Artificial Intelligence in Accounting in Emerging Economies: A Systematic Review and Multi-Theoretical Framework with Evidence from Nigeria

Abstract

This research aims to investigate the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the accounting profession in emerging economies, with a particular focus on Nigeria, where institutional, technological, organizational, and professional conditions differ from those in developed economies.To achieve this, a systematic literature review (SLR) was performed using the PRISMA framework.A total of 85 peer-reviewed articles published between 2010 and 2025 were analyzed. The articles were retrieved from Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Emerald Insight, and other databases. Five major research themes emerged from the review: AI in auditing and assurance; fraud detection and forensic accounting; AI-enabled accounting information systems; financial reporting and decision analytics; and ethical, governance, and accountability challenges. The synthesis suggests that institutional pressures can stimulate the adoption of AI, while technology-acceptance mechanisms can affect individual-level acceptance. Further, the depth of implementation can be influenced by organisation-specific factors such as organisational size, professional skills, technological readiness, and regulatory enforcement. The study proposes an integrated multi-level framework. This model is built on the premise that the gap between formal AI adoption and substantive implementation in emerging economies can be bridged by combining institutional theory, the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), and contingency theory. Consequently, the findings position Nigeria as a significant context for the development of AI-accounting research. They also highlight the need for stronger AI governance, professional capacity development, and regulatory enforcement