Journal of Applied Accounting Research最新文献

{"title":"Career development in management accounting: empirical evidence","authors":"Johannes Thaller, C. Duller, Birgit Feldbauer-Durstmüller, Bernhard Gärtner","doi":"10.1108/jaar-03-2022-0062","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/jaar-03-2022-0062","url":null,"abstract":"PurposeDue to globalization and digitalization, the world of work is undergoing comprehensive change. These trends are challenging management accounting (MA) and pressuring individuals and organizations to change. The literature postulates a replacement of traditional organizational careers by “new” career models characterized by dynamism and flexibility. However, the state of the art on careers in MA lacks empirical evidence and has disparate research interests.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, the authors investigate the status quo of careers in MA, key influencing factors and assumed change in such careers. To do so, the authors conducted a quantitative empirical study, based primarily on the careers of 83 graduates of a department offering a MA major at a German-speaking university. Nine qualitative empirical interviews supplement the quantitative findings.FindingsThe authors’ findings indicate that while MA careers are changing, the characteristics of the profession are continuing to concur with the traditional organizational understanding of careers. Accumulated professional experience is the key factor to achieving a management position although management accountants tend to become more dynamic in terms of career paths and career understanding. Thus, employment in various functional areas opens new career paths in MA.Research limitations/implicationsThe methodology of analysing quantitative and empirical cross-sectional data and the resulting final sample size is too small to guarantee robust statistical inference. Moreover, further interviews would lead to greater data saturation.Practical implicationsThe study sheds light on the under-researched question of how careers in MA proceed and develop. This could be of interest for practitioners working with management accountants such as personnel consultants.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the field through its comprehensive consideration of careers in MA in this changed context, thus providing new insights for academia and business practice.","PeriodicalId":46321,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Accounting Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46981049","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Beware of the watchdog! Role communication in job advertisements for management accountants","authors":"Robert Rieg, Jan-Hendrik Meier, C. Finckh","doi":"10.1108/jaar-07-2022-0188","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/jaar-07-2022-0188","url":null,"abstract":"PurposeJob advertisements are important means of communicating role expectations for management accountants to the labor market. They provide information about which roles are sought and expected. However, which roles are communicated in job advertisements is unknown so far.Design/methodology/approachWith a text-mining approach on a large sample of 889 job ads, the authors extract information on roles, type of firm and hierarchical position of the management accountant sought.FindingsThe results indicate an apparent mix of different role types with a strong focus on a classic watchdog role. However, the business partner role is more often sought for leadership positions or in family businesses and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SME).Research limitations/implicationsThe main limitation is the lack of an agreed-upon measurement instrument for roles in job offers. The study results imply that corporate practice is not as theory-driven as is postulated and communicated in the management accounting community. This indicates the existence of a research-practice gap and tensions between different actors in the management accounting field.Practical implicationsThe results challenge the current role discussion of professional organizations for management accountants as business partners.Originality/value The authors contribute the first study, which explicitly analyzes the communication of roles in job offers for management accountants. It indicates a discrepancy between scholarly discussion on roles and management accountants' work from an employer's perspective.","PeriodicalId":46321,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Accounting Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44697587","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Disclosure of auditor risk assessments in expanded audit reports","authors":"Karen-Ann M. Dwyer, N. Brennan, Collette E. Kirwan","doi":"10.1108/jaar-07-2022-0181","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/jaar-07-2022-0181","url":null,"abstract":"PurposeThis rich descriptive study examines auditors' client risk assessment (i.e. “key audit matters”/critical audit matters) disclosures in expanded audit reports of 328 Financial Times Stock Exchange (FTSE) 350 companies. The study compares auditor-identified client risks with corporate risk disclosures identified in audit committee reports, in terms of number and type of risks. The research also compares variation in auditor-identified client risks between individual Big 4 audit firms. In addition, the study examines auditor ranking of their client risks disclosed.Design/methodology/approachThe study manually content analyses disclosures in audit reports and audit committee reports of a sample of 328 FTSE-350 companies with 2015 year-ends.FindingsAudit committees identify more risks than auditors (23% more risks). However, auditor-identified client risks and audit-committee-identified risks are similar (80% similar), as are auditor-identified client risks between the individual Big 4 audit firms. Only ten (3%) audit reports rank the importance of auditor-identified client risks.Research limitations/implicationsSample is restricted to one year, one jurisdiction, large-listed companies and companies audited by Big 4 auditors.Practical implicationsThe study provides important insights for regulators, auditors and users of financial statements by identifying influences on disclosure of auditor-identified client risks.Originality/valueThe paper mobilises institutional theory to interpret the findings. The findings suggest that auditor-identified client risks in expanded audit reports may demonstrate mimetic behaviour in terms of similarity with audit-committee-identified risks and similarity between individual Big 4 audit firms. The study provides important insights for regulators, auditors and users of financial statements by identifying influences on disclosure of auditor-identified client risks.","PeriodicalId":46321,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Accounting Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46791191","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Non-performing loans and bank performance: what role does corporate social responsibility play? A system GMM analysis for European banks","authors":"Rim Boussaada, A. Hakimi, Majdi Karmani","doi":"10.1108/jaar-10-2021-0283","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/jaar-10-2021-0283","url":null,"abstract":"PurposeThis research investigated whether corporate social responsibility (CSR) can alleviate the negative effect of non-performing loans (NPLs) on bank performance.Design/methodology/approachThe research employed a sample of European banks over the 2008–2017 period. To resolve endogeneity and heterogeneity problems, the system generalized method of moments (SGMM) model was employed.FindingsFirst, bank NPLs were negatively and significantly associated with bank performance as measured by the Q-Tobin ratio and the return on assets (ROA). Second, CSR scores exerted a negative and significant effect on the level of NPLs. Finally, the results indicated that bank performance could benefit from the interactional effect of CSR and NPLs.Research limitations/implicationsThis study fills the gap in the debate over the mediating role of CSR in the NPLs – bank performance interrelation. In addition, our SGMM analysis yielded more robust and efficient results while resolving endogeneity and heterogeneity problems concerning CSR and bank performance or risk in corporate finance.Practical implicationsCSR practices can play an essential mediating role in the NPLs–bank performance relationship. CSR activities in the European context may reduce the level of NPLs and increase bank performance.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, studies of the implications of CSR activities on the banking sector are very limited. Indeed, this paper shows that CSR mediates the relationship between CSR practices and NPLs. The results suggest that bank performance could benefit from the interactional effect of CSR and NPLs.","PeriodicalId":46321,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Accounting Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42058461","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Does corporate environmental performance affect corporate biodiversity reporting decision? The Finnish evidence","authors":"P. Dutta, Anupam Dutta","doi":"10.1108/jaar-06-2022-0148","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/jaar-06-2022-0148","url":null,"abstract":"PurposeThis study aims to examine whether there exists any relationship between corporate biodiversity reporting decision (CBRD) and corporate environmental performance (CEP).Design/methodology/approachThe primary sample contains 442 firm-year observations over a period of 13 years (2008–2020) for 34 listed Finnish companies. Based on both legitimacy theory and voluntary disclosure theory, 2 logit regression models are estimated to test the CBRD–CEP nexus. CBRD is a dichotomous variable. Three proxies for CEP, namely propensity to emit greenhouse gas (GHG), propensity to consume water and propensity to generate waste are employed.FindingsThis study finds that firms having higher propensity to consume water and generate waste are inclined to release biodiversity-related information. The findings support legitimacy theory suggesting that firms with inferior environmental performance may decide on reporting biodiversity information for legitimation purpose.Research limitations/implicationsThe study uses Finnish data and hence, the results may lack in generalizability to other national contexts.Practical implicationsThe results of this study should be valuable to policy makers for formulating mandatory biodiversity reporting standards to ensure disclosure of standard, extensive and authentic biodiversity-related information by companies. The results should also be valuable to corporate managers and eco-friendly investors.Originality/valueCorporate biodiversity reporting (CBR) is an under-researched area of environmental accounting literature. Using the Finnish context, this paper extends the existing literature by investigating whether any association exists between CBRD and CEP, which has not been examined before.","PeriodicalId":46321,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Accounting Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2023-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46650677","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The institutionalisation of social and environmental accounting practices in Europe","authors":"S. Pizzi, Salvatore Principale, Roberta Fasiello, F. Imperiale","doi":"10.1108/jaar-07-2022-0190","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/jaar-07-2022-0190","url":null,"abstract":"PurposeIn the last few years, the European context has been characterised by a high degree of attention paid by policymakers, practitioners and academics to the effects related to the transposition of Directive 2014/95/EU by the member states. In particular, one the main issues of the intervention made by the European Commission is represented by the theoretical misalignment between corporate communications and actions. According to this evidence, this paper aims to shed light on this debate through a critical evaluation of the effectiveness of Directive 2014/95/EU.Design/methodology/approachThe analysis was built using panel data analysis on a sample of 813 European listed companies. Furthermore, the authors performed additional analysis and robustness checks to assess the reliability of the analysis.FindingsThe analysis underlined the enabling role of the reporting scope, external assurance and corporate social responsibility (CSR) committees on sustainability reporting. Furthermore, the research highlighted the need to pay specific attention to the real contribution provided by companies to the sustainable development goals.Research limitations/implicationsThe research provided theoretical insights into the effects related to mandatory sustainability reporting, which represents an emerging field in accounting research.Practical implicationsThe analysis revealed the limited effects of Directive 2014/95/EU. In this regard, the paper contributes to the debate about accounting regulation in Europe.Originality/valueThis paper will shed light on the role of Directive 2014/95/EU in sustainable development. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first attempt to analyse CSR decoupling in Europe after the transposition of Directive 2014/95/EU by the member states.","PeriodicalId":46321,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Accounting Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2023-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48515139","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The mediation effect of audit committee quality and internal audit function quality on the firm size–financial reporting quality nexus","authors":"Manirul Islam, J. Slof, Khaldoon Albitar","doi":"10.1108/jaar-06-2022-0153","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/jaar-06-2022-0153","url":null,"abstract":"PurposeThis study examines the effects of firm size on financial reporting quality (FRQ) through the mediating effects of audit committee (AC) quality and internal audit function (IAF) quality.Design/methodology/approachBased on data from a questionnaire survey and archival sources of non-financial companies listed on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), the authors perform both structural equational modeling and ordinary least squares (OLS) regression to test the developed hypotheses.FindingsResults show that the firm size is positively related to IAF quality. Firm size, AC quality and IAF quality are significantly associated with abnormal accruals (FRQ). Moreover, the authors find a mediation effect of the IAF quality on the relationship between firm size and FRQ, while no mediation effect is observed for AC quality. Thus, the study advocates companies focus on AC quality and IAF quality to enhance FRQ as it has a significant impact on corporate disclosure and investor decisions.Research limitations/implicationsFirst, the study is restricted to the survey questions that cover particular areas of the AC and IAF. Second, the sample selection focuses on relatively big industries in terms of the number of firms and excludes small sectors.Practical implicationsThe findings provide significant implications for professionals and policymakers in making regulatory reforms and revising existing policies to improve governance monitoring performance and FRQ.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to explore the mediation effect of AC quality and IAF quality on firm size–FRQ nexus in a developing country.","PeriodicalId":46321,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Accounting Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2023-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46816866","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Groups of politically connected firms, political uncertainty and earnings credibility in Pakistan","authors":"Fawad Ahmad, M. Bradbury, Ahsan Habib","doi":"10.1108/jaar-04-2022-0081","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/jaar-04-2022-0081","url":null,"abstract":"PurposeThis paper examines the influence of different types of political connections and political uncertainty on earnings credibility in Pakistan. Based on discernible differences, connected firms are grouped into civil connected and military connected firms.Design/methodology/approachThe authors provide evidence concerning the earnings credibility incentives of groups of political connected firms and report that their incentives are significantly different. The findings remain robust to alternate methods of earnings credibility.FindingsThe findings evidence that civil (military) connected firms report less (more) credible earnings than the control group. High political uncertainty reduces the credibility of earnings. Results for the interaction of political connections and political uncertainty variables are not significant.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper investigates just one aspect of Pakistan's political economy, i.e. credibility of earnings; thus, it requires to be cautious on part of readers and policymakers. To reach a clearer conclusion, earnings credibility should be ex amined in the larger context, i.e. in conjunction with rent extractions, etc. A possible extension of the paper can be to investigate the channels of rent extractions used by the two types of connected firms.Practical implicationsThe paper has contribution for policymakers as well as users of general purpose financial reports. The findings indicate that the users of general purpose financial reports should be more careful in the use of financial information during political uncertain periods and also of politically connected firms. Furthermore, policymakers should keep the larger context at the forefront while attempting to strengthen the enforcemnet regime.Originality/valueThis paper adds to extant political connections literature by identifying two types of politically connected firms and report that both groups have divergent financial reporting incentives. Furthermore, political uncertainty reduces the credibility of earnings.","PeriodicalId":46321,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Accounting Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2023-02-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45785185","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The applicability of machine learning algorithms in accounts receivables management","authors":"Marko Kureljusic, Jonas Metz","doi":"10.1108/jaar-05-2022-0116","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/jaar-05-2022-0116","url":null,"abstract":"Purpose The accurate prediction of incoming cash flows enables more effective cash management and allows firms to shape firms' planning based on forward-looking information. Although most firms are aware of the benefits of these forecasts, many still have difficulties identifying and implementing an appropriate prediction model. With the rise of machine learning algorithms, numerous new forecasting techniques have emerged. These new forecasting techniques are theoretically applicable for predicting customer payment behavior but have not yet been adequately investigated. This study aims to close this research gap by examining which machine learning algorithm is the most appropriate for predicting customer payment dates. Design/methodology/approach By using various machine learning algorithms, the authors evaluate whether customer payment behavior patterns can be identified and predicted. The study is based on real-world transaction data from a DAX-40 firm with over 1,000,000 invoices in the dataset, with the data covering the period 2017–2019. Findings The authors' results show that neural networks in particular are suitable for predicting customers' payment dates. Furthermore, the authors demonstrate that contextual and logical prediction models can provide more accurate forecasts than conventional baseline models, such as linear and multivariate regression. Research limitations/implications Future cash flow forecasting studies should incorporate naïve prediction models, as the authors demonstrate that these models can compete with conventional baseline models used in existing machine learning research. However, the authors expect that with more in-depth information about the customer (creditworthiness, accounting structure) the results can be even further improved. Practical implications The knowledge of customers' future payment dates enables firms to change their perspective and move from reactive to proactive cash management. This shift leads to a more targeted dunning process. Originality/value To the best of the authors' knowledge, no study has yet been conducted that interprets the prediction of incoming payments as a daily rolling forecast by comparing naïve forecasts with forecasts based on machine learning and deep learning models.","PeriodicalId":46321,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Accounting Research","volume":"79 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136372244","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Corporate social responsibility decoupling: a systematic literature review and future research agenda","authors":"Shabana Talpur, Muhammad Nadeem, Helen Roberts","doi":"10.1108/jaar-08-2022-0223","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/jaar-08-2022-0223","url":null,"abstract":"PurposeThis paper aims to synthesize the corporate social responsibility decoupling (CSRD) literature, CSRD's causes and consequences and discuss other organizational attributes examined by CSRD scholars during 2010 and 2020. The authors provide suggestions for a future research agenda in this domain.Design/methodology/approachThe authors' systematic literature review (SLR) uses the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework to extract CSRD studies. The authors filter collected articles against quality and relevancy criteria and finally review 175 published articles.FindingsA theme analysis identifies and structures the many themes related to CSRD. The authors discuss the drivers of CSRD and reveal the consequences companies face after CSRD. The authors also provide a comprehensive CSRD discussion in the context of developed and developing economies. CSR communication is also identified as a tool for decoupling and recoupling.Research limitations/implicationsThe identified themes provide a thorough illustration of CSRD literature for new CSRD scholars. The authors also provide suggestions for future research, such as examining country-level policy-making and implications of CSRD variance and identifying cultural and economic hurdles to achieving core CSR purposes.Practical implicationsPolicymakers and scholars may adopt the approach that CSRD is a misreporting of information similar to accounting fraud. This is particularly relevant given that an increasing number of CSRD scandals indicate that the purpose of bringing change through corporate CSR has not been adopted well by corporations.Originality/valueThe authors' study offers a comprehensive literature review for the period of 2010–2020. The studies identified are structured into meaningful themes which can provide groundwork for future researchers.","PeriodicalId":46321,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Accounting Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45826817","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}