Financial Reporting Practice: A Comparative Study of Local Authority Financial Reports Between the UK and Malaysia

Author(s):  
Hugh M. Coombs ◽  
Mohamad Tayib
2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (01) ◽  
pp. 107-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacqueline L. Birt ◽  
Kala Muthusamy ◽  
Poonam Bir

Purpose eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) is an internet-based interactive form of reporting language that is expected to enhance the usefulness of financial reporting (Yuan and Wang, 2009). In the UK and the USA, XBRL is mandatory, and in Australia, it is voluntarily adopted. It has been reported that in the not too distant future, XBRL will be the standard format for the preparation and exchange of business reports (Gettler, 2015). Using an experimental approach, this study assesses the usefulness of financial reports with XBRL tagged information compared to PDF format information for non-professional investors. The authors investigate participants’ perceptions of usefulness in relation to the qualitative characteristics of relevance, understandability and comparability. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses an experimental approach featuring a profit-forecasting task to determine if participants perceive XBRL-tagged information to be more useful compared to PDF-formatted information. Findings Results reveal that financial information presented with XBRL tagging is significantly more relevant, understandable and comparable to non-professional investors. Originality/value The authors address a gap in the literature by examining XBRL usefulness in Australia where XBRL adoption will be mandated within the not too distant future. Currently, the voluntary adoption of XBRL by preparers and users is low, possibly, because of a lack of awareness about XBRL and its potential benefits. This study yields significant implications for the accounting regulators in creating more awareness on the benefits of using XBRL and to create an impetus for XBRL adoption.


2007 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolyn J. Cordery ◽  
Rachel F. Baskerville

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 127-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Klumpes ◽  
C. Ledlie ◽  
F. Fahey ◽  
G. Kakar ◽  
S. Styles

AbstractRecent changes made to the UK Corporate Governance Code require UK firms to report new or enhanced narrative information concerning their principal risks, their risk management processes and their future viability. This paper analyses whether the level and nature of voluntary compliance with these new requirements is consistent with alternative economic and political visibility incentives. We analyse relevant sections of financial reports produced by industry-matched samples of large-, mid- and small-cap UK-listed firms during the transitional 2013–2014 financial reporting years. Both specific and generic readability attributes of the reports are measured. We find that virtually no firm in our sample has provided any viability statement. Empirical analysis of disclosures concerning principal risk assessment and review processes appear to be primarily motivated by political visibility reasons. Examples of particularly good and cases of poor corporate risk reporting practices are also discussed. Possible implications for the actuarial profession are discussed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 67-74
Author(s):  
Mst. Hasna Banu ◽  
Md. Sayaduzzaman ◽  
Subhash Chandra Sil

The prime concentration of this study is to scan the respondents’ opinions regarding the application status of the different units of GAAP in preparing the different financial reports by the sample banks. To meet this objective an attempt has been made to collect opinions from one hundred fifty respondents comprising of fifty chartered accountants, fifty cost and management accountants as well as fifty academicians. Frequency analysis has been used to evaluate their perceptions. The result of frequency analysis reveals that the sample banks greatly apply the accounting entity assumption, going concern assumption, assumption of a stable momentary unit as well as time period assumption in preparing the financial statements. Furthermore, this study has likewise employed ANOVA as well as Chi-square techniques to investigate whether there is any significant deviation amidst the respondents’ opinion concerning the execution of different segments of GAAP for financial reporting practice of the sample banks and the outcomes indicate that there is the significant difference among the respondents’ opinion regarding the application status of the different units of GAAP in financial reporting practice by the sample banks in some cases and in other cases the difference of opinion has also been observed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 341-357
Author(s):  
Oksana Lentjushenkova ◽  
Vita Zarina ◽  
Jelena Titko

Research background: Intellectual capital and its elements, such as reputation, customer relationships, staff competence, are an essential part of a company’s value. However, the issues regarding its recording in company’s accounting books have not been solved. Proper disclosure of an intellectual capital in financial re-ports will increase the transparency of company-related information, thus improving the quality of reporting. Purpose of the article: The paper aims to investigate the opportunities of intellectual capital disclosure in company’s financial reports from the viewpoint of accounting experts. Methods: Financial and accounting managers, board members of accounting services, companies and auditors were surveyed, using the authors’ developed questionnaire. The statements regarding the awareness of the intellectual capital and its disclosure-related questions, as well as a respondent profile section were offered to respondents for evaluation. Data was processed in SPSS, applying the method of frequency analysis and categorical Principal Component Analysis (CATPCA). Findings & Value added: The research results indicate the problem of inconsistency between understanding of intellectual capital and its elements in management theory and accounting practice. The existing accounting standards and regulations do not allow for making a full disclosure of all companies’ assets. Thus, a reliable information about company’s value is not available for shareholders, executives and other stakeholders. The authors suggest using a non-financial reporting practice to reflect the real situation in all companies, irrespective to their status within the meaning of the European Directive on non-financial information disclosure. Current research results will be used for future research and elaboration of recommendations to companies for better disclosure of their assets. Besides, there is a potential for future studies regarding non-financial reporting practice and disclosure of intellectual capital in neighboring countries. 


2019 ◽  
pp. 43-72
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Nicolò ◽  
Gianluca Zanellato ◽  
Francesca Manes-Rossi ◽  
Adriana Tiron-Tudor

Integrated reporting (IR), which aims to overcome the limitations of both tradi-tional financial and stand-alone non-financial reports, has gained momentum as a single comprehensive tool merging financial and non-financial information. Initially conceived for private sector entities, IR is also establishing itself in the public sector context as a vehicle for transparency and accountability. This research offers an empirical investigation of IR practices in the State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) context. More specifically, the paper investigates the levels of disclosure provided through IR by a sample of 34 European SOEs and explores the effects of potential explanatory factors. The results indicate a fair level of IR disclosure and a trend of reporting information already requested under international accounting standards. The findings also highlight that industry (basic materials and financials) and size positively influence the level of IR disclosure in a particularly strong way, while governance features (board size and board gender diversity) and the provision of external assurance do not exert any impact.


2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-124
Author(s):  
Azas Mabrur ◽  
Siswanto Siswanto

Subsidy spending has a large share in the state budget (APBN). Thereby affecting the audit results by Supreme Auditor on government financial reports (LKPP). with the implementation of accrual-based government accounting in 2015, subsidy spending not only records transactions/activities based on cash flow but also non-cash transaction such as subsidy expenses and subsidy payable. This study aims to determine the implementation of the accrual basis on the accounting of energy subsidy spending.This study examines whether the recognition and measurement of energy subsidy spending, energy subsidy expenses and energy subsidy obligations have been presented in accordance with accrual-based government accounting standard and whether the recognition and measurement issues set out in the relevant Ministry of Finance Regulation (PMK) are in conformity with the accrual basis of accounting principles.The results show that the accounting of energy subsidy spending has been implemented in accordance with the PMK. However, the results also show that the PMK that regulates the accounting and financial reporting system of accrual-based subsidy spending still needs improvement.The necessary improvements are related to the recognition of subsidy expense over a period, the measurement of subsidy expenses, and the mechanism of subsidy payable disposal.


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