Adoption of IFRS for SMEs in Albania

Abstract

Small Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) is one of the most important engines of economic growth in Albania. They make a significant contribution to local and global trade and also to the national economic development. SMEs have the largest proportion of total Albanian employment, almost 78% of the total number of employed people. They generally face difficulties in financing and investing decisions, globalization, and other matters, mainly because of their inappropriate formal financial reports. These enterprises must prepare adequate financial statements and proper accounts to deal with third parties’ needs and ensure stakeholder’s confidence. This requires financial statements to be prepared by international financial reporting standards (IFRS), national accounting standards, and local government laws. Therefore, the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) provided a new standard to ensure the required financial reporting quality for SMEs. The main focus of this study is to examine the attitudes of financial statement’s information’ users in Albania towards the adoption of this financial reporting standard for SMEs as progress on the general financial reporting process in Albania, and also to estimate their capabilities and interests on this matter.