Accounting provides quantitative financial information to stakeholders to help them make business decisions. It has evolved from early systems of clay tokens and stones used by Mesopotamians and Chinese to track goods and transactions to today's complex double-entry bookkeeping system. Modern accounting continues to develop through new technologies and specializations to meet the needs of different types of businesses and organizations. Accountants play a vital role in recording financial information, preparing reports, ensuring accuracy, and advising organizations on compliance, planning, and performance.