International Journal of Accounting, Auditing and Performance Evaluation (22 papers in press)

Regular Issues

• Understanding the knowledge of accounting professionals on International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) in Ghana  
  by Musah Mohammed Saeed 
  Abstract: Scholars have increasingly focused on International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) for their benefits in enhancing transparency and accountability in public-sector financial reporting However, the challenging transition to IPSAS needs attention This study evaluates professional accountants' knowledge of IPSAS implementation in Ghana's Bono region, specifically in selected Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) Data from 68 finance and account officers were collected via self-administered questionnaires, primarily through purposive sampling, and analyzed using descriptive statistics The study reveals a significant lack of IPSAS knowledge among professional accountants in the region's MMDAs, with IPSAS adoption and implementation still in the early stages Respondents also highlighted the considerable cost and complexity of transitioning to IPSAS, along with limited training opportunities and widespread ignorance about IPSAS in Ghana Recommendations include establishing a robust IPSAS compliance framework and launching a comprehensive public education campaign. This study contributes to the limited literature on IPSAS awareness in Africa.
  Keywords: background of IPSAS; public sector adoption of IPSAS; cash and accrual bases of accounting; convergence of IFRS with IPSAS; Ghana public sector accounting; contingency theory; new public management (NPM) theory.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJAAPE.2025.10070362
   
  
• Accounting manipulation and timeliness of financial reporting in emerging economies: evidence from Nigeria  
  by Isaac Ukarin, Sebastine Ogbaisi, Okun Omokhudu 
  Abstract: This study sought to evaluate the impact of accounting manipulation on timeliness of financial reporting in Nigeria. Data was gathered from financial statements of 75 non - financial firms listed on the NGX for 10 years (2010-2019). The generalized method of moments regression technique was used in analyzing the data. The results showed that accruals manipulation and real earnings management manipulation positively significantly impact on timeliness of financial reporting. Fraud on the other hand, has an insignificant impact on timeliness of financial reporting. The implication of this study’s finding is that, the results have established that in the presence of increases in accrual and real earnings manipulation, accounting reports can still be timely. The study recommends that the practice of manipulation by management should be carefully observed by stakeholders as it portends a clear red flag of earnings distortions and signals delayed reporting among others.
  Keywords: accounting manipulation; accruals; REM; real earnings management; fraud; timeliness of financial reporting.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJAAPE.2025.10071405
   
  
• What about the firm's exposure to climate risk? Balancing carbon performance and tax avoidance practices  
  by Safa Gaaya, Mouna Hamza, Faten Lakhal 
  Abstract: As companies strive to demonstrate their environmental responsibility, questions arise about the potential impact of such green initiatives on their financial strategies, especially when dealing with tax savings. This paper examines the association between a firm's carbon performance and tax avoidance. It also sheds new light on the role of climate risk exposure on this relationship. Based on a sample of US firms from 2005 to 2021, our finding reveals that firms with stronger carbon performance are less likely to engage in tax avoidance, suggesting that firms that prioritize reducing their carbon footprint are also committed to maintaining compliance with tax regulations, supporting the stakeholder perspective. The results also document that the negative association between carbon performance and tax avoidance holds only during lower climate risk exposure, suggesting that under heightened climate exposure companies focus on climate-related concerns, making tax avoidance a lower priority. Additional evidence reveals that high-polluting firms are more incentivized to enhance carbon performance to respond to institutional pressure, leading to lower tax avoidance levels.
  Keywords: carbon performance; tax avoidance; climate risk; stakeholder theory; legitimacy.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJAAPE.2025.10072987
   
  
• The contribution of regulated and voluntary disclosure to financial performance: the case of CSE listed companies.  
  by Hassan Aachaach, Abderrahim Zghaida, Omar Kharbouch 
  Abstract: The growing complexity of global financial markets, amplified by digital transformation, has heightened the demand for transparent financial reporting. This paper investigates how financial and non-financial disclosures both regulatory and voluntary affect the financial performance of listed companies in African markets, with a focus on Casablanca. Based on a survey of 203 individual and institutional investors, the research uses partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) to analyse the data. Model reliability is confirmed through composite reliability (CR) and average variance extracted (AVE) metrics, followed by descriptive statistics. Findings reveal that trust plays a key mediating role between financial disclosures and firm performance, while perceived risk moderates this relationship. The results highlight the strategic importance of financial communication in shaping investor confidence and enhancing corporate transparency. This study offers valuable insights for regulators and managers aiming to improve disclosure practices and strengthen financial market efficiency in emerging economies.
  Keywords: financial information; mandatory disclosure; voluntary disclosure; trust; financial performance.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJAAPE.2025.10073192
   
  
• Converged IFRS 10 and value relevance of consolidated financial statements in emerging market: role of ownership structure and audit quality  
  by Santosh Dutta, Manish Bansal 
  Abstract: The paper investigates how converged IFRS10 (Ind.AS110) affects the value relevance of consolidated financial statements (CFS) in Indias emerging market and how ownership structure and audit quality impact this relationship as consolidation post-Ind.AS110 relies on professional judgement. Using the difference-in-difference technique and fixed effect panel data regression on 5550 firm-years, the findings suggest post-Ind.AS110, the value relevance of consolidated book value per share (CBVPS) has increased, whereas consolidated earnings per share (CEPS) have decreased indicating reduced creative accounting at balance sheet level. Nevertheless, family ownership positively impacts CBVPS and CEPS under Ind.AS110 supporting alignment theory. Furthermore, higher audit quality amplifies the value relevance of CEPS and CBVPS, indicating the benefit of enforcement rights and principle-based judgement. Results remain robust under two-stage least squares and generalised methods of moments. Policymakers, family firms, and investors should consider these factors in regulating consolidation practices, and strategic decision-making.
  Keywords: IFRS 10; Ind. AS110; DiD; difference-in-differences; Ohlson model; value relevance; emerging markets.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJAAPE.2025.10074874
   
  
• Earnings management around mergers and acquisitions: A bibliometric review and research agenda  
  by Diksha Lalwani, Sonali Jain, Juhi Raghuvanshi 
  Abstract: This study presents a bibliometric analysis of 256 articles retrieved from Scopus to identify emerging themes and propose future research directions on earnings management in the context of mergers and acquisitions. Using performance analysis and science-mapping techniques, it highlights the most prolific authors, journals, institutions, and countries. The most influential journal identified is the Journal of Business Finance and Accounting, while the United States emerges as the most productive country in the field. The findings highlight key themes, including accrual and real earnings management, compromised earnings quality, the role of corporate governance, external monitoring and auditing in constraining manipulation, and the impact of earnings management on deal characteristics and firm outcomes. The analysis also shows that institutional differences and weaker regulatory environments increase the likelihood of manipulation around such strategic events. The findings emphasise the role of governance mechanisms in curbing such practices and may substantiate amendments to accounting standards.
  Keywords: earnings management; mergers and acquisitions; corporate governance; bibliometrics; Scopus; VOS viewer.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJAAPE.2026.10075799
   
  
• How does tax avoidance influence dividend payout policy? The role of financial constraints  
  by Mhamed Ben Slimane, Faten Lakhal, Habiba Ladhari 
  Abstract: This paper aims to explore for the first time the effect of tax avoidance activities on dividend payout policy. It also investigates whether financial constraints shape this relationship. Based on a sample of 3,732 firm-year observations in France from 2009 to 2020, the results show that tax avoidance negatively affects dividend payout suggesting that managers extract private benefits from tax savings and reduce the amount of dividend distributed to shareholders. We also find that the negative relation between tax avoidance and dividend payout is more prevalent in financially constrained firms Further evidence shows that this negative effect is mitigated in presence of highly competitive pressures. It also shows that there is a non-linear relationship between tax avoidance and dividend payout suggesting that beyond a threshold, the relationship turns positive, highlighting how managerial decisions can shape the distribution of profits within a firm based on tax avoidance activities.
  Keywords: tax avoidance; dividend payout; financial constraints; product market competition; non-linear effect.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJAAPE.2025.10076304
   
  
• Do regulatory changes on the taxable income trigger earnings management practices? Evidence from Greece.  
  by Panagiotis Chronopoulos 
  Abstract: In 2014, the Greek government enforced new corporate income tax law. The new regulation introduced several changes which focused on the calculation of the taxable income, rather on the applicable tax rate. Specifically, new tax treatment for the corporate revenues and the expenses to be exempted, was established. Treating 2014 as the cut off year, we examine the earnings management implications of the newly introduced changes on the taxable income calculation. Our results present that tax law changes on the first component of tax expense, i.e., taxable income, trigger earnings management practices. We find that firms managed their earnings downwards in the priorenforcement year. Furthermore, tests on disaggregated accruals and on the revenues-expenses relation (matching-principle), present a direct link between specific earnings management practices and the corporate transactions amended. Our results remain significant after several robustness test.
  Keywords: tax reform; earnings management; earnings quality; taxable income; tax rate.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJAAPE.2025.10076409
   
  
• From competence to control: the impact of auditor digital expertise in tech-driven audits  
  by Muhammad Qasim, Qurat-ul-ain Abro, Azhar Hussain 
  Abstract: Research suggests digital technologies can raise audit quality by expanding what auditors can see and test. We argue that the benefit of digital auditing depends on auditors digital expertise and on the organisational conditions that let that expertise operate through data integrity. We assembled multi-source dataset for 418 listed firms in China, linking a survey auditors (about seven per firm) to archival measures. We derived auditors digital expertise from annual reports using textual analytics, measured internal control quality from Dibo database, and drew firm controls from China Stock Market and Accounting Research (CSMAR). Results showed that, First, auditors digital expertise is positively associated with internal control quality. Second, data integrity enable more reliable control evaluation. Third, the association is stronger when organisational readiness is high. The findings reframe digital auditing around individual capability, by highlighting how auditors digital capabilities and organisational context jointly enhance audit quality and control effectiveness.
  Keywords: internal control quality; data integrity; auditors' digital expertise; organisational readiness.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJAAPE.2025.10077515
   
  
• Evaluating factors influencing big data analytics adoption by Indian management accountants deploying analytical hierarchical process  
  by Vitin Kumar, Vinod K. Singh 
  Abstract: This study empirically explores and rank the factors influencing big data analytics (BDA) adoption by Indian professional management accountants utilising analytic hierarchy process (AHP). Based on the extensive literature review, the critical factors hindering BDA adoption in management accounting work practices were extracted and categorised into technology-organisation-environment and behavioural category (TOEB). These factors were ranked on the basis of their relative importance by ten management accountants having expertise to the subject domain. Environment is the most influential category, followed by technology, behaviour and organisation as per experts’ ranking. The five most critical factors for BDA adoption by Indian professional management accountants are intention to use, government regulations, complexity, IT expertise and big data integration. Mathematically tested results of this qualitative work will provide critical inputs to industry, practitioners, managers, management accountants, governments, professional and academic institutions for devising the appropriate strategies for wider BDA adoption in the management accounting.
  Keywords: big data analytics; multicriteria methods; management accountants; prioritisation.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJAAPE.2025.10077900
   
  
• Digital control and social media presence: a study of earnings management  
  by Assawer Elaoud 
  Abstract: This study examines how digital control mechanisms mitigate earnings management and evaluates the influence of social media presence on managerial behaviour. Analysing a sample of STOXX Europe 600 firms across various countries and sectors, the research assesses the impact of digital governance and online visibility on financial reporting quality. The findings show that digital control reduces information asymmetry and limits opportunistic behaviour. Higher website traffic and document downloads are associated with lower earnings management, highlighting the role of digital disclosure in enhancing transparency. Additionally, managers visibility on social media is negatively related to opportunistic practices, while auditor presence on these platforms shows no significant effect. The study provides practical implications for investors and regulators aiming to improve financial reporting quality and strengthen corporate transparency.
  Keywords: digital control; social media; earnings management; managerial opportunism; information asymmetry; external audit; accounting information; discretionary accruals.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJAAPE.2026.10078369
   
  
• Strategising through crisis: the role of management accounting practices in Qatars healthcare sector during COVID-19  
  by Alhanoof Alseari, Husam Aldamen, Osama Mah'd 
  Abstract: This study explores the strategic role of management accounting practices (MAPs) during the COVID-19 crisis within Qatar's healthcare sector. It examines how MAPs interacted with key business processes (BPs), namely clinical services, human resources, and supply chain management, to support crisis response. The study utilizes qualitative analysis through semi-structured interviews and secondary data from Hamad Medical Corporation. The results indicate that MAPs significantly supported decision-making, enhanced resource allocation, and improved operational adaptability amidst the pandemic. Furthermore, the findings highlight the importance of strategic MAP integration in crisis management. The study offers practitioners and policymakers with important insights into the necessary tools, resources, and capabilities that may be used to successfully foresee and react to the crises.
  Keywords: management accounting practices; business processes; Covid-19; health sector.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJAAPE.2025.10078645
   
  
• The effect of managerial ability on firms' default risk and the mediating role of firms' performance  
  by Halim Dabbou, Riadh Ghenima, Nessrine Lassoued 
  Abstract: The objective of this study is to examine whether managerial ability reduces the probability of corporate default and whether this relationship is mediated by firm performance. The empirical findings are derived from a sample of 229 US firms and 2,519 firm-year observations. The results indicate that higher managerial ability is associated with a lower likelihood of default. Furthermore, our findings suggest that managerial ability positively and significantly affects firm performance. Based on Baron and Kenny’s (1986) approach, we found a complete mediation, indicating that competent managers can control their firm’s default risk solely by improving the firm’s performance. The Sobel test confirms these results. However, in times of crisis, the mediation becomes partial, suggesting that competent managers also manage risks more effectively, thereby reducing the probability of corporate default. Our study confirms the importance of managerial skills, particularly during periods of crisis.
  Keywords: managerial ability; default probability; Merton model; firm performance; mediating variable.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJAAPE.2025.10079229
   
  
• Financial reporting quality and investment efficiency in emerging economies: evidence from India  
  by Asif Mushta Syed, Mohi-ud-Din Sangmi 
  Abstract: Investment efficiency is vital for firms as it guarantees optimal resource allocation, enabling investments in value-enhancing projects while preventing wasteful over- or under-investment, thereby maximizing shareholder value. Theoretically, high-quality financial reporting is expected to enhance investment efficiency by reducing information asymmetry, which in turn mitigates adverse selection and moral hazard, thereby lowering external financing costs and improving firm’s investment decisions. This study investigated the impact of financial reporting quality (FRQ) on investment efficiency among Indian firms, using a sample of 293 companies listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) from 2011 to 2023. However, our empirical analysis reveals no significant relationship between FRQ and investment efficiency in the Indian context. These null findings are theoretically meaningful, suggesting important boundary conditions for the effectiveness of financial reporting as a governance mechanism in emerging markets. Despite positive coefficients for FRQ proxies, none of these relationships achieve statistical significance, highlighting the complexities of the Indian market where factors such as a unique regulatory environment, distinct investor behaviors, weak investor protection, and high ownership concentration may limit the effectiveness of FRQ as the role of accounting information in monitoring managerial actions becomes constrained, further diminishing its expected impact on investment efficiency. This study sheds light on the complexities of financial reporting quality in emerging markets, highlighting that contextual factors may significantly impact its effectiveness on investment efficiency.
  Keywords: FRQ; financial reporting quality; investment efficiency; information asymmetry; emerging markets; Indian firms; India; boundary conditions.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJAAPE.2026.10079330
   
  
• Financial statement fraud detection with Beneish M-score and F-score model: an analysis of fraud diamond theory in Vietnam  
  by Xuan Thuy Ho, Do Van Linh, Pham Vo Anh Thu, Nguyen Kim Ngan, Nguyen Thi Minh Tu, Le Thi Hong Ngoc 
  Abstract: This study examines the relationship between factors in the fraud diamond theory (FDT) and the likelihood of fraudulent financial reporting (FFR) among Vietnamese listed firms, an emerging market with evolving governance and regulatory structures. Using regression analyses (POLS, FEM, REM) on data from 420 companies listed on HOSE and HNX (20192022), the findings show that financial stability (ACHANGE) has a significant and consistent effect on FSF across both the M-Score and F-Score models. Auditor change (AUDCHANGE) matters only in the M-Score model, while financial target (ROA), industry characteristic (RECEIVABLE), and sales growth (REVGRTH) are significant only in the F-Score model. The study introduces a novel approach by combining fraud models with FDT indicators, using return on assets (ROA) for financial pressure and REVGRTH as a control to improve detection. These adjustments offer a more complete fraud detection framework, supporting regulators, firms, and investors in improving transparency and reducing information risk in emerging markets.
  Keywords: financial statement fraud; fraud diamond; Beneish M-score; F-Score; listed companies; Vietnam.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJAAPE.2026.10079605
   
  
• Blockchain's influence on public auditing: insights from experts and future perspectives  
  by Romildo Da Silva, Helena Inácio, Rui Pedro Marques 
  Abstract: This study investigates the perceptions of blockchain and auditing expert professionals to analyse the implications of blockchain technology (BCT) in their professional activities and identify what adaptations must be made to accommodate this new reality. The study seeks to identify how professionals perceive the key implications of BCT, identify the expected benefits for auditing entities that apply blockchain, and highlight new competencies and challenges faced by auditors. Through qualitative research, the article uses WebQDA software to analyse interviews with 18 blockchain experts and public sector auditors. The research reveals that the adoption of BCT has a significant impact on the auditing profession, as it enhances the governance, transparency, and accountability of entities’ transactions and assets, as well as defines the new roles and competencies of auditors. Tokenisation is identified as a transformative trend, as blockchain has solidified its reputation as a disruptive technology.
  Keywords: blockchain technology; public auditing; tokenisation; smart contracts; real-time auditing; agency theory; institutional theory.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJAAPE.2026.10079606
   
  
• The impact of budget performance management on government efficiency: the moderating effect of audit opinion  
  by Yuhua Chen, Hasri Mustafa, Asna Abdullah Atqa, Siyu Zhou 
  Abstract: This paper investigates the impact of budget performance management (BPM) and audit opinion on government efficiency, offering a novel theoretical perspective for understanding the role of public sector performance management and auditing mechanisms. This study analyzed and evaluated provincial-level panel data from 2011 to 2020. BPM indicators included 31 provinces and municipalities directly under the central government. This study employs fixed effects clustering regression and generalized method of moment (GMM) methods. First, BPM has a significant positive impact on government efficiency. Second, audit opinion significantly and positively impacts government efficiency. The more prominent the phenomenon of a province undergoing an audit, the lower government efficiency. Third, audit opinion increases the effect of BPM on government efficiency. This study provides empirical evidence from a developing region context, offering valuable insights and practical references for other emerging economies.
  Keywords: budget performance; audit opinion; government efficiency; BPM; budget performance management; agency theory.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJAAPE.2026.10079837
   
  
• The role of governance in mediating audit quality and internal control: insights from Lebanon  
  by Mohamad Hamdoun, Rasha Mahboub, Mohamed Mandour 
  Abstract: This study examines how governance mediates the effect of internal control on audit quality using survey data from 274 Lebanese audit professionals. PLS-SEM results indicate that robust internal control systems significantly enhance governance effectiveness (?=0.724, p<0.001), and that effective governance in turn significantly increases audit quality (?=0.652, p<0.001). Mediation analysis confirms that governance partially mediates the relationship between internal control and audit quality (indirect effect ?=0.423, p<0.001). These quantitative findings underscore the importance of integrating strong control and oversight mechanisms to improve audit outcomes. Limitations include the study?s focus on a single country and its reliance on self-reported data. Practical implications suggest that Lebanese regulators and audit committees should reinforce governance frameworks and internal control practices to strengthen audit effectiveness
  Keywords: governance; audit quality; internal control; corporate governance; audit committees; financial reporting; PLS-SEM; mediation; Lebanon.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJAAPE.2026.10080321
   
  
• Sustaining technology-mediation use in auditing: a systematic review of continuous usage  
  by Siti Nurulhuda Mamat, Noor Afza Amran, Mazrah Malek 
  Abstract: The role of technology in mediating professional communication is increasingly evident. However, rapid advances in ICT and the COVID-19 pandemic have posed new challenges for auditor-client communication. Limited research has systematically reviewed technology?s continuous usage (CU) in this field. This paper presents a systematic literature review of 123 articles that examine CU across professional domains and identify key antecedents, theories, and trends. Findings show that a few post-adoption constructs, such as satisfaction, usefulness, and quality dimensions, are well supported across contexts. Most antecedents remain context-specific or under-theorised. This highlights that CU research is conceptually strong but inconsistent in practical application. Based on these findings, the study proposes a conceptual model that integrates the antecedents and discusses its relevance to sustain technology-mediated auditing. Overall, the review advances understanding of CU and provides directions for future research and practice at the intersection of technology usage and auditing.
  Keywords: technology-mediation; ICT; continuous usage; auditing; communication.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJAAPE.2026.10080345
   
  
• Dissecting audit quality and audit analytics: a hybrid review  
  by Ozair Siddiqui, Abdul Raheman 
  Abstract: Audit quality continues to be a subject of academic and regulatory interest, yet the existing literature provides limited integration of regulators perspective and technological development (more precisely, audit analytics) in this domain. To address these gaps, the current study performs a hybrid review, combining systematic literature, content, and bibliometric review of literature. We pursue two objectives, to: (1) map out audit quality determinants (with specific focus on audit analytics and regulatory perspective); and (2) identify trends and neglected themes in current literature on audit quality and analytics. Findings show that literature fails to identify any concrete audit quality measure. Further, content analysis shows that regulators advocate incorporating process-based measures to quantify audit quality. However, quantifying such unobservable aspects is quite challenging, reducing usability of the regulator-identified audit quality determinants. Additionally, lack of awareness of stakeholders for advanced analytics tools is highlighted as a critical challenge in adoption of technology-driven audits.
  Keywords: audit quality; audit analytics; big data analytics; bibliometric review; SLR; systematic literature review; content analysis.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJAAPE.2026.10081046
   
  
• How do investors react to firms responses to the COVID-19 pandemic? Evidence from pandemic-crisis-based social responsibility initiatives  
  by Nhat Anh Dang, Daniela Sanchez, Juan Manuel Sanchez 
  Abstract: We examine investors reactions to firms operational responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a dataset of S&P500 firms that announce socially responsible operational initiatives, we conduct content analysis to generate a corporate social responsibility (CSR) score. To measure investors reaction, we calculate short-window cumulative abnormal returns (CAR). Relative to firms with low CSR scores, firms with high CSR-based operational plans/actions aimed at mitigating the effect of the pandemic, primarily those that are customer-focused, face a significantly higher abnormal market reaction. The results are more pronounced in areas with higher levels of pandemic severity. Our results are robust to ongoing CSR-based activities prior to the pandemic.
  Keywords: COVID-19; CSR; corporate social responsibility; market reaction; crisis communication.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJAAPE.2026.10081047
   
  
• Moderating effect of the CEOs financial background on the relationship between comparability and cost of capital  
  by Allison Manoel De Sousa, Romualdo Douglas Colauto 
  Abstract: We examine the effect of financial statement comparability, moderated by CEOs academic training in finance, on the cost of capital in publicly listed companies. Using panel data regression, we analyzed 89 companies from 2015 to 2022. Our findings show that greater comparability of financial statements is associated with a lower cost of both equity and debt. This relationship, however, is not strictly linear, as it is influenced by the personal characteristics of top management. Specifically, CEOs with undergraduate degrees in administration, accounting, or economics enhance the effect of comparability in reducing capital costs. Our study highlights how comparability reduces investor and creditor risk, with the CEO's background playing a key role in amplifying these benefits.
  Keywords: CEO; Chief Executive Officer; cost of equity capital; cost of debt; financial statement comparability; upper echelons theory.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJAAPE.2026.10081185