Title: Application of the accounting information at higher education institutions in Slovenia and Croatia - preparation of public policy framework

Authors: Tatjana Jovanović; Martina Dragija

Addresses: Faculty of Administration, University of Ljubljana, Gosarjeva 5, Ljubljana, Slovenia ' Faculty of Economics and Business, John Fitzgerald Kennedy 6, 10000, Croatia

Abstract: Application of accounting reports' information for managerial purposes has been commonly denoted as management accounting. The studies focused on management accounting at higher education institutions confirmed the lack of high quality information and revealed that existing management accounting practice is primarily centred on complying with legal requirements regarding external reporting. Therefore, the main objective of this paper is to analyse the financial reporting systems at higher education institutions in relation to management accounting at micro and in relation to public policy framework at macro level in Slovenia and Croatia. The results revealed that exiting reporting systems at higher education institutions in observed countries is partially useful for decision making processes and that there are significant differences in the main elements of management accounting practice. Research findings could provide solid groundwork for the preparation of public policies and operative instructions.

Keywords: accounting reports; higher education institutions; management accounting; financial management; accounting information; external reports; decision making process; reform; Slovenia; Croatia.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPSPM.2018.095238

International Journal of Public Sector Performance Management, 2018 Vol.4 No.4, pp.452 - 466

Received: 05 Aug 2017
Accepted: 10 Nov 2017
Published online: 02 Oct 2018 *

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