Accounting Research Journal最新文献

Purpose

Metaphor is the foundation upon which all scientific disciplines, from basic to applied, construct the mental models used in theory development and organizing research phenomena. The authors posit that a navigational science metaphor might provide a useful framework, or at least an additional “waypoint,” with which to evaluate extant accounting theory and further discourse in accounting research and practice. This study aims to critically examine the base metaphors of accounting theory and practice through the lens of navigational science.

Design/methodology/approach

The supreme dominance of the Positive Accounting Theory paradigm (Watts and Zimmerman, 1986) is critically evaluated using a navigational metaphor as a literary device for cognitive estrangement.

Findings

The authors suggest that accounting, as both a practical and academic field, might benefit from the multifarious approach of navigational science in the computation of longitude, particularly with regards to the use of external (societal) referents, moving toward a more “heteroglossic” model of accounting (vid. Macintosh and Baker, 2002) as a means of “situating” accounting research and practice with regards to said external referents (cf. Bayou et al., 2011).

Originality/value

This work brings together existing streams of literary theory and epistemology in accounting, and views them through the lens of a navigational science metaphor. Cognitive estrangement, a well-established device for reorganizing perplexing problems in any science, is used to reimagine an accounting science as navigational situating.

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the effects of main corporate governance (CG) mechanisms used in Iran on the relationship between managers’ rewards and real earnings management activities.

Design/methodology/approach

Panel data analysis is performed on 101 companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange during the past seven years (from 2015 to 2021).

Findings

The percentage of non-executive members of the company’s board of directors and the percentage of acquisition of the company’s largest shareholders have a negative significant effect on the relationship between abnormal operating cash flows and managers’ remuneration. Moreover, the separation of the CEO from the chairman and vice chairman of the board has also a negative significant effect on this relationship. However, concentration of ownership does not have a significant effect on the relationship between abnormal operating cash flows and managers’ rewards.

Practical implications

The study provides policymakers and governing bodies with a better understanding of the effects of the percentage of non-executive board members, concentration of ownership, percentage of major shareholders and duality of the role of CEO (or president) from the chairman and vice chairman of the board on the relationship between managers’ rewards and earnings management.

Originality/value

Previous studies focus mainly on accrual-based earnings management. This study investigates real earnings management and provides empirical evidence on the most effective and significant CG dimensions in Iran. It embraces the fact that CG may have the same principal concept in different markets, but the mechanisms may vary significantly, thus opening the door for more comparative future research.

Purpose

This study aims to explore ChatGPT in the context of the UK higher education (HE) and accountancy profession.

Design/methodology/approach

Narrative research that applies deductive thematic analysis to investigate secondary data produced by the UK HE governing bodies, the ancient UK universities, accountancy bodies and BIG4s.

Findings

Discussions held by the governing bodies of HE in the UK follow the advice found in the literature on how to acknowledge contributions from artificial intelligence. However, these discussions are informal. Universities provide guidance on the use of ChatGPT; however, these documents differ, compromising a consistent approach across institutions. Similarly, accountancy researchers lack uniform guidance. This is concerning because the data analysis indicates that ChatGPT’s limitations may have a detrimental impact on compliance with the UK Concordat to support research integrity. Moreover, accountancy bodies are predicting major changes in the accountancy profession due to automation, which will potentially change the job market and the content of qualification examinations. BIG4s have begun automating, with some negative impacts already evident. Thus, the field should be ready for future challenges.

Originality/value

This study explores ChatGPT in the context of the UK HE and accountancy profession. It provides a detailed analysis of the risks and opportunities associated with the use of ChatGPG, while also providing suggestions for risk mitigation to assist accountancy students, researchers and practitioners.

Purpose

This study aims to investigate climate finance literature to understand whether and how research in this area is explored from an accounting perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

This study conducts a meta-analysis and narrative review of climate finance.

Findings

The issue of climate finance has received increasing attention in recent years because of international negotiations on climate change. The volume of literature examining climate finance has grown, particularly from a finance perspective. The literature analysed is diverse, using unique methodological and theoretical differences and providing insights into the effectiveness of policies and the impact of climate finance on capital markets, economic growth and the green economy. However, in spite of growing concerns regarding the accounting and reporting issues in climate finance, little attention has been paid to this topic from an accounting, accountability, audit or corporate disclosure perspective.

Originality/value

This study contributes to climate finance research by integrating insights from a dispersed and emerging body of literature by conducting meta-analysis and narrative review. Meta-analysis enables us to map the development of this specific literature and how it has changed over the years, whereas a narrative review serves as a basis for identifying research gaps and developing avenues for future research in accounting, accountability, audit and corporate disclosure.

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to propose a framework for the convergence of maturity model and education and evaluation in accounting.

Design/methodology/approach

The present research was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, to determine the indicators of convergence of the maturity model and education and evaluation in accounting, a Meta-Synthesis method was used. The conceptual model includes two dimensions of “Teaching and learning processes” and “Evaluation methods"; five levels of initial, repeatable, defined, managed and optimized; and a total number of 35 indicators. In the second phase, a questionnaire was developed, and academics as accounting faculty members in Iranian public universities were employed to fill out the questionnaire electronically and present a final framework. Having received the questionnaires, 66 questionnaires were analyzed statistically.

Findings

The results showed that the two dimensions of “Teaching and learning processes” and “Evaluation methods” considering initial, repeatable, defined, managed and optimized levels include 35 indicators, which form a framework for the convergence of maturity model and education and evaluation in accounting. The results show that both dimensions have positive and significant regression path coefficients in the convergence model. Moreover, the dimension of teaching and learning processes has the highest regression path coefficient indicating a greater impact on the convergence model. Besides, all five levels have positive and significant regression path coefficients with dimensions. Finally, in this study, all indicators were prioritized according to five levels.

Originality/value

Due to the success of maturity models and the urgent developments that require transformative improvements in accounting education, maturity models can respond to the challenges associated with education and learning in accounting. Thus, conceiving an image of the convergence of maturity model, education and evaluation in accounting seems imperative which has been scarcely investigated previously.

Purpose

This paper aims to meta-analyze the results of the prior studies related to the relationship of human capital and financial performance in Islamic banking.

Design/methodology/approach

To examine the relationship between human capital and financial of Islamic banks, 23 empirical studies having sample of 15,607 are considered for the meta-analysis. Moreover, different measures related to financial performance including return on assets (ROA), return of equity (ROE) and Tobin’s Q have been taken as moderating for further subgroup analysis.

Findings

The results of meta-analysis reveal a positive correlation between human capital and financial performance with an effect size of 0.268. The subgroup analyses showed significant positive associations of human capital with ROA and ROE, insignificant with Tobin’s Q.

Originality/value

This study suggests Islamic banking should prioritize human capital development, maintain consistency and adopt a long-term perspective. Future research should consider context-specific factors and harmonize human capital and financial performance measurements for consensus.