IFRS Adoption and Accrual-Based Managed Earnings in Nigeria

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the effects of the adoption of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) on the accrual-based managed earnings behavior of firms in Nigeria. The panel corrected standard errors (PCSE) multivariate method was employed to analyze firm-level data for 125 firms and covers the 11 sectors on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). The results of the Welch–Satterthwaite test show a significant difference between the pre-adoption (2003–2011) and post adoption (2012–2020) discretionary accruals. These variables conformed to the a priori expectation and are all significant in the most parsimonious models. Contrary to some developed countries, the data does not support the idea that leverage, growth, and book-to-market value influence managed earnings for Nigeria. Managed earnings are not solely time-driven but are explained by certain firm characteristics (IFRS adoption, post-adoption firm-size, post-adoption audit firm’s size, returns on equity and asset turnover). Future research could explore opportunities in the areas of limitation we identified.