This study examines two distinct forces behind the adoption of international accounting standards by West African countries. We treat the 2019 OHADA mandate as the regional force and use the three pressures of institutional theory to proxy for country-level factors. Examining 16 countries over 2009–2022, we do not find support for coercive or mimetic pressures, though the proxies for these two constructs are indirect. The findings support a significant role for normative pressures and, most strongly, for the 2019 OHADA mandate. The concentration of IFRS adoption among common-law countries, documented in prior research, does not persist after the mandate. Nine civil-law countries in the region adopted IFRS in 2019. In short, the 2019 OHADA mandate and country-level normative pressure are the two determinants of IFRS adoption we document in West Africa. For IFRS for SMEs, we find that none of the institutional theory pressures is associated with adoption; instead, the strongest predictor is a country’s adoption of full IFRS.
Reviewer Acknowledgements for Accounting and Finance Research, Vol. 15, No. 2, May 2026
The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in accounting and auditing has transformed traditional audit practices, creating both new opportunities and challenges for external auditors particularly in emerging markets. This study investigates the impact of AI on the performance of external auditors in Jordanian public shareholding service companies, with electronic internal control (EIC) serving as a moderating variable.A descriptive analytical approach was employed, using a validated 42-item questionnaire distributed to certified public accountants working in Jordanian audit firms. Out of 150 distributed questionnaires, 123 valid responses were obtained (an 82% response rate). Data were analyzed using SPSS software through one-sample t-tests and descriptive statistics.Results revealed highly significant positive effects of AI across all audit stages: planning (t = 4.867, p < 0.001), control testing (t = 11.131, p < 0.001), analytical procedures (t = 9.977, p < 0.001), audit completion (t = 11.583, p < 0.001), and documentation (t = 12.077, p < 0.001). The overall impact of AI on auditor performance was strongly significant (t = 9.927, p < 0.001). Furthermore, electronic internal control exhibited a significant moderating effect (t = 10.400, p < 0.001), indicating that AI’s effectiveness is amplified in organizations with robust electronic control infrastructures.These findings provide stage-specific quantitative evidence from an emerging market perspective and offer practical implications for audit firms, client organizations, and policymakers seeking to enhance audit quality and technological integration.
In this paper, we analyzed the relationship between sustainable development practices and the financial performance of Iraqi industrial companies and investigated the moderating effect of artificial neural networks. Given the significance of sustainability as a worldwide issue, this study seeks to fill the research gap regarding sustainability in developing economies. Different metrics for sustainability and financial performance are evaluated through analysis of empirical data of Iraqi industrial organizations. This study uses artificial neural networks to assess their contribution to improving these interactions. It finds that sustainability activities lead to better financial performance, so the focus on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues does indeed matter. Moreover, artificial neural networks significantly improve the accuracy of the prediction of financial performance using sustainability criteria. Corporations that employ sustainable practices and advanced computational techniques also obtain superior financial results through those applications. This publication contributes to the theoretical discourse on sustainability, financial performance, and artificial intelligence by developing action-oriented suggestions for industry leaders in Iraq. It also directs the next phase of research and policy development for sustainable industrial advancement.
The study aims to examine the effect of online tax filing on tax compliance among small and medium enterprises in the Littoral Region of Cameroon. The independent variables were accessibility and reliability, Tax awareness, Computer literacy level and tax education while the dependent variable was tax compliance. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design to attain these objectives where a sample of 200 tax payers were selected using stratified random sampling technique of companies and business familiar with the online tax system. The qualitative methods of data collection were used in this work were a self-administered questionnaire composed of closed ended, and likert scale questions was used to collect data from the respondents. Data obtained through a structured questionnaire were analysed using analysed using descriptive statistics and the multiple regression analysis (Ordinary Least Square Regression Technique) with the help of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software. The findings show that online tax filing has a significant positive effect on tax compliance among small and medium enterprises in the Littoral region. Specifically, tax awareness, computer literacy level and tax education have a positive and significant effect on tax compliance among SMEs while accessibility and reliability had an insignificant relationship with tax compliance. The study therefore recommends that the government should make the site to be user friendly that is very easy to use and accessible by all Cameroonian tax payers. The study further recommends that computer literacy levels should be emphasized by SMEs in order to improve on tax compliance levels.
Researchers have documented the growing reliance on social media by consumers. Simultaneously, the number and sophistication of consumers’ financial choices in the marketplace have significantly grown. In this paper, the relationship between social media use and consumers’ level of financial anxiety is examined utilizing a national sample of American consumers. The findings reveal a strong correlation between heavy social media use and financial anxiety. Financial anxiety is found to be further affected by gender, one's level of financial literacy, and the amount of time spent per day on social media. The correlational findings, obtained through cross-sectional data, are significant as this is the first study to explore how social media usage and financial anxiety are intertwined.
Prior research has extensively examined customer-supplier relationships and documented the dominant roles that customers play in firms' financial and investment decisions. Although the nature of the relationship between customers and suppliers is bilateral, the literature has predominantly examined the relationship through the lens of customers, overlooking the impact that suppliers have on customers. Do the benefits of innovation spillover from suppliers affect customers along supply chains? The answer remains unknown. Accordingly, our study explores the benefits of innovation spillovers from suppliers to customers along the supply chain, namely the impact of suppliers' innovation activities on their customers' profitability. We find a positive association between suppliers' innovation activities and customers' profitability, consistent with the innovation spillover from suppliers to customers along supply chains. We also find that this relationship has become more pronounced in recent years, implying the importance of technology and employee mobility in spillover effects along the supply chain. Our additional analysis supports the robustness of this result. Our paper sheds light on the studies and practices of supply chain management by offering a holistic view of suppliers' roles in corporate innovation along supply chains.
This conceptual paper examines the relationship between sustainability education and the perspectives of undergraduate accounting students in Malaysia regarding green financing. The study focuses on four key dimensions that shape student views: awareness of sustainable development, perceived importance of sustainable development, understanding of green financing's role in sustainability, and evaluation of accounting curriculum adequacy. Against Malaysia's backdrop as a regional leader in green Islamic finance through innovations like the world's first sovereign green sukuk, the paper explores how these educational factors influence future accounting professionals' orientations toward sustainability.The conceptual analysis identifies critical connections between classroom learning and professional preparedness in sustainable finance. The study highlights essential alignment opportunities by mapping current accounting education approaches against Malaysia's progressive sustainability policies and financial sector developments. The paper provides a structured examination of how curriculum design and content delivery might better equip students with relevant sustainability competencies.This work contributes to ongoing discussions about modernizing accounting education to address evolving industry demands, particularly in emerging economies that are making significant strides in sustainable finance. The conceptual framework offers educators and policymakers a systematic way to evaluate and enhance sustainability integration in accounting programs. The analysis concludes by identifying promising directions for future research and curriculum development in this vital area of professional education.
Purpose: This study investigates how political instability influences the quality of financial reporting in Sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on discretionary accruals as a measure of earnings management. It aims to assess how fragile political systems contribute to reduced financial transparency and increased manipulation in corporate reporting within emerging market contexts.Methodology: Using a balanced panel of 244 listed firms from seven Sub-Saharan African countries between 2004 and 2023 (4,880 firm-year observations), the study employs pooled OLS, fixed effects, and system GMM estimators. Political risk data are sourced from the Worldwide Governance Indicators, while firm-level financials are extracted from annual reports. Diagnostic tests, including the Hausman test and cross-sectional dependence checks, ensure robust model selection and validity.Findings: The analysis reveals a positive and significant relationship between political instability and discretionary accruals, suggesting greater earnings manipulation in politically unstable environments. Conversely, audit quality and board independence are associated with reduced accrual-based earnings management, supporting agency and institutional theory perspectives on governance and transparency.Practical Implications: The findings emphasize the need for stronger institutional frameworks, independent audit oversight, and effective board governance in politically volatile economies. These measures can help reduce opportunistic reporting and enhance investor confidence in financial disclosures.Originality: This study synthesizes six theoretical perspectives to explain how political risk affects corporate reporting. It offers rare empirical insights from Sub-Saharan Africa and applies rigorous econometric techniques to advance the literature on governance and financial reporting.
This article examines whether the creation of a continental free trade area benefits all African countries, using an analysis of external constraints. By employing error-correction models estimated via ordinary least squares throughout 1981 to 2017, the study reveals that several sub-Saharan African nations experience persistent trade deficits, indicating the presence of external constraints. Moreover, countries with fragile currencies are particularly vulnerable to exchange rate volatility.
Ineffective promotional activities, such as traditional slide presentations, often fail to capture students' attention, resulting in low awareness and reduced enrollment. Developing an interactive promotional game presents a more engaging solution to boost audience engagement and assess knowledge retention. TIC ACC TOE and e-TACC-TOE were developed as gamification tools to improve promotional activities for the ACCA programme at DPAS, UiTM Shah Alam. Initially a physical board game, TIC ACC TOE was later digitised into e-TACC-TOE to adapt to online promotional needs, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. These tools effectively engage students and enhance knowledge retention, leading to a noticeable increase in applications for the ACCA programme. With both physical and digital versions, the tools support diverse promotional activities, helping UiTM contribute to Malaysia’s national goal of producing 60,000 chartered accountants by 2030. Other institutions can adapt this product innovation for various activities, including promotions, student inductions, and industrial talks, and have commercial potential as a mobile app, improving accessibility and overcoming device limitations.
Online distance learning (ODL) is known to have its challenges, especially for students pursuing a professional accounting qualification course that has a high failure rate. This is due to its wide and in-depth syllabus coverage and higher order thinking examination demands that cause great challenges to the students. Thus, determining the best study skills for students pursuing this qualification is paramount so that they can complete the course within the programme duration despite the additional burden of ODL. This study aims to determine the best study skills set that could enhance students' ability to pass their professional accounting examination. This study employs a quantitative approach and collects data using a questionnaire survey. The respondents are students pursuing the professional accountancy programme, Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) offered at University Teknologi MARA (UiTM). The results reveal that two of the most dominant study skills are organizing and processing information, followed by study aids and note-taking. The findings from this study provide input to learning providers and professional bodies in curating materials and support programs that could further enhance students' chances of passing the examination.
This study investigated how debt tax shields (DTS) moderate the relationship between corporate governance mechanisms and income tax compliance in Nigerian listed firms. Amid persistent tax revenue shortfalls and evolving corporate governance reforms, understanding the interplay between governance structures and financial strategies has become crucial in emerging markets. Using a panel dataset of 92 non-financial firms listed on the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) from 2013 to 2022, the study adopts fixed-effects regression models to examine the direct and moderating effects of three key governance mechanisms: board gender diversity (BGD), audit committee size (BAC), and managerial ownership (MO) on income tax compliance, proxied by the effective tax rate (ETR). Findings reveal that BAC positively and significantly influences tax compliance in most model specifications, reinforcing the importance of board-level oversight. MO is significant in selected models, supporting the incentive alignment argument, though not consistently across all specifications. BGD does not exhibit a direct effect but demonstrates a significant positive interaction with DTS, suggesting that gender-diverse boards are more effective in leveraged firms where financial complexity heightens compliance risk. Among the control variables, profitability (ROA) and firm size (Fsize) consistently predict higher tax compliance, while leverage (LEV), DTS, and industry classification (IND) show no direct effects. The study concludes that governance mechanisms do not operate in isolation but are conditioned by firms' capital structures. Policymakers and regulators are advised to integrate governance reforms with financial risk profiling for enhanced compliance enforcement.
I examine whether taxable income comparability or tax liability comparability affects a firm’s tax behavior. I find that, on average, comparable taxable income deters corporate managers from engaging in aggressive tax planning. I also find that the deterrence effect of taxable income comparability on aggressive tax planning is more pronounced for firms with less IRS attention and a more uncertain information environment. A battery of sensitivity analyses, including alternative comparability and tax planning measures and a difference-in-differences design around an exogenous comparability-increasing shock, confirms that the above findings are robust to both endogeneity and measurement error concerns. My study implies that a more comparable tax return discourages firms’ incentives for aggressive tax planning.
The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into financial reporting is revolutionizing the way financial information is processed and presented. This paper critically reviews AI's transformative role in financial reporting, exploring its potential to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and real-time insights while identifying challenges such as ethical concerns, biases, regulatory misalignment, and over-reliance on automated systems. By examining recent advancements, case studies, and policy implications, the paper highlights the need for a balanced approach to harness AI's benefits while addressing its risks, paving the way for a more robust and future-proof financial reporting landscape.
This study aims to investigate the impact of auditor opinion, IFRS adoption, and macro-level factors on financial distress using a sample of 221 non-financial UK manufacturing firms listed between 2014 and 2023. A panel fixed-effects regression model is applied to test the research hypotheses, with Altman’s Z-Score serving as a proxy for financial distress. The findings reveal a significant negative association between IFRS adoption and Altman’s Z-Score, while auditor opinion exhibits a significant positive relationship with the Z-Score. Additionally, strong evidence suggests that a composite measure of country-level index variables is significantly linked to higher financial distress. This paper makes a valuable contribution to the financial distress literature by addressing the limited research on the predictive role of IFRS adoption and auditor opinion in financial distress. Furthermore, by examining macro-level influences, this study adds to the existing literature, which predominantly focuses on firm-specific factors.
The contribution of external auditing to the resilience of companies in Lebanon during times of crisis, examined through a qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews with six auditing firms, highlights its essential role amid the crisis that has affected the country since 2019. Amid the collapse of the Lebanese pound and ongoing economic instability, which significantly complicated corporate accounting, external audits emerged as a vital tool. Auditors ensured that accounting operations were recorded using the official exchange rate of 1,507.5 Lebanese pounds when preparing the tax declarations of audited entities for the years 2020 to 2022. In the context of unclear and ambiguous legislation, auditors also played a role in preventing tax avoidance. They provided continuous oversight of company operations, monitored financial management, ensured accurate inventory tracking, validated the reliability of financial statements, enforced tax declaration deadlines, offered strategic recommendations, and verified their implementation. These interventions contributed significantly to maintaining the resilience of Lebanese enterprises during the economic downturn. In 2023, following the stabilization of the exchange rate at 89,500 Lebanese pounds, auditors continued to verify the accuracy of financial transactions based on the daily exchange rate and ensured the proper closure of prior fiscal years, thereby enabling the preparation of reliable financial statements. The findings of this study underscore the pivotal role of external auditing as a cornerstone of corporate accounting resilience in Lebanon, helping businesses navigate and survive periods of severe uncertainty.
This study aims to identify the impact of the use of artificial intelligence on the development of external audit efficiency in Jordanian public shareholding and mining and extractive companies. The sample of the study consisted of (56) external auditors in (13) Jordanian mining and extractive corporations. The descriptive approach and analytical approach were also used for its occasion in achieving the objectives of the study. The data was processed statistically using arithmetic averages and multiple regression analysis.The study found a statistical impact of artificial intelligence on the development of external audit efficiency in Jordanian mining and extractive corporations, and the existence of a statistical impact of artificial intelligence, represented in: (Planning, carrying out control tests and basic tests of operations, carrying out analytical procedures and detailed tests of balances, auditing subsequent events and future commitments prior to the issuance of the auditor's report) in improving all dimensions of governance (effective governance framework, disclosure and transparency, shareholder equality, responsibilities of the Board of Directors, role of stakeholders) in mining companies and extraction companies in Jordanian Public Shareholding.In light of the results of the study, it recommended that the total reliance on artificial intelligence be made easier for auditors, which has a high positive impact.
