a distinct way resulting from the good organization of this knowledge (Ajila, 2019). Professional experience is not limited to the scientific qualification only, but the professional accountant must have the ability to efficiently utilize his knowledge in the field of work, and he should also undergo adequate training to meet the requirements of the tasks assigned by spending a specific period with a practitioner of the profession in order to obtain the necessary professional knowledge.

3. Rules of professional conduct: It is a set of rules and principles that the professional accountant must abide by and work according to, which ensures success in his dealings with parties related to his profession, as well as gaining the confidence of those dealing with him (Ajila & Ajila, 2020).

The rules of professional conduct are based on a set of principles, the most important of which are: (Ajila, 2019; Maddoukh, 2014):

1. Honesty and Integrity: The professional accountant should be honest and truthful in all his professional relationships.

2. Objectivity and Independence: Objectivity and independence form the basis of impartiality and justice, so the professional accountant must not allow bias or excessive influence of other parties in order to bypass professional judgments.

3. Professional competence and due diligence: A professional accountant should perform his duties with diligence and care in accordance with the technical and professional standards in force when providing his services.

4. Professional conduct: The professional accountant should abide by the laws and regulations related to his profession and avoid everything that would harm his reputation.

5. Technical standards: The professional accountant should abide by the professional work in accordance with the technical and professional standards related to the accounting profession issued by the authority or the professional association of accountants, in addition to complying with the client’s instructions as long as they do not conflict with the requirements of honesty and objectivity.

6. Confidentiality: A professional accountant must respect the confidentiality of information obtained as a result of professional relationships and not disclose it to a third party, as well as not use it for personal benefit or for third parties.

The fourth axis: The areas of impact of cloud accounting on the accounting profession

Professions generally appear based on the needs of the community, where they are employed to meet these needs, and professions end or disappear when there is no need for them, either because the needs have shifted to other different fields or as a result of their inability to meet the existing needs of the community.

On the other hand, the emergence of technology (which invaded most areas of life) aimed at meeting the growing needs of society and at the same time to make meeting these needs more easily, quickly and within the reach of everyone. Among the areas that have been affected by technology are the professions in their various specializations. The impact of technology on professions in general has varied based on the depth or extent of this influence in the most accurate tasks required to implement these professions, some of them are affected in a profound and fundamental way so that technology has become a factor threatening its demise, as it will gradually replace it, and some of them are affected in a superficial and simple way that contributed to strengthening the existence of this profession. Among the professions that have been fundamentally affected by technology is the accounting profession, a profession in which the effects of technology extended to advanced levels of detail and depth. This technology was represented by the so-called cloud accounting.

The effects of cloud accounting were embodied in the accounting profession, and according to the researcher’s vision, in several areas, the most important of which are:

1. The working mechanism of cloud accounting, which generally indicates that it has penetrated most, if not all, the joints of the accounting profession, such as creating accounting notes automatically, calculating various financial rates and equations, creating accounting reports and documents, preparing lists, periodic statements and financial reports, and this opens the way to reduce the need for the work of professional accountants. The cloud is to rule out the need to hire an accountant or bookkeeper, because this service will accomplish any process or any financial equation as a virtual financial manager, referring to the absence of the need for the human resource to perform the task of the financial manager. Cloud accounting solutions can be provided depending on the customer’s needs and preferences, and this means a permanent and immediate response to the customer’s needs as far as his renewed desires and various requirements emanating from his interests.... Here the customer will be freed from the narrow and limited templates of accounting solutions imposed by the accounting profession.

2. Another area that shows the effects of cloud accounting on the accounting profession, in the direction of reducing the need for it, is the application of accounting policies, through which it became an integrated virtual environment for the implementation of these policies, which constitutes the nucleus for preparing financial statements.

3. The effects of cloud accounting extended to the components of the accounting profession, as it contributed to stripping the accounting profession of several elements based on it in professional practice, and thus became an additional factor pushing towards reducing the need for this profession in the future.

According to the above discussion, the researcher will try to prove this vision by conducting a field study by designing a questionnaire with three axes and analyzing it statistically to come up with results that prove that cloud accounting has effects on the accounting profession towards reducing the need for it in the future.

The Fifth axis: Field Study

The field study was conducted with the aim of achieving the research hypotheses by designing a questionnaire, which included three axes:

1. The first axis: the working mechanism of cloud accounting and the accounting profession

2. The second axis: the application of accounting policies in cloud accounting and the accounting profession

3. The third axis: cloud accounting and the components of the accounting profession

Each axis consisted of (7) items, distributed to a random sample of the research community, which was represented by a number of professional and academic accountants and investors in the Iraq Stock Exchange. The study approved (100) questionnaire forms for the purpose of statistical and factor analysis.

First: The descriptive statistics results

This part of the research seeks to present and analyze the results of the field study conducted by the researcher. It uses descriptive statistics tools for the responses from the sample members about the mean to estimate the relative dispersion, with the aim of determining a general framework for the preferences of the respondents and their general orientations in relation to the research variables, through the five-point Likert scale.

A- Presentation and interpretation of the results in terms of the arithmetic mean, standard deviation, and coefficient of variation for the first axis (the working mechanism of cloud accounting and the accounting profession), the importance of which is evident in Table 1, which reflects the answers of the sample members.

Table 1 Analysis of Averages for (The Working Mechanism of Cloud Accounting and the Accounting Profession)
Items	Responses										Arithmetic mean	standard deviation	coefficient of difference %
	Totally agree		agree		Neutral		disagree		Totally disagree
	repetition	percentage %	repetition	percentage %	repetition	percentage %	repetition	percentage %	repetition	percentage %
1- The working mechanism of cloud accounting requires scanning of financial documents and then uploading files (documents) to the cloud in order for their data to be processed and enabling the customer to access his account in the cloud, and this in turn excludes the need for the accounting profession in this regard.	44	44%	43	43%	11	11%	1	% 1	1	1%	4.28	0.78	18.21
2- Cloud accounting allows users to follow up and view their financial accounts whenever and wherever they are required and from any device, since the implementation of tasks takes place outside the organization due to the presence of the cloud over a period of (24) hours a day, and this in turn excludes the need for accounting professionals to perform this task.	36	36%	55	55%	6	6%	3	3%	0	0	4.24	0.70	16.46
3- Cloud accounting creates accounting notes automatically for various transactions and operations, and this in turn creates the conditions that push towards dispensing with the accounting profession as far as this part is concerned.	26	26%	60	60%	13	13%	1	1%	0	0	4.11	0.65	15.81
4- Cloud accounting works on preparing the necessary lists and periodic statements or financial reports and dashboards, and this in itself is a justification for dispensing with accounting professionals as far as this part is concerned.	41	41%	36	36%	18	18%	5	5%	0	0	4.13	0.88	21.40
5- Under the cloud accounting, there is the possibility of calculating various financial rates and equations and preparing accounting reports and documents whenever it is necessary, and this opens the way to dispense with accounting professionals in this regard.	27	27%	55	55%	17	17%	1	1%	0	0	4.08	0.69	16.95
6- Under the cloud accounting, there is a possibility to use alternative accounting plans to prepare accounting reports using various financial reporting standards (such as IFRS or US-GAAP), and this justifies the lack of need for the accounting profession in this field.	40	40%	49	49%	9	9%	2	2%	0	0	4.27	0.71	16.59
7- The automatic review to ensure the link between the financial and administrative accounting of the respective accounts is one of the working mechanisms of cloud accounting that helps in obtaining immediate reports on the facility, and this in turn pushes towards dispensing with the accounting profession in this regard.	34	34%	49	49%	15	15%	2	2%	0	0	4.15	0.74	17.92
The fist axis	248	29.52%	347	41.31%	89	10.60%	15	1.79%	1	0.12%	4.18	0.36	8.73

We note from the answers of the sample members that the results were distributed among the highest level of the answer, and they were achieved by the first item that included{The mechanism of the cloud accounting work requires scanning the financial documents and then uploading the files (documents) to the cloud for their data to be processed, and it enables the customer to access his account in the cloud, and this in turn eliminates the need for the accounting profession in this regard}as the value of the arithmetic mean was (4.28), with a standard deviation of (0.78), and with a coefficient of difference of (18.21%). Yet the lowest value of the arithmetic mean was for the fifth paragraph, which included (In light of cloud accounting, there is the possibility of calculating various financial rates and equations and preparing accounting reports and documents whenever necessary, and this allows for the dispensation of accounting professionals in this regard) where the value of the arithmetic mean was (4.08) and with a standard deviation of (0.69) and the coefficient of difference was (16.95%). We note through the results presented in Table 1 the agreement of most of the sample members, as their responses were positive and largely on all items of the first axis (the working mechanism of cloud accounting and the accounting profession), and it also reflects a general arithmetic mean for the axis of (4.18) and a standard deviation of (0.36) with a coefficient of difference of (8.73%).

B - Presentation and interpretation of the results of arithmetic mean, standard deviation and coefficient of difference for the second axis (the application of accounting policies in cloud accounting and the accounting profession), the importance of which is evident in Table 2, which reflects the answers of the sample members.

Table 2 Analysis of Averages for(The Application of Accounting Policies in Cloud Accounting and the Accounting Profession)
Items	Responses										Arithmetic mean	standard deviation	Coefficient of  difference   %
	Totally agree		agree		Neutral		disagree		Totally disagree
	repetition	percentage %	repetition	percentage %	repetition	percentage %	repetition	percentage %	repetition	percentage %
1- Cloud accounting includes huge storage capabilities and data with great consistency, which helps to change the way accounting applications are used and modernize the entire business environment, which is reflected on the accounting profession and the decline in the need for it in this renewable environment.	41	41%	44	44%	12	12%	3	3%	0	0	4.23	0.78	18.36
2- Within the framework of inventory policies, cloud accounting works on the immediate integration of purchases of raw materials with sales of finished goods, calculating costs - and analyzing sales, cost and profit for each product, which is reflected in the accounting profession and the decrease in the need for it in this regard.	36	36%	49	49%	12	12%	2	2%	1	1%	4.17	0.79	18.99
3- Within the framework of inventory policies, cloud accounting works to allocate electronic documents for each transaction - those represented by production recipes, inventory cards, and transfer notes between warehouses - and this in itself is an incentive to leave the accounting profession in this regard.	50	50%	36	36%	11	11%	2	2%	1	1%	4.32	0.83	19.15
4- Within the framework of inventory policies, cloud accounting works on the immediate determination of the location of the inventory for each warehouse, the categories of inventory items and the implementation of the functions of recording the entry and exit of inventory, which favors the balance of cloud accounting towards dispensing with the accounting profession in this regard.	45	45%	34	34%	18	18%	3	3%	0	0	4.21	0.84	20.06
5- Within the framework of fixed asset policies, cloud accounting has the ability to automatically change data related to additions, improvements, re-evaluation, or transfers of fixed assets, thus allowing for dispensing with the accounting profession as far as this part is concerned.	21	21%	52	52%	25	25%	2	2%	0	0	3.92	0.73	18.73
6- Within the framework of fixed asset policies, cloud accounting works on the integration of the fixed asset unit into the accounting function through the automatic transmission of information, which in itself is considered a justification for leaving the accounting profession in this field.	13	13%	65	65%	18	18%	4	4%	0	0	3.87	0.68	17.48
7- Within the framework of fixed asset policies, cloud accounting works on making instant automated updates to the software according to the latest legislative changes and financial treatment of fixed assets, and this in turn is reflected in the accounting profession towards dispensing with it in this field.	30	30%	39	39%	27	27%	4	4%	0	0	3.95	0.86	21.70
The second axis	236	28.10%	319	37.98%	123	14.64%	20	2.38%	2	0.24%	4.10	0.33	8.07

Table 2 shows the arithmetic means, standard deviation, and coefficient of difference related to the answers of the respondents regarding the second axis included (the application of accounting policies in cloud accounting and the accounting profession). The results were distributed between the highest level of the responses to the third item (in the context of inventory policies, cloud accounting works to allocate electronic documents for each transaction - those represented by production recipes, inventory cards, and transfer notes between warehouses - and this in itself is an incentive to leave the accounting profession in this regard). The mean value was (4.32), with a standard deviation between the answers (0.83), and with a coefficient of difference (19.15%). While the lowest value of the arithmetic mean of the sixth item included(within the framework of fixed asset policies, cloud accounting works to integrate the unit of fixed assets into the accounting function through the automatic transmission of information, which in itself is a justification for leaving the accounting profession in this field) where the value of the arithmetic mean was (3.87) with a standard deviation of (0.68) and a coefficient of difference of (17.48%). We note, through the results presented in Table (2), most responses were positive and largely on all items of the second axis (the application of accounting policies in cloud accounting and the accounting profession), and it also reflects a general arithmetic mean for the axis of (4.10) and with a standard deviation of (0.33) with a coefficient of difference of (8.07%).

C- Presentation and interpretation of the results of arithmetic mean, standard deviation and coefficient of difference for the third axis (cloud accounting and the components of the accounting profession), the importance of which is evident in Table 3, which reflects the answers of the sample members.

Table 3 Analysis of Averages for (Cloud Accounting and the Components of Accounting Profession)
Items	Responses										Arithmetic mean	standard deviation	Coefficient of  difference %
	Totally agree		agree		Neutral		disagree		Totally disagree
	repetition	percentage %	repetition	percentage %	repetition	percentage %	repetition	percentage %	repetition	percentage %
1- Cloud accounting strips the accounting profession of the principle of professional competence and the necessary care as a professional behavior of the accountant and a mainstay on which it is based.	40	40%	36	36%	20	20%	4	4%	0	0	4.12	0.87	21.06
2- Cloud accounting strips the accounting profession of the principle of confidentiality as a professional behavior of the accountant and a mainstay on which it is based.	25	25%	35	35%	28	28%	11	11%	1	1%	3.72	1.00	26.77
3- Cloud accounting strips the accounting profession of the principle of independence as a professional behavior of the accountant and a mainstay on which it is based.	24	24%	51	51%	22	22%	3	3%	0	0	3.96	0.76	19.30
4- Cloud accounting works on abstracting the accounting profession from the most important pillars on which it is based, which is the provision of services based on human effort.	25	25%	40	40%	33	33%	2	2%	0	0	3.88	0.81	20.81
5- Cloud accounting marginalizes the professional element as one of the basic requirements for the accounting profession and for those who work in accounting.	48	48%	40	40%	12	12%	0	0	0	0	4.36	0.69	15.81
6- Cloud accounting marginalizes the element of trust, which is based on a professional ethical system that constitutes a fundamental pillar of the accounting profession.	27	27%	50	50%	21	21%	2	2%	0	0	4.02	0.75	18.70
7- Cloud accounting strips the accounting profession from the principle of technical standards issued by the Professional Association of Accountants as a professional behavior for the accountant and a mainstay on which it is based.	17	17%	53	53%	29	29%	1	1%	0	0	3.86	0.70	18.05
The third axis	206	24.52%	305	36.31%	165	19.64%	23	2.74%	1	0.12%	3.99	0.33	8.33

Table 3 shows the arithmetic means, standard deviation, and coefficient of difference related to the answers of respondents regarding the third axis included (cloud accounting and the components of accounting profession). The results were distributed among the highest level of the answer, and it was achieved by the fifth paragraph containing (cloud accounting marginalizes the professional element as one of the basic requirements for the accounting profession and for those who work in accounting) where the mean value was (4.36), standard deviation between the answers (0.69) and the coefficient of difference (15.81%). While the lowest value of the mean was for the second item included (cloud accounting strips the accounting profession from the principle of confidentiality as a professional behavior of the accountant and a mainstay on which it is based) where the mean value was (3.72), the standard deviation was (1.00), and the coefficient of difference amounted to (26.77%). From the above, the respondents of the sample, and according to their answers to the third axis that included (cloud accounting and the components of the accounting profession), their agreement in terms of the arithmetic mean, which amounted to (3.99) and with a standard deviation of (0.33) and a coefficient of difference of (8.33%).

Test and analyze the significance of the dimensions of research variables

The first step in determining the relationship between the variables is to identify the basic research variables and the nature of the relationship between them, for each of the first axis “the working mechanism of cloud accounting and the accounting profession,” and the second axis“the application of accounting policies in cloud accounting and the accounting profession” ,and the third axis “cloud accounting and the components of the accounting profession.” For the purpose of testing the research hypotheses, we will use the T-Test to measure the significance of the arithmetic mean, and then compare it with the hypothetical mean, if the arithmetic mean is greater than the hypothetical mean, this means that(cloud accounting affects the future of the accounting profession in the direction of reducing the need for it), i.e. there is a moral association or a moral effect, and if it is smaller, it means that it is not applied, in other words, there is no moral association or a moral effect. The following hypotheses will be tested:

The first sub-hypothesis of the research is “Cloud accounting limits the need for the accounting profession through the working mechanism of cloud accounting”, Table 4 shows the results of the test factor values for the research variables that have been assumed.

Table 4 T-Test for the First Sub-Hypothesis Depending on the Output of SPSS
Mean	Std. Deviation	T-TEST	Df	T-TABLE	Sig. (2-tailed)
4.18	0.36	32.355	99	1.984	0

The value of (T-TEST) reached (32.355), which is greater than its tabular value at the level of significance (0.05) and the degree of freedom (99), which amounted to(1.984) this means that there are significant differences. The arithmetic mean value reached (4.18), which is greater than the hypothetical mean, which is (3), and this means that the morale is in favor of the arithmetic mean, which indicates that there is a significant correlation to cloud accounting. This contributes to reducing the need for the accounting profession through the working mechanism of cloud accounting, and thus was reflected in the proof of the first sub-hypothesis. So, “cloud accounting limits the need for the accounting profession through the working mechanism of cloud accounting.”

The second sub-hypothesis “Cloud accounting limits the need for the accounting profession through the mechanism of its implementation of accounting policies”. Table 5 shows the results of the test factor values for the research variables that were assumed.

Table 5 T-Test for the Second Sub-Hypothesis Depending on the Output of SPSS
Mean	Std. Deviation	T-TEST	Df	T-TABLE	Sig. (2-tailed)
4.1	0.33	33.146	99	1.984	0

The value of (T-TEST) reached (33.146), which is greater than its tabular value at the significance level (0.05) and the degree of freedom (99), which amounted to (1.984). This means that there are significant differences, and the arithmetic mean value reached (4.10), which is greater than the hypothetical average of (3). This means that cloud accounting limits the need for the accounting profession through the mechanism of its implementation of accounting policies, in other words, the mean is in favor of the arithmetic mean, which indicates the proof of the second sub-hypothesis, meaning that “cloud accounting limits the need for the accounting profession through its implementation of accounting policies".

The third sub-hypothesis “Cloud accounting limits the need for the accounting profession through its impact on the components of the accounting profession.” Table 6 shows the results of the test factor values for the research variables that were assumed.

Table 6 T-Test for the Third Sub-Hypothesis Depending on the Output of SPSS
Mean	Std. Deviation	T-TEST	Df	T-TABLE	Sig. (2-tailed)
3.99	0.33	29.758	99	1.984	0

The value of (T-TEST) reached (29.758), which is greater than its tabular value at the significance level (0.05) and the degree of freedom (99), which is (1.984), and this means that there are significant differences, and the arithmetic mean value reached (3.99) which is greater than the hypothetical mean and the amount (3). This means that cloud accounting has a role in reducing the need for the accounting profession through its impact on the components of the accounting profession, in other words, the mean is in favor of the arithmetic mean, which indicates the proof of the third sub-hypothesis, that is, “cloud accounting limits the need for the accounting profession through its impact on the components of the accounting profession".

The main hypothesis of the research “Cloud accounting affects the future of the accounting profession towards reducing the need for it.” Table 7 shows the results of the test parameter values for the research variables that have been assumed.

Table 7 T-Test for the Main Hypothesis of the Research Depending on the Output of SPSS
Mean	Std. Deviation	T-TEST	Df	T-TABLE	Sig. (2-tailed)
4.08	0.233	46.615	99	1.984	0

The value of (T-TEST) reached (46.615), which is greater than its tabular value at the significance level (0.05) and the degree of freedom (99), which amounted to (1.984), and this means that there are significant differences, and the arithmetic mean value reached (4.08), which is greater than the hypothetical mean of 3. So, cloud accounting affects the future of the accounting profession towards reducing the need for it, in other words the mean value is in favor of the arithmetic mean, which indicates the proof of the main hypothesis of the research, that is, “cloud accounting affects the future of the accounting profession towards reducing the need for it."

Second: Factor analysis of the research variables

The main purpose of the exploratory factor analysis method is to summarize and reduce the variables to the fewest number of them, and the factor analysis aims to explain the positive correlation coefficients that have statistical significance. In the current study, it will depend on the factorial analysis for the purpose of testing the scale of the first axis (the working mechanism of cloud accounting and the accounting profession), the scale of the second axis (the application of accounting policies in cloud accounting and the accounting profession) and the scale of the third axis (cloud accounting and the components of the accounting profession) in order to explicitly explore the dimensions that Involve under these scales.

The sufficiency of the sample and the presence of correlations between the variables

In order to verify the adequacy of the study sample, which is one of the most important and necessary conditions for the use of factor analysis, the (KMO) scale (The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin Measure) was used. Table 8 shows that the value of (KMO) is greater than (0.5), reaching (0.630) for the first axis, (0.504) for the second axis, and (0.519) for the third axis. This indicates an increase in the reliability of the factors that we obtain from the factor analysis as well as the adequacy of sample volume. For the correlations between the variables, the Bartlett test was used in terms of whether the correlation matrix was a single matrix, and the test indicates the presence of mean, which indicates the significant correlation, where the test value reached (0.003) for the first axis and (0.002) for the second and (0.035) for the third axis, which is less than the level of significance (0.05), and as in Table 8 below:

Table 8 KMO and Bartlett’s. Test Results
First axis	Second axis	Third axis	KMO and Bartlett's Test
0.63	0.504	0.519	Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin Measure of Sampling Adequacy
42.883	44.52	34.189	Approx. Chi-Square	Bartlett's Test of Sphericity
0.003	0.002	0.035	Sig.

Using the (Principal Components) method, it is possible to present a summary of the results of the factor analysis on the coefficients of commonality for the first axis (the working mechanism of cloud accounting and the accounting profession), which were only two that had eigenvalues greater than the correct one before and after rotation. Also, Table 9 shows that we have reached to two factors due to the fact that their specific values (the latent root) are greater than one, and the percentages of interpretation of the variances from the total variance of each factor were also reached.

Table 9 Summary of Factor Analysis Results (the Working Mechanism of Cloud Accounting and the Accounting Profession)
Component	Initial Eigen values			Extraction Sums of Squared Loadings			Rotation Sums of Squared Loadings
	Total	% of Variance	Cumulative %	Total	% of Variance	Cumulative %	Total	% of Variance	Cumulative %
1	1.832	26.165	26.165	1.832	26.165	26.165	1.714	24.491	24.491
2	1.238	17.690	43.855	1.238	17.690	43.855	1.355	19.363	43.855
3	0.924	13.196	57.051
4	0.893	12.763	69.814
5	0.796	11.377	81.191
6	0.726	10.367	91.558
7	0.591	8.442	100.000

Based on the results presented above in Table 9, the items of the first axis (the working mechanism of cloud accounting and the accounting profession) was summarized in only two factors that include (7) variables. These factors together contributed to explaining (43.855%) of the total variance. The first main factor has the largest potential root and is equal to (1.714) and explains (24.491%), while the second factor explains (19.363%) of the total variance for the first axis. Table 10 explains the matrix of components (matrix of factors) before and after the rotation, which shows the correlation coefficient between the factor and the variable that was extracted.

Table 10 Matrix of Factors Before and After Rotation of the Axis (the Working  Mechanism of Cloud Accounting and the Accounting Profession)
Component Matrixa			Rotated Component Matrixa
	Component			Component
	1	2		1	2
Q2	0.720	0.116	Q2	0.593	0.424
Q3	0.612		Q4	0.589
Q4	0.509	-0.301	Q3	0.568	0.233
Q6	0.469	-0.289	Q1	0.566	-0.101
Q1	0.462	-0.342	Q6	0.549
Q7	0.127	0.744	Q5	0.156	0.764
Q5	0.479	0.615	Q7	-0.216	0.723

The first main factor is one of the most important factors extracted, as it alone explains (24.491%) of the total variance for the first axis, meaning that what corresponds to this percentage are the following variables:

1. Cloud accounting allows users to follow up and view their financial accounts whenever and wherever they are required and from any device, since the implementation of tasks takes place outside the organization due to the presence of the cloud over a period of (24) hours a day. This in turn excludes the need for accounting professionals to do this task.

2. Cloud accounting works on preparing the necessary lists and periodic statements or financial reports and dashboards, and this in itself is a justification for dispensing with accounting professionals as far as this part is concerned.

3. Cloud accounting works to create accounting notes automatically for various transactions and operations, and this in turn creates the conditions that push towards dispensing with the accounting profession as far as this part is concerned.

4. The working mechanism of cloud accounting requires scanning of financial documents and then uploading files (documents) to the cloud so that their data is processed and enabling the customer to access his account in the cloud, which in turn excludes the need for the accounting profession in this regard.

5. Under the cloud accounting, there is a possibility to use alternative accounting plans to prepare accounting reports using various financial reporting standards (such as IFRS or US-GAAP), and this justifies the lack of the need for the accounting profession in this field.

The second main factor and it is one of the important factors extracted as it alone explains (19.363%) of the total variance for the first axis, meaning that what corresponds to this percentage are the following variables:

1. Under the cloud accounting, there is the possibility of calculating various financial rates and equations and preparing accounting reports and documents whenever necessary, and this opens the way to dispense with accounting professionals in this regard.

2. The automatic review to ensure the link between the financial and administrative accounting of the respective accounts is one of the working mechanisms of cloud accounting that helps in obtaining immediate reports on the facility, and this in turn pushes the direction of dispensing with the accounting profession in this regard.

Table 11 shows a summary of the results of factor analysis for the second axis (the application of accounting policies in cloud accounting and the accounting profession) on the common factors of the axis, which were only three with intrinsic values greater than the correct one before and after rotation. This table shows that three factors have been reached due to the fact that their specific values (the latent root) are greater than one, and the percentages of interpretation of the variances from the total variance of each factor have been reached.

Table 11 Summary of Factor Analysis Results (the Application of Accounting Policies in Cloud Accounting and the Accounting Profession)
Component	Initial Eigen values			Extraction Sums of Squared Loadings			Rotation Sums of Squared Loadings
	Total	% of Variance	Cumulative %	Total	% of Variance	Cumulative %	Total	% of Variance	Cumulative %
1	1.400	20.000	20.000	1.400	20.000	20.000	1.349	19.270	19.270
2	1.202	17.165	37.165	1.202	17.165	37.165	1.221	17.446	36.716
3	1.092	15.598	52.764	1.092	15.598	52.764	1.123	16.048	52.764
4	0.933	13.334	66.098
5	0.908	12.975	79.073
6	0.792	11.312	90.384
7	0.673	9.616	100.000

Based on the results contained in the table above, the items of the axis (the application of accounting policies in cloud accounting and the accounting profession) was summarized in three factors that include (7) variables, and these factors together contributed to explaining (52.764%) of the total variance, that the first main factor has the largest potential root and is equal to (1.349) at (19.27%). Yet, the second factor is (17.446%) of the total variance of the second axis after rotation, and the third factor becomes (16.048%) of the total variance of the second axis. Table 12 shows the matrix of components (matrix of factors) before and after rotation, which shows the correlation coefficient between the factor and the variable that was extracted.

Table 12 Matrix of Factors Before and After Rotation of the Axis (Application of Accounting Policies in Cloud Accounting and the Accounting Profession)
Component Matrixa				Rotated Component Matrixa
	Component				Component
	1	2	3		1	2	3
A5	0.672	-0.172	0.183	A5	0.713
A4	0.544	-0.129	0.256	A4	0.612
A2	0.510	0.501	-0.237	A3	0.508
A3	0.468		0.195	A6		0.725
A6	0.236	0.690		A2	0.240	0.657	-0.281
A7	-0.315	0.648	0.369	A1	0.192	-0.171	0.848
A1	-0.137		0.873	A7	-0.335	0.478	0.560

The first main factor: is one of the most important factors extracted, as it alone explains (19.270%) of the total variance for the second axis, meaning that what corresponds to this percentage are the following variables :

1. Within the framework of fixed assets policies, cloud accounting has the ability to automatically change data related to additions, improvements, re-evaluation, or transfers of fixed assets, thus allowing for dispensing with the accounting profession as far as this part is concerned.

2. Within the framework of inventory policies, cloud accounting works on the immediate determination of the location of the inventory for each warehouse, the categories of inventory items and the implementation of the functions of recording the entry and exit of inventory, which favors the balance of cloud accounting towards dispensing with the accounting profession in this regard.

3. Within the framework of inventory policies, cloud accounting works to allocate electronic documents for each transaction - those represented by production recipes, stock cards, and transfer notes between warehouses - and this in itself is an incentive to leave the accounting profession in this regard.

The second main factor: is one of the important factors that have been extracted, as it alone reaches (17.466%) of the total variance of the second axis, meaning that what corresponds to this percentage are the following variables:

1. Within the framework of fixed asset policies, cloud accounting works on the integration of the fixed asset unit into the accounting function through the automatic transmission of information, which in itself is a justification for leaving the accounting profession in this field.

2. Within the framework of inventory policies, cloud accounting works on the immediate integration of purchases of raw materials with sales of finished goods and calculation of costs - and analysis of sales, cost and profit for each product, this is reflected in the accounting profession and the decrease in the need for it in this regard.

The third main factor: is one of the important factors that have been extracted, as it alone reaches (16.048%) of the total variance of the second axis, meaning that what corresponds to this percentage are the following variables:

1. Cloud accounting includes huge saving capabilities and data with great consistency, which helps to change the way accounting applications are used and modernize the entire business environment, which is reflected in the accounting profession and the decrease in the need for it in this renewable environment.

2. Within the framework of fixed asset policies, cloud accounting works on making instant automatic updates of the software according to the latest legislative changes and financial treatment of fixed assets, and this in turn is reflected in the accounting profession towards dispensing with it in this field.

Table 13 shows a summary of factor analysis results for the third axis (cloud accounting and the components of the accounting profession) on the coefficients of commonality for the axis, which were only four that had intrinsic values greater than the correct one before and after the rotation. The latent root is greater than one true, and the percentages of interpretation of variances from the total variance for each factor were reached.

Table 13 Summary of Factor Analysis Results (Cloud Accounting and the Components of the Accounting Profession)
Component	Initial Eigen values			Extraction Sums of Squared Loadings			Rotation Sums of Squared Loadings
	Total	% of Variance	Cumulative %	Total	% of Variance	Cumulative %	Total	% of Variance	Cumulative %
1	1.559	22.277	22.277	1.559	22.277	22.277	1.475	21.065	21.065
2	1.256	17.944	40.221	1.256	17.944	40.221	1.270	18.140	39.205
3	1.087	15.525	55.746	1.087	15.525	55.746	1.131	16.160	55.366
4	1.018	14.550	70.296	1.018	14.550	70.296	1.045	14.930	70.296
5	.835	11.931	82.227
6	.641	9.164	91.391
7	.603	8.609	100.000

Based on the results in the table above, the items of the axis (cloud accounting and the components of the accounting profession) have been summarized in four factors comprising (7) variables. These factors together contributed to explaining (70.296%) of the total variance, that the first main factor is the largest latent root which equals (1.475) and explains (21.065%), while the second factor explains (18.149%) of the total variance of the third axis after rotation and the third factor is the reason for about (16.160%) of the total variance of the third axis, and the fourth factor explains (14.930%) of the total variance for the third axis. Table 14 shows the matrix of components (matrix of factors) before and after rotation, which shows the correlation coefficient between the factor and the variable that was extracted.

Table 14 Matrix of Factors Before and After Rotation of the Axis (Cloud Accounting and the Components of the Accounting Profession)
Component Matrixa					Rotated Component Matrixa
	Component					Component
	1	2	3	4		1	2	3	4
Z6	0.765	-0.158	-0.116	-0.153	Z7	0.776	-0.176	0.298	-0.106
Z5	0.696	0.328	0.175	0.196	Z6	0.723		-0.352
Z7	0.537	-0.395	0.491	-0.221	Z5	0.547	0.521		0.297
Z2	0.271	0.705			Z2		0.732	-0.182
Z4	-0.119	0.665	0.279		Z4	-0.216	0.653	0.252
Z3	-0.284		0.846	0.135	Z3			0.905
Z1	0.182	-0.154		0.937	Z1				0.967

The first main factor: is one of the most important factors extracted, as it alone recorded (21.065%) of the total variance of the third axis, meaning that what corresponds to this percentage are the following variables:

1. Cloud accounting works on stripping the accounting profession from the principle of technical standards issued by the Professional Association of Accountants as a professional behavior for the accountant and a mainstay on which it is based.

2. Cloud accounting marginalizes the element of trust, which is based on a professional ethical system that constitutes a fundamental pillar of the accounting profession.

3. Cloud accounting marginalizes the professional element as one of the basic requirements for the accounting profession and for those who work in accounting.

The second main factor: It is one of the important factors to be extracted, as it alone explains (18.140%) of the total variance of the third axis, meaning that what corresponds to this percentage are the following variables:

1. Cloud accounting strips the accounting profession of the principle of confidentiality as a professional behavior of the accountant and a mainstay on which it is based.

2. Cloud accounting works on stripping the accounting profession from the most important pillars on which it is based, which is the provision of services based on human effort.

The third main factor is one of the important factors to be extracted, as it alone explains (16.160%) of the total variance of the third axis, meaning that what corresponds to this percentage are the following variables:

1. Cloud accounting strips the accounting profession of the principle of independence as a professional behavior of the accountant and a mainstay on which it is based

The fourth main factor is one of the important factors that have been extracted, as it alone could cause (14.930%) of the total variance of the third axis, meaning that what corresponds to this percentage are the following variables:

2. Cloud accounting works on stripping the accounting profession of the principle of professional competence and the necessary care as a professional behavior of the accountant and a mainstay on which it is based.

Conclusions

1. The results of the field study and the statistical analysis of the respondents to the first axis showed the working mechanism of cloud accounting and the accounting profession are in harmony. Table 1 revealed a high agreement in the content of the items included in this axis, the most important of which was the working mechanism of cloud accounting requires conducting scanning the financial documents and then upload the files (documents) to the cloud to process their data and enable the client to access their account in the cloud. This in turn excludes the need for the accounting profession in this regard. This contributes to the decline in the need for the accounting profession in the future.

2. The results of the field study and the statistical analysis of the response to the second axis depicted the application of accounting policies in cloud accounting and the accounting profession match each other. In Table 2, there is a high agreement in the content of the items included in this axis, the most important of which were: Within the framework of inventory policies, cloud accounting provides for allocating electronic documents for each transaction - those represented by production recipes, inventory cards and transferring notes between warehouses - and this in itself is an incentive to leave the accounting profession, which pushes the direction to dispense with the accounting profession in this regard.

3. The results and the response to the third axis (cloud accounting and the components of the accounting profession), as in Table 3, showed they are in high agreement with the content of the items included in this axis, the most important of which was: Cloud accounting marginalizes the element of professionalism as one of the basic requirements for the accounting profession and for whom a professional accountant contributes to stripping this profession of the basic elements and pillars on which it is based towards dispensing with it in the future .

4. The results in tables 4, 5, 6, 7 showed the value of the (T-Test), where the test values were greater than their tabular value to prove the main research hypothesis and its sub-hypotheses, and they were statistically significant, and these results contribute to proving the main hypothesis of the research, which is that "cloud accounting affects the future of the accounting profession towards reducing the need for it" and its sub-hypotheses.

5. It was found from the factor analysis that the items of the first axis (the working mechanism of cloud accounting and the accounting profession) caused (43.855%) of the total deviations for this axis, while the second axis (the application of accounting policies in cloud accounting and the accounting profession) was a reason to (52.764%) of the total deviations for this axis, and the third axis (cloud accounting and the components of the accounting profession) accounted for (70.296%) of the total deviations for this axis.

Recommendations

The results of the current research proved that cloud accounting has effects on the accounting profession in reducing the need for it in the future. These effects, according to the researcher’s vision, will, of course, raise a few concerns among accounting professionals, because, according to their belief, it will lead to dispensing their services are due to the depth and extension of the impact of cloud accounting to the joints of the professional accountant’s work, and its sometimes superiority over him in several areas as a result of the resulting advantages that benefit the economic entity.

The concerns raised by cloud accounting among accounting professionals motivate them to confront this technology (and resist it) in various ways before thinking of adapting to it. Therefore, there are possible recommendations that can be made regarding these trends, and according to the researcher's vision:

1. Professional accountants should expand their awareness about cloud accounting, its fields of work and its effects on the accounting profession, by positively dealing with this technology instead of marginalizing and confronting it, as it is a fact that will impose itself on the ground in the future.

2. Professional accountants should change their mindset and direct their interest in the possibility of benefiting from cloud accounting technology and employing it in the development of the tasks they perform and their exit from the cycle of repetitive tasks (represented by recording data and preparing financial statements) to wider spaces to become consultants, experts or business analysts.

3. The thinking pattern needs to be modified based on the technological developments that have invaded the business environment, represented by cloud accounting, and the advancement of the accounting profession to accommodate the rapid technological developments, provided that this process started from the accounting education curricula.

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Received: 11-Oct-2022, Manuscript No. AAFSJ-22-12665; Editor assigned: 12-Oct-2022, PreQC No. AAFSJ-22-12665(PQ); Reviewed: 26- Oct-2022, QC No. AAFSJ-22-12665; Revised: 29-Oct-2022, Manuscript No. AAFSJ-22-12665(R); Published: 05-Nov-2022