Search results for "Positive accounting"

2015

This paper provides a commentary on the academic literature on accounting conservatism with a view to highlighting the insights of that literature that are potentially useful for accounting standar...

The Predictive Ability of Financial Information for Future Earnings: A European Perspective

2003

The objective of this paper is to analyse cross-national differences in the predictive ability of financial information (accounting and market data) for future earnings. We adopt a European perspective in our analysis by focusing on four representative European countries (France, Germany, Spain and the UK) in order to assess whether the institutional and accounting differences among them result in inter-country differences in the predictive value of financial information. In particular, we consider that differences in the extent of conservatism, due to country characteristics, such as the legal system (code-law vs common-law), the way companies finance their operations, and the relationship…

Empirical evidence of the effect of European accounting differences on the stock market valuation of earnings and book value

2002

Recently, a new dimension has been added to research in accounting harmonization by studying the effects of accounting practices and regulations on share price and return movements. Although there is an agreement of mutual recognition in the European stock markets of financial statements adapted to the directives, the differences between the European countries are still great. The objective of this study is to investigate the value relevance of alternative accounting measures (earnings and book value) constructed under different accounting systems in Europe. We investigate the differences in accounting practices through the relationship between earnings and book value, and the stock market …

The institutional pillars of management accounting function

2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to theorize the institutional pillars of management accounting function.Design/methodology/approachThe paper adopts a comparative case study approach.FindingsInstitutional pillars of management accounting are explored on the basis of two longitudinal case studies. Competitive/economic forces and three analytical elements of institutional theory are composing institutions: regulative, normative and cultural‐cognitive pillars. Each element is important, and all of them may work in combination, but they operate through distinctive mechanisms and processes. This paper illustrates how they provide the basis for compliance, order and the legitimacy of not the w…

Evaluating the statistical significance of de facto accounting harmonization: a study of European global players

2000

Two different forces are involved in the international harmonization of accounting: institutional endeavours to harmonize accounting internationally by developing common accounting rules and reporting standards, and spontaneous efforts by ‘global players’ to adopt accounting methods that will improve communication with users in other countries. These two developments are proceeding side by side, generally reinforcing one another but occasionally moving independently. This paper is primarily concerned with the process of harmonization of financial accounting within the European Union. The hypothesis we want to test is that, in spite of the obstacles to the harmonization of regulations in the…

The experience of knowledge in everyday accounting: a study of Finnish accounting managers

1995

The paper offers an ethnomethodological-phenomenological description of the everyday cost accountant's life-world in Finnish companies. This empirical study is based on qualitative research interviews which provide rich data on this phenomenon and offer a starting-point for interpretation. As a result of interpretation a picture emerges of how the everyday accountant seems to acquire the experience of knowledge. ‘The experience of knowledge’ is used to refer to ethnomethodological-phenomenological perspective which means that the constitution of practical accounting knowledge is seen as an accomplishment which is based on an individual sense-making process. This process and its elements are…

Making Business Partners: A Case Study on how Management Accounting Culture was Changed

2007

Abstract There has been a lot of debate on the new business-oriented role of management accountants during recent years. This paper examines how a case company is trying to change its management accounting culture in practice. Furthermore, it illustrates how accounting practices are woven into the cultural fabric of an organization and the great diversity of practices constituting its business orientation. This longitudinal case study explores and theorizes the multiple cultural change interventions related to management accounting, including how the case company reorganized the management accounting organization, implemented new accounting systems and innovations, pursued a new kind of hum…

Economic and normative pressures as drivers for the adoption of International Accounting Standards in Finland since 1976

2005

This paper deals with the internationalisation of Finnish business life and the attempts to introduce and apply international accounting standards (IASs) in Finnish accounting practice before the latest developments at the EU level in 2002. The internationalisation of business life creating economic pressures for changes is illustrated. Analysis of four accounting issues is made in order to exemplify how IASs have affected Finnish accounting legislation and practice. The results of the analysis indicate that the effect of IASs has been notable but secondary because of the implementation of the EU Directives in Finnish accounting legislation in the 1990s. IASs have not caused any drastic cha…

ACCOUNTING OUTSOURCING SERVICES IN LATVIA: PROBLEMS AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

2013

Accounting outsourcing services as a type of business started developing in 1990ies. In compliance to the requirements of laws and regulations, accounting could be organized at companies in two ways – accounting could be performed by hired employees or a company may use accounting services by concluding a contract with a legal or a physical person on fulfilling the accounting functions. The authors perform research on the development of accounting services in Latvia in the historical context, carry out the analysis of the market of accounting services, study the factors influencing the quality of accounting services and develop the possible solutions for the improvement of the quality of th…

Political Interference in Financial Reporting in the Financial Industry: Evidence from Spain

2018

This paper provides a theoretical background, based on legal and political fields, which we adapt to explain political interference in accounting in the “public interest”, at a critical moment —the last financial crisis. This framework goes beyond the positive accounting theory, and in particular the political cost hypothesis, to explain politicians’ influence on financial reporting. We examine the behavior of the newly elected Spanish government, which issued accounting impairment rules for banks in spite of IFRS being in place. The paper considers a highly politically connected financial entity —Bankia— as a case under study, where the political interference might have impacted the accoun…