Journal of Financial Reporting and Accounting最新文献

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between the workforce environment and corporate social responsibility (CSR) audit report lag while also developing a comprehensive understanding of the moderating effect of media coverage on this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper was based on a sample of 151 French nonfinancial companies listed on the CAC All Shares index and covered an eight-year period, from 2014 to 2021. To test the hypotheses, a feasible generalized least squares regression was applied. Moreover, the authors checked the results using an additional analysis and the generalized method of moment model for endogeneity problems.

Findings

Based on a panel data set comprising 960 observations of French firms from the period 2014 to 2021, the results obtained indicate a significant negative relationship between the workforce environment and CSR audit report lag. Additionally, it was found that media exposure moderates the relationship between the workforce environment and CSR audit report lag.

Practical implications

This study contributes to the existing research on workforce environment and CSR audit report lag, potentially providing stakeholders such as employees, employers, regulators and auditors with an environment that shortens the time for issuing CSR audit reports. The findings are also relevant for foreign institutional investors aiming to enhance their investment decisions with more comprehensive information.

Originality/value

The work is innovative as it explores the moderating impact of media exposure on the connection between workforce environment and CSR audit report lag, a topic not extensively studied before. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no prior empirical studies have examined this relationship within the French context or elsewhere.

Purpose

This paper studies the factors affecting digital transformation in accounting of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and then influencing accounting information quality.

Design/methodology/approach

The research model includes seven independent variables, namely organizational culture, competitive pressure, employee's awareness, readiness of the information technology systems, organization's mindfulness, alignment of the organization’s strategy and top management support, which affect digital transformation in accounting. Besides, the research model proposed to examine the relationship between digital transformation in accounting and accounting information quality. The paper uses a survey (with 253 respondents) and applies exploratory factor and regression analysis to examine Vietnamese SMEs.

Findings

This paper aims to examine the antecedents of the digital transformation in accounting and its positive impact on the accounting information quality. The research results highlight three factors: the organization's mindfulness, alignment of the organization’s strategy and top management support. In the SMEs, top management may be the one, so the top management in SMEs has a strong influence on the digital transformation in accounting.

Research limitations/implications

There are small sample sizes and not yet guaranteed to cover all business areas of Vietnamese SMEs. Control variables will be added to the research model to evaluate, such as firm size, operation time, sex of top management and age of top management.

Practical implications

The results of this paper provide practical insights into the digital transformation in accounting for business managers, researchers and other stakeholders. Vietnamese SMEs should communicate and educate employees and spend resources to improve the information technology system. It helps to improve the financial accounting quality for SMEs.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to examine factors affecting digital transformation in accounting and the relationship between digital transformation in accounting and the financial accounting quality of SMEs in Vietnam.

Purpose

This study aims to examine the behavioral intention and the usage of Computer-Assisted Audit Techniques (CAATs) in external auditing by extending the original Unified Theory of the Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) Model.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative research approach is used in this study and 474 responses were secured from external auditors through a self-administered questionnaire, which was analyzed using structural equation modeling.

Findings

Findings reveal that lower Perceived Risk (PR) and Anxiety (AN) of external auditors, which were two constructs that we additionally introduced, contributed as the highest impact factors to the increased intention to use CAATs in external audits. In addition, all other determinants that were introduced [i.e. Self-efficacy (SE), Attitude toward Technology (AT), Perceived Credibility (PC) and Trust (TR)] had a positive impact on the intentions to use CAATs. However, social influence surprisingly negatively influenced the intentions to use CAATs and was positively moderated by Voluntariness (VO). Furthermore, Performance Expectancy (PE) and Effort Expectancy (EE) were also observed to have a positive impact on intentions to use CAATs in external auditing. Moreover, Facilitating Conditions (FC) and Intentions to Use (IU) CAATs were noted to have positive influences on the Actual Use (AU) of CAATs.

Originality/value

The present study extended the UTAUT model by introducing relevant additional constructs: SE, PR, AT, AN, PC and TR, and examined the impact of these on the intention to use CAATs, and subsequently such intentions on the actual use of CAATs in external auditing, with several implications.

Purpose

Youths aged 15–34 make half the population of Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and over one quarter of the labour force. The purpose of this paper is to address the two following questions. Why youths from Egypt, Jordan and Tunisia lack financial inclusion before (2014 and 2017) and during (2021) the COVID-19 pandemic? What are the determinants of their financial inclusion?

Design/methodology/approach

Financial inclusion encapsulates account holding at financial institutions and the use of digital services they provide. Two probit regressions address financial inclusion regarding these two dimensions, upon three pooled samples selected from the Global Findex Database, each sample gathering roughly 3,000 households including over two-fifths of youths.

Findings

Five results regarding financial inclusion highlight the role of job-status, income, education, gender and age. Prior the pandemic, financial inclusion of young entrepreneurs is affected by (female) gender, (middle) income, (low) education level and country policy. During the pandemic, y women became more financially included; there was no age gap regarding digital services; and despite improvement, digital services remain unsuitable for poorly educated youth. Gender has no effect on the financial inclusion of young employees before and during the pandemic.

Research limitations/implications

Government policy should target youth underserved population to foster financial inclusion, distinguishing voluntary from involuntary reasons of financial exclusion.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no paper has addressed yet the determinants of youth financial inclusion, especially the use of digital services, with a focus on job status (entrepreneurs vs employees) in MENA countries, prior and during the pandemic.

Purpose

As the global financial ecosystem grapples with the complexities of modernization, blockchain technology emerges as a pivotal catalyst, offering the banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI) industry unprecedented opportunities for secured digital transformation and enhanced customer trust. To gain a comprehensive understanding of blockchain technology adoption, this study aims to identify the factors and establish the contextual interrelationships among them.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors have identified the factors affecting blockchain technology adoption in BFSI industry through extensive literature review and experts’ interviews. After identification of factors, contextual relationship has been established based on experts’ opinion and total interpretive structural modeling (TISM) approach. Furthermore, factors are categorized into autonomous, dependent, linkage and driving variables using cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to classification analysis.

Findings

The TISM-based structural model is divided into eight different hierarchal levels in which Government support is placed on the lower most layer (level 8) which indicates that this is the most crucial factor in blockchain adoption. Further social influence and security are placed on seventh and sixth level in the hierarchy.

Practical implications

The results of this study will help the policymakers to direct the resources from the most crucial factor to other factors in the hierarchy as per their relevance. In essence, this study serves as a guiding compass, steering the course of blockchain technology adoption in the BFSI sector toward a more secure and digitally transformed future.

Originality/value

In the current landscape, blockchain technology remains in its nascent stage, leaving ample room for exploration and innovation. This study stands as the pioneering effort to comprehensively identify and establish the contextual relationships among the adoption factors of blockchain technology within BFSI industry. Through rigorous TISM analysis, this paper enriches the existing body of knowledge on blockchain technology adoption.

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of environmental disclosures (END) on the corporate financial performance (CFP) of listed companies in Ghana before and during the Banking crisis (BKC) and the COVID-19 pandemic (COV).

Design/methodology/approach

This study used data from 16 companies listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange between 2012 and 2021. The END Index was used, which uses percentile ranking and is guided by Global Reporting Initiative guidelines. A diverse set of empirical tests were used to examine whether ENDs affect CFP during crises.

Findings

The study offered support for the stakeholder and signaling theories generally applied to the study of END. The results confirmed that ENDs have a significant positive effect on CFP measures, return on equity and earnings per share, before and during the crises. The BKC and COV had no impact on the CFP.

Practical implications

As Ghana is still recovering from the 2017 to 2020 BKC and COV, the findings of this study highlight the need for managers to embrace END reporting and engagement strategies to improve CFP and firm reputation.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to examine the effect of END on CFP in the context of before and considering the Ghanaian BKC and COV. In addition, it is one of the few studies that investigates how ENDs affect the CFP of Ghanaian-listed firms.

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the role of ownership structure on integrated reporting quality (IRQ) in an emerging market.

Design/methodology/approach

This study includes a sample consisting of 64 firms from Bursa Malaysia, with 173 firm-year observations from 2017 to 2020. Feasible Generalised Least Square model has been used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The findings show that government ownership has a positive effect on IRQ and that the integrated reports and <IR> framework are well aligned. Foreign ownership influences IRQ positively. However, the results did not support the effect of family ownership on IRQ as hypothesised.

Practical implications

The findings of this research hold practical implications for companies and regulators in Malaysia. The results demonstrate to investors that both government and foreign ownership have a positive impact on IRQ. Therefore, investors can make well-informed investment decisions regarding companies with a high level of government or foreign ownership.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper to explore the effect of ownership structure on IRQ in the Malaysian context.

Purpose

This study aims to examine the impact of perceived benefits-risk dynamics on financial inclusion, the factor driving fintech adoption, the mediating effects of financial inclusion on perceived benefit-risk dynamics and fintech adoption, and the societal sustainability effects of fintech adoption.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a quantitative study with 258 respondents in Sarawak, Malaysia. PLS-SEM was used to investigate the associations.

Findings

This study suggests that only non-monetary benefits and regulatory risks significantly influence financial inclusion. In addition, financial inclusion acts as an intermediary for non-monetary benefits and regulatory risks. Besides, a direct relationship exists between financial inclusion and fintech adoption, as well as between fintech adoption and societal sustainability.

Research limitations/implications

This model explores a few benefits and risks. Also, technological and legislative changes may alter research outcomes. Besides, this study only samples Sarawak, Malaysia. Therefore, country-specific factors, including technology infrastructure, financial services accessibility and cultural variations, may affect participant responses. This study offers a novel perspective on fintech by including Valence, Public Good and Sustainable Information Society theories.

Practical implications

Financial inclusion’s non-monetary benefits must be emphasised to remove barriers and meet user requirements. Fintech firms should also work with authorities to comply with regulations and help marginalised populations by prioritising sustainability.

Social implications

Fintech growth requires innovation, consumer protection and fair competition. Fintech firms can enhance financial inclusion to address inequalities (SDG10). Governments and fintech solutions should incorporate financial and digital literacy into education (SGG4).

Originality/value

Financial inclusion, fintech adoption and societal sustainability are examined using emotional, sociological and societal sustainability aspects.

Purpose

This study aims to examine how environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance influences stock price volatility, with a specific focus on the moderating role of tax engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

ESG performance is measured by an ESG score calculated from the weighting of three dimensions: environmental, social and governance. Stock price volatility is measured by the degree of stock price variations over 12 months, based on the last 52 weeks’ prices. A sample of French-listed firms in the SBF120 is used, with 770 observations extracted from the 2012–2022 period. The feasible generalized least squares approach is used to eliminate endogeneity and multicollinearity problems.

Findings

The results show that the ESG score negatively impacts stock price volatility, with this impact being more significant in the social dimension than in the environmental and governance dimensions. In addition, the tax payment variable moderates the relationship and increases the effect of the ESG score on stock price volatility. These findings suggest that ESG practices and tax transparency are not only ethical elements but also key components for financial stability, promoting the high-quality development of listed firms.

Research limitations/implications

This study is significant for firms, regulators, policymakers and investors. Overall, it underscores the importance of firms adopting ESG activities and engaging in tax management to mitigate risks and maintain viability in the contemporary business environment.

Originality/value

This study provides new empirical evidence regarding the factors driving corporate stock price volatility. In addition, it offers pertinent policy recommendations for businesses and governments regarding the significance of ESG investments.

Purpose

This study aims to examine, from a legitimacy perspective, the potential influence of board and audit committee (AC) characteristics on the level of corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure by listed firms in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Design/methodology/approach

Throughout a 10-year period (2013–2022), 160 firm-year observations from listed firms in Bahrain are used. Four hierarchical multiple regression (HMR) models are developed to examine the effects of five independent variables and three control variables.

Findings

HMR model results show that CSR reporting is determined by only two independent variables: board independence and AC independence. Also, the results of this study partially support the argument that legitimacy theory is a key factor in explaining CSR.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations include a small sample of 160 firm-year observations over a 10-year period (2013–2022) using a small CSR index of 16 items and not considering other board and AC characteristics.

Practical implications

This study assists policymakers in achieving strategic goals and guiding future environmental, social and governance reporting guidelines.

Social implications

This study reveals that the CSR practices of Bahraini listed firms are not determined by factors like board size, AC size and AC number of meetings. It offers insights for accounting scholars on the importance of including board and AC features in CSR research.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this study is among the first to investigate this topic in Bahrain and to use board and AC characteristics as independent variables.