scholarly journals International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) Implementation and Financial Reporting: Issues and Challenges in South-East Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Sunny Biobele Beredugo

The main objective of the study was to identify the challenges of IPSAS implementation in the Nigerian Public Sector. This was as a result of low level of accountability and improper application of accounting standards by government institutions. A structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from the various respondents. The population of the study consists of accountants, auditors and cash officers in government ministries, departments and agencies in Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi and Imo States. The population was estimated at 8901for the five States. The sample size of 387 was drawn using the stratified sampling technique. The Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used for the hypothesis test. The results showed that the challenges that impinge the full implementation of IPSAS in Nigeria include: governments’ unwillingness in terms of political-will towards full IPSAS implementation; statutory adjustment, inadequate funding and institutional commitment among others. It was therefore recommended that there should be adequate funding for the IPSAS implementation projects as most of the Public Sector Entities attributed inability to implement IPSAS Accrual to paucity of funds. Government should also show more political will as well as commitment and support for the accrual basis IPSAS implementation at the Local Government level.

Author(s):  
Dr. Muganda Munir Manini

The international harmonization of financial reporting standards in the public sector is one of the significant public sector accounting reforms which have gained prominence in the recent past under the New Public Financial Management order. However, previous empirical evidence provided mixed results on the extent of African countries’ decision on the adoption of International Public Sector Accounting Standards and its relationship with institutional isomorphism factors. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of institutional isomorphism (normative, mimetic and coercive) on the adoption International Public Sector Accounting Standards by African countries. The target population was 54 countries; however the final sample was 29 countries which comprised the dataset. A logistic regression analysis was thereafter conducted. Based on the Institutional Theory, the study revealed external public funding (coercive isomorphic pressure), the countries’ global competitiveness (mimetic isomorphic pressure), and human capital (normative isomorphic pressure) were non significant factors in a countries decision to adopt IPSAS. This study contributes to the literature on the international accounting in the public sector. The results of the study have significant managerial and theoretical implications for accounting standards regulators, researchers, and multilateral organizations.


Author(s):  
Yuri Biondi

AbstractAccounting systems play a hidden but fundamental role as mode and instrument of representation, coordination and organisation for the public sector and its specific public action. Therefore, financial and accounting reforms transform, implement and reshape public policies as well as the working and very existence of public administration. Last March 2013, the European Commission started a relevant project with the intention to create harmonised “European Public Sector Accounting Standards” (EPSAS) and implement them in the Member States. Between 1995 and 2002, a similar project was already achieved for private sector accounting standards-setting, leading to adoption and implementation of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) issued by International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). The EPSAS project should decide if public sector accounting standards-setting shall follow a similar pattern to converge towards the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) that transplant the IFRS in the public sector. This choice may have fundamental implications for the European (Monetary) Union, since public sector accounting and public finances are fundamental elements of its institutional framework. This thematic issue aims to provide analyses and perspectives on this ongoing public sector accounting harmonisation process in Europe, addressing its governance and contents, as well as its consequences and implications for Europe’s economy and society.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tetyana Cherkashyna ◽  

Ukraine’s aspirations to the European community and long-term cooperation with international financial funds, foreign government agencies contributed to the beginning of the entire accounting system of the public sector. The process of transformation of the public sector accounting system has been complex and ambiguous. The efforts of reformers: government, academics, accountants-practitioners are aimed at adapting to international accounting standards. Accounting reform in the public sector continues today. The implementation of international accounting standards should result in harmonized financial reporting of budgetary institutions, prepared in accordance with current standards. The main requirements for quality reporting of budgetary institutions: the information context of reporting forms, effective use in economic analysis and inspections, as well as the provision of information for management decisions. The purpose of the article is to reveal the practical importance of modernized financial statements for its users and to identify areas for effective use of financial statements for timely management decisions in the budgetary institution. The methodological and informational basis of the work is scientific works, materials of periodicals, Internet resources. Scientific methods of analysis, synthesis, comparison and generalization were used in the study. The article examines the results and implementation of national accounting standards in the public sector, which are relevant to the formation of financial statements: International Public Sector Accounting Standards 101, 124, 135. The results of the study formulated differences that arise during the formation of financial and budgetary reporting, which as a result of compilation must be agreed in the institution. The shortcomings of methodological nature that cause differences in the interpretation of the articles of the financial statements and the current chart of accounts are analyzed. The article summarizes the results of a study on the theoretical and methodological foundations of modernization of accounting in the public sector. As a result of the research, the practical importance of forming financial statements according to the current accounting standards for budgetary institutions was revealed. Modernized financial reporting allows budgetary institutions to improve the quality of information for external and internal users, to be full participants in the processes in the international economic space. The article analyzes the problematic issues of modernized reporting of budgetary institutions, the main of which is the difficulty in agreeing between financial statements according to current standards and budget reporting of the public sector. It is proposed, as a supplement to the reporting of budgetary institutions, the gradual introduction of non-financial reporting on current indicators in the world: environmental and social. Proposed as a direction for further research, the use of management reporting. It is recommended to develop and implement management reporting, especially in the field of public finance, which requires constant analysis of financial indicators and operational management decisions at various levels of budgetary institutions.


Author(s):  
Nadia Topolenko ◽  
Yulia Lavreniuk

In the conditions of public sector entities, much more attention is paid to accounting for income, expenditures and expenses, primarily by practicing accountants. The revenues of public sector entities represent the main source of their activities, and the costs make it possible to analyze their effectiveness and rationality of the use of budget allocations, so the organization of accounting for these objects determines the effectiveness of the activities of public sector institutions. The accounting system of public sector institutions is formed according to the modernization schemes approved at the legislative level. The public sector accounting plan and national accounting regulations (standards) in the public sector have significantly changed the established methods of accounting for the implementation of budgetary institutions. The economic classification of expenditures has also changed, the division of operations into exchange and non-exchange operations in accordance with international accounting standards for the public sector has also changed. The above has led to significant changes in the method of accounting for income, expenditures and expenses, which is due to the relevance of the study. The article specified and proposed new definitions of economic concepts of «income», «expenditures» and «expenses» of budgetary institutions. Various approaches to their interpretation are considered, attention is focused on the key problems of adaptation of accounting for income and expenses of budget funds managers in accordance with the implementation of the Strategy for modernization of the accounting and financial reporting system in the public sector for the period up to 2025 and approximation to the generally accepted principles of international practice. Changes in the methodology of accounting and display in financial statements of income and expenses of public sector entities were studied, the theoretical and practical aspects of improving the accounting of income, expenditures and expenses by public sector entities were highlighted. Proposals for improving the accounting of income and expenses in the public sector are given and substantiated.


2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 78-85
Author(s):  
Svitlana Zubilevych ◽  
Nataly Poznyakovska

The article discusses the role of the "Conceptual framework for general purpose financial reporting of public sector entities" in connection with the reform of the accounting and reporting system in the public sector of Ukraine on the basis of harmonization with International Accounting Standards. The chronology of the development of the Conceptual Framework and its brief content are generalized. An analysis of the purpose of the Conceptual Framework for General Purpose Financial Statements was conducted. Conclusions on the need to develop a national conceptual framework are made.


Author(s):  
Maaruf Mustapha

The financial reporting quality (FRQ) refers to better information dissemination across different users. It is a critical phenomenon for gauging organizations’ performance and survival. In many countries, the public sector has witnessed considerable changes in the past decade. The prominent one is the international public sector accounting standards (IPSAS) for the public sector entities. Drawing on contingency and institutional theories, this study tests the effects of professionalism on the relationship between staff competency and FRQ under the new accounting standards. By using a survey research approach and self-administered questionnaire, data was gathered from 118 directors of finance that represents the local governments of four states in the north-west geopolitical zone of Nigeria. The Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) estimate revealed a significant positive relationship between staff competence and FRQ. Conversely, no significant effect was found in the interaction of professionalism on the model. The implications from the study are discussed in the context of Nigeria.  


Author(s):  
Tatiana KYTAICHUK

In particular, a number of concepts that underpin ISFRPS are not used in Ukraine. These include: the priority of the economic content of operations over their juridical form, the concept of future economic benefits and utility of potential. The differences in requirements to accounting and reporting preparation related a different classification of assets and liabilities, income and expenses, as well as the lack of requirements and practices for the application of some accounting methods adoptedin ISFRPS. In Ukraine, the process of reforming the accounting and financial reporting system in the public sector is under way. Taking into account the requirements of the international accounting standards for the public sector are being introduced the national provisions (standards) of accounting in the public sector (hereinafter referred to as "NP" (S) "APS"), which have been developed on the basis of international standards. The Ministry of Finance of Ukraine, by its latest order dated 15.11.17, number 943, approved "NP" (S) "APS" 136 "Biological Assets". The standard came into force on 01.01.18. There was no specialized national standardin the budget sector that would regulate the accounting in agricultural operations. The article deals with the actual problems of implementation of the national provision (standard) of accounting in the public sector 136 "Biological Assets". The essence of the concept of "biological assets" in various scientific and literary sources was investigated.In accordance with paragraph 4 of section І "NP" (S) "APS" 136, a biological asset is an animal or plant that, in the process of biological transformation, is capable of producing agricultural products and / or additional biological assets, andalsoin another way contributes to the economic benefits. For the purposes of accounting, biological assets, depending on the length of the production process and the period of receipt of agricultural products, are classified into two groups: long-term and current biological assets. The accounting of long-term biological assets used in non-agricultural activities (eg watch dogs, ornamental plants, etc.) is regulated by "NP" (S) "APS" 121 "Fixed assets". Also, fruiting plants related with agricultural activities, the peculiarities of accounting which are determined by other "NP" (S) "APS", should be accounted as part of fixed assets. Such plants include such perennial plantations as vineyards, gardens, plantations of berry crops and hops. It should also be taken into account that if a fruit plant produces fruits and its use in agricultural activities is planned in future accounting periods, then it is accountedas part of fixe dassets. The typical correspondence of subaccounts of accounting for the display of transactions with assets, capital and liabilities of budgetary funds and statet rust funds does not include correspondence related to biological assets. Consequently, budget institutions need to develop their own view on the reflection in the accounting of biological assets "NP" (S) "A 136 "Biological Assets" has introduced concerning the biological assets of agricultural and agricultural products, the model of valuation at fair value. Peculiarities of estimation of biological assets depending on their receipt were investigated; the main problems arising from the public sector entities during their assessment were highlighted, in particular, in aspects of determining the fair value of such assets, the main deficiencies of estimation at fair value are indicated. In the IFRS system, the valuation at fair value is one of the priorities. In the world practice, there are three possible approaches to the valuation of fair value: market, income, and expense. In the Ukrainian practice, the market approach is predominantly used. In the domestic practice of the account the peculiarities of the assessment of biological assets was formed taking into account the ways of receipt of biological assets, their classification and the date of evaluation in accordance with certain economic transactions in the course of the movement of these objects of accounting. Nowadays, most of budgetary institutions do not apply the innovations and record in accounting the posting of finished products according to the old method, that is, according to the planned cost, which leads to deformation of information in the financial reporting. Evaluate long-term, current and additional biological assets at initial recognition and at each reporting date. Agricultural products are valued only at initial recognition. The evaluation at fair value provides calculation the sales costs. Current biological assets and additional biological assets whose fair value can not reliably be determined at balance sheet date, can be recognized and displayed at cost of production, in addition to current biological plant production assets which are recognized and displayed as work in progress. Regarding the initial recognition of agricultural products (grain, milk, honey, litter, etc.), it should be reflected in the reporting period in which it was separated from the biological asset. After initial recognition, it is evaluated and reflected in accordance with "NP" (S) "APS"123 "Funds". According to the results of the research, the relevant conclusions are made. Evaluation is a rather complicated process, due to the informational needs of different groups of users, a large number of methods for determining the fair value of accounting objects. Taking into account all the above-mentioned aspects, budget institutions should, by choosing methods for determining the fair value of biological assets, independently determine the method for determining the value of biological assets and approve it in the order about the accounting policy.


Author(s):  
N. Savina ◽  
N. Pozniakovska ◽  
O. Miklukha

The project of the International Accounting Standards Board that updates and develops international accounting standards (IASB) has been lasting more than twenty years. In Ukraine, International accounting standards were adopted as the national standards for business and public sectors. The article analyzes the Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting for the business sector entities, compares it with the Conceptual Framework for financial reporting for the public sector entities, and the current requirements of the Ukrainian legislation in the field of accounting and financial reporting. The necessity of creating a single Conceptual Framework for financial reporting, based the needs of information users, is substantiated. The relevant International Standards for the business sector entities became fundamental for the development of International Public Sector Accounting Standards. The similar needs of financial reports users support this approach. At the same time, part of the IPSAS, and the Conceptual Framework take into account the functional peculiarities of the entities in this sector of the economy. Financial reporting concepts for entities in any sector of the economy determine the aim of financial reporting as that to acquire information concerning the entity. Investors, creditors, other lenders are prior users of financial information in the business sector while society as a whole uses information in the public sector. The Conceptual Framework for the public sector takes into account the peculiarity of this sector of the economy, the main purpose of which is to provide services to society, rather than generating profits and ensuring the return on capital of investors. The common features of financial reporting standards and their Conceptual Framework, taking into account current trends and global challenges, indicate the possibility and feasibility of creating a unified (integrated) Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting.


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 ◽  
pp. 5-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristian Carini ◽  
Laura Rocca ◽  
Claudio Teodori ◽  
Monica Veneziani

The European Commission initiated a discussion on the expediency of using the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), based on the IAS/IFRS, as a common base for harmonizing the public sector accounting systems of the member states. However, literature suggests that accounting is not neutral with respect to the economic, social and political dimensions. In the perspective of evolution of the accounting regulation outlined, balanced between accountability, with the need to represent phenomena for reporting pur-poses, and decisionmaking issues, which concentrates on the quantitative importance of the values, the paper aims to analyse the effects of the application of different criteria for the definition of the reporting entity of the local government consolidated financial statements (CFS). The Italian PCA 4/4, the test of control and the financial accountability approaches are examined. The evidence that emerged from the case studies examined identifies several criticalities in the Italian PCA 4/4 and support the thesis that the financial accountability approach is more effective in providing a complete representation of the public resources entrusted to and managed by the group, whereas the control approach better approximates quantification of the group results in terms of central government surveillance. The analysis highlights the importance of the post implementation review period and the opportunity to contextualize the adoption of the consolidated financial statement in the broader spectrum of the accounting harmonization process, participating in the process of definition of the European Public Sector Accounting Standards (EPSAS).


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document