Title: Effects of working capital management on firm profitability: empirical evidence from Sri Lanka

Authors: Athambawa Jahfer

Addresses: Department of Accountancy and Finance, Faculty of Management and Commerce, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka, University Park, Oluvil # 32360, Sri Lanka

Abstract: This paper investigates the effects of working capital management on profitability of manufacturing companies in Sri Lanka for the period 2008 to 2013. It was analysed using both pooled ordinary least squared and fixed effect model. Working capital management were measured using accounts receivable, accounts payable, inventory period, cash conversion cycle and net trading cycle. Gross operating profit was used to measure the profitability. This study finds that managers can create value by reducing accounts receivable and net trading cycle and maintaining reasonable inventory level. The study also finds a significant negative relationship between accounts payable and profitability which is consistent with the view that less profitable firms wait longer to pay their bills. There is no evidence to prove the existence of significant relationship between cash conversion cycle and profitability but there is negative association.

Keywords: working capital management; gross operating profit; manufacturing industry; Sri Lanka; firm profitability; accounts receivable; accounts payable; inventory period; cash conversion cycle; net trading cycle.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMFA.2015.067498

International Journal of Managerial and Financial Accounting, 2015 Vol.7 No.1, pp.26 - 37

Received: 04 Sep 2014
Accepted: 26 Sep 2014
Published online: 17 Feb 2015 *

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