scholarly journals Is the accounting quality after the mandatory adoption of IFRS a random walk? Evidence from Europe

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 334-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Isabel Morais ◽  
Ana Fialho ◽  
Andreia Dionísio
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Value Relevance ◽  
Accounting Quality ◽  
Accounting Systems ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Financial Reporting Standards ◽  
Mandatory Adoption ◽  
Specific Factors

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide empirical evidence regarding the classification of European countries based on accounting quality metrics. The authors investigate whether the grouping of countries based on accounting quality levels differs from other classifications based on accounting practices or country-specific factors identified in previous studies. Design/methodology/approach The authors run panel data regressions for 2.078 European listed companies using value relevance and earnings smoothing metrics. The authors also apply cluster analysis to classify the countries. Findings The results suggest that the adoption of a common set of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) did not lead to a similar level of accounting quality of financial information. The authors identified three clusters of countries that are not coincident with previous classifications. Research limitations/implications The results show that the adoption of different accounting practices allowed in IFRS does not necessarily influence accounting quality. Practical implications The results suggest that the way regulators decided to incorporate IFRS into national accounting systems is one issue that may be relevant in explaining the three clusters. Originality/value The paper provides empirical evidence that supports two theoretical assertions. The first is that a classification depends entirely on the characteristics used to represent the countries being classified. The second is that the adoption of a single set of accounting standards does not determine similar accounting practices and does not lead to similar levels of accounting quality.

Independent monitoring and review functions in a financial reporting context

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 268-290 ◽  
Author(s):  
Albertus Louw ◽  
Warren Maroun
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Reporting Standards ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Reporting Practices ◽  
Financial Reporting Standards ◽  
Corporate Reporting ◽  
Independent Review

Purpose Independent monitoring and review bodies have become a defining feature of the professional accounting and auditing space. Exactly how these institutions function to improve the quality of the corporate reporting or audit function is, however, poorly understood. Consequently, the purpose of this study is to provide empirical evidence on how the activities of an independent review process functions on individual preparers, auditors and those charged with an organisation’s governance. Design/methodology/approach The study is an interpretive one. Data are collected using semi-structured interviews and analysed by the researchers. Findings The review function performed by an independent body results in companies being more aware of the need for compliance with the applicable financial reporting standards. Independent reviews also act as a process of examination which functions at the level of the individual accountant, auditor or director. These subjects of regulation report an added sense of accountability to their respective employer and profession and a heightened awareness of the need for high-quality corporate reporting. Research limitations/implications Independent monitoring and review bodies are not just symbolic displays which reassure uninformed users that the quality of financial statements are sound. Examination of financial statements and identification of non-compliance with the applicable financial reporting standards drive actual changes in reporting practices. Originality/value This study complements the predominantly positivist financial reporting research which does not deal with precisely how the work of regulatory bodies operates on the subjects of regulation. The research makes an important practical contribution by providing empirical evidence in support of laws and regulations which promote independent review of the accounting profession.

The Impact of Mandatory IFRS Adoption on Accounting Quality: Evidence from Australia

2012 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 119-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Lin Chua ◽  
Chee Seng Cheong ◽  
Graeme Gould
Keyword(s):  
Earnings Management ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Value Relevance ◽  
Accounting Quality ◽  
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ◽  
Financial Reporting Standards ◽  
Financial Firms ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Mandatory Adoption ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACT Following the mandatory implementation of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in Australia as of January 1, 2005, this study examines its impact on accounting quality by focusing on three perspectives: (1) earnings management, (2) timely loss recognition, and (3) value relevance. Using four years of adoption experience since the mandate was first made effective in Australia for a wide range of accounting-based metrics and market-based information, we find that the mandatory adoption of IFRS has resulted in better accounting quality than previously under Australian generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). In particular, the findings indicate that the pervasiveness of earnings management by way of smoothing has reduced, while the timeliness of loss recognition has improved post-adoption. Additionally, the value relevance of financial statement information has improved, especially for non-financial firms. This is despite the fact that there is evidence to suggest that financial firms are engaged in managing earnings toward a small positive target after the mandatory adoption of IFRS in Australia.

The Effect of Mandatory Adoption of IFRS on Earnings Quality: Evidence from the European Union

2012 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Zeghal ◽  
Sonda M. Chtourou ◽  
Yosra M. Fourati
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Earnings Management ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Value Relevance ◽  
Earnings Quality ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Accounting Quality ◽  
Financial Reporting Standards ◽  
Accounting Numbers ◽  
Mandatory Adoption

ABSTRACT This paper addresses the question whether the mandatory adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) is associated with higher accounting quality. More specifically, we investigate whether the application of IFRS in 15 European Union (EU) countries is associated with less earnings management and higher timeliness, conditional conservatism, and value relevance of accounting numbers. Our results suggest that there has been some improvement in accounting quality between the pre- and post-IFRS adoption periods. In particular, we find that firms exhibit an increase in the accounting-based attributes, but a decrease in the market-based after the adoption of IFRS in 2005. Interestingly, the findings are more pronounced for the firms in countries where the distance between the pre-existing national GAAP and IFRS is important. Furthermore, we are unable to identify any change within firms that have converged their local GAAP toward IFRS before the mandatory transition.

Accounting Convergence, Mandatory Adoption of IFRS, and Accounting Quality

2021 ◽  
pp. 605-627
Author(s):  
Sinem Ates
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Value Relevance ◽  
Cultural Factors ◽  
Institutional Factors ◽  
Accounting Quality ◽  
Listed Firms ◽  
Financial Reporting Standards ◽  
Ifrs Adoption ◽  
Legal Enforcement ◽  
Mandatory Adoption

This chapter aims to investigate whether the mandatory adoption of international financial reporting standards (IFRS) leads to an increase in the accounting quality measured by value relevance and the role of the national institutional factors, namely development of the capital market, legal enforcement, cultural factors, legal systems, and book-tax conformity, in the change in value relevance after IFRS adoption. Towards this end, the price and financial data of listed firms from eleven EU countries for 15 years were examined by panel data methods. The results of this study indicate that mandatory adoption of IFRS leads to an increase in the value relevance of EPS however it has not a significant effect on the value relevance of BVPS. It is also found that, among the national institutional factors, legal enforcement, cultural factors, and book-tax conformity have a significant effect on the change in value relevance after IFRS adoption.

Barriers to institutionalization of an IFRS-based model: perceptions of Portuguese auditors

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Soares Fontes ◽  
Lúcia Lima Rodrigues ◽  
Carla Marques ◽  
Ana Paula Silva
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
National Level ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Institutional Research ◽  
Accounting Systems ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Financial Reporting Standards ◽  
Accounting Model ◽  
Barriers To Implementation ◽  
High Level

Purpose In 2010, Portugal’s newly implemented Accounting Standardization System (SNC - Sistema de Normalização Contabilística) aligned Portuguese accounting standards for unlisted companies with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The purpose of this paper is to explore the influence of the local context and the role of auditors in the institutionalization of this IFRS-based model in Portugal. Design/methodology/approach Drawing from an institutional theory framework, the authors interviewed 16 Portuguese auditors in 2017 (seven years after formal implementation of the SNC) to determine their perceptions on whether barriers to the IFRS-based model persisted. Findings The authors reveal that the code-law institutional logic embedded in the Portuguese context is hindering full institutionalization of the new accounting model. Some persisting barriers to implementation reflected a decoupling between formal requirements and actual practices. Despite these barriers, there has been an encouraging institutionalization of SNC. The authors reveal a high level of commitment of auditors. They draw attention to the engagement of auditors in the institutional work that is intended to assist in SNC implementation, and their role as promoters of a power-knowledge discourse in propagating IFRS institutional logics at the national level, namely, through the justification and rationalization of the reported institutional contradictions. Practical implications The highlighting the authors provide of problems related to accounting change should assist international regulators, the Portuguese standard-setter and professional accounting associations to devise appropriate strategies to promote IFRS-based accounting systems implementation. Originality/value The authors contribute to the skimpy literature on micro institutional analysis and encourage further exploration of the dynamics between the micro and macro levels of analysis in institutional research.

Credit relevance after mandatory IFRS adoption in deposit money banks of Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-61
Author(s):  
Dagwom Yohanna Dang ◽  
James Ayuba Akwe ◽  
Salisu Balago Garba
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Credit Rating ◽  
Financial Reports ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Financial Reporting Standards ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
Ifrs Adoption ◽  
Regulatory Authorities ◽  
Significant Difference

PurposeCredit relevance of financial reporting can be influenced by change in financial reporting framework. This study aims to examine the effect of mandatory international financial reporting standards (IFRS) adoption on credit relevance quality of financial reporting of deposit money banks (DMBs) in Nigeria.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses difference-in-differences (D-in-D) design for its modelling. Panel data regression analysis based on the D-in-D model is used in analysing the data collected from secondary sources.FindingsThe findings of this study are that based on the D-in-D approach, there is a significant and positive effect of mandatory IFRS adoption on credit relevance quality of financial reporting of DMBs in Nigeria, and that there is also a significant difference in the credit relevance quality of financial reporting of mandatory adopting banks in the post-mandatory IFRS adoption period compared to pre-mandatory IFRS adoption period.Research limitations/implicationsTo the best of this study's review, there is inadequacy of literature within the credit relevance research in Nigeria. In the light of this, this study intends to fill the gap.Practical implicationsThis study is specifically important to regulatory authorities, both primary and secondary regulators. Specifically, this study has implications in the regulatory roles of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC). However, the study recommends that regulatory authorities should encourage DMBs to avail their financial reports annually to credit rating agencies (local and international) for proper evaluation for subsequent ratings.Originality/valueThe peculiarities in this study, that is the utilisation of the D-in-D design and the use of credit relevance metric as the dependent variable, made this study important and novel to push the frontier of existing knowledge.

Spillover effect of regulatory accounting inspections on accounting quality of peer companies

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 685-704
Author(s):  
Eunjung Cho ◽  
Jeehong Kim ◽  
Sooin Kim
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Spillover Effect ◽  
Discretionary Accruals ◽  
Least Square ◽  
Disciplinary Action ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Accounting Quality ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Negative Results

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine whether a negative outcome (i.e. a sanction) of an inspection by Korea’s Financial Supervisory Service for an industry-leading company affects the accounting quality of other companies in the same industry. The premise is that when peer companies observe the negative results of such an inspection on a leader in their industry, they will be more concerned about their own risk during a future inspection and more likely to increase their accounting quality. Design/methodology/approach The authors conduct a mutivariate Oridnary Least Squares (OLS) regression using 11,476 South Korean samples from 2002 to 2016. The study uses ordinary least square regressions to test the hypotheses using discretionary accruals as a proxy for accounting quality. Findings The authors find that peer companies reduced their discretionary accruals in the next period and that this reduction is amplified according to the severity of the disciplinary action on the industry leader and the materiality of errors in that leader’s financial statements. Originality/value This finding contributes to the literature by providing the first evidence of a spillover effect of regulatory inspection on accounting quality that financial reporting sanctions not only affect the overall accounting quality of the sanctioned company but also that of its peers in the same industry. The authors expect this study to lead to future research on the effect of other regulations on industry-wide accounting quality.

Empirical evidence of the suitability of IFRS in emerging markets

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 553-567
Author(s):  
Ghassan H. Mardini ◽  
Rula S. Wadi ◽  
Osama A. Mah’d
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Markets ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Main Tool ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
External Auditors ◽  
Financial Reporting Standards ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Ifrs Implementation

Purpose The purpose of this study was to assess the suitability of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in emerging markets such as Qatar. The current research attempts to obtain insights into the advantages and disadvantages of IFRS implementation in Qatar based on the perceptions of top management, academics in accounting and external auditors. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire survey was the main tool used in this research. A total of 120 questionnaires were distributed to financial managers, academics and external auditors. Of the 97 replies (80 per cent), 91 completed questionnaires were analysed. Findings The results suggest that IFRS implementation is suitable for the business environment of Qatar because the adoption of IFRS provides many advantages to the Qatari business environment, regulations and stock market without incurring additional major costs. Moreover, IFRS imposes no major constraints on the business environment or Islamic social responsibility and education in Qatar. Practical implications The results of this research paper will help regulators in Qatar and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries develop accounting regulations. Originality/value This paper provides empirical evidence of the suitability of IFRS in emerging markets in general and the GCC region in particular and enhances the level of understanding of IFRS worldwide.

The value relevance of intellectual capital disclosure: empirical evidence from Kuwait

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mishari M. Alfraih
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Intellectual Capital ◽  
Value Relevance ◽  
Practical Implication ◽  
Listed Companies ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Equity Valuation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Market Participants

Purpose Drawing on market efficiency theory and studies on intellectual capital (IC) disclosure, this study aims to examine if IC information provided in the corporate annual reports of Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) listed companies in 2013 is value-relevant. Design/methodology/approach The analysis is divided into two parts. First, the level of intellectual capital disclosure (ICD) of KSE-listed companies is examined using the content analysis method. Second, the value relevance of financial reporting is examined empirically using Ohlson’s (1995) valuation model. Findings The results reveal that ICD is positively and significantly associated with market value, suggesting that greater ICD is valued by KSE market participants, who incorporate it into their valuation models. Practical implications Given the importance of ICD in enhancing equity valuation, a practical implication of this study is to make managers aware of its positive and significant effect on equity valuation, which may encourage companies to increase their level of disclosure. Originality/value This is the first study of the association between the level of ICD and the value relevance of financial reporting for market participants in Kuwait. It therefore extends and confirms the prior literature by broadening its scope to include frontier markets. Furthermore, it provides empirical evidence in support of recent calls from regulators and professional bodies for information that supplements and complements traditional financial reporting.

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