Journal of Accounting and Management Information Systems (JAMIS)


PERCEPTIONS OF ACCOUNTING PROFESSIONALS ON IFRS APPLICATION AT THE INDIVIDUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: EVIDENCE FROM ROMANIA

Vol. 12, Nr. 3/2013 ,   p405..423

Author(s):  
Marian SĂCĂRIN
Stefan BUNEA
Maria Mădălina GÎRBINĂ


Keywords:   Accounting professionals, International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), Individual financial statements, Listed companies, Bucharest Stock Exchange (BSE)

Abstract:  

For the accounting year 2012 companies whosesecurities are listed on BucharestStock Exchange are required to present their individual financial statements inconformity with IFRS by restating the information prepared in compliance withnational regulations. Moreover, starting 1st January 2013, thesecompanies are applying IFRS as the basis of accounting. A peculiarity of thistransition process is that listed entities were not required to present twosets of accounts before switching to IFRS (as it was the case for financialinstitutions). As we considered that the attitude of main stakeholders involvedin the process is a precondition for high quality IFRS financial statements,the objective of our study was to illustrate the opinion of accountingprofessionals on this decision. The study surveys 142 accounting professionalswho, throughout years 2012 and 2013, have attended the continuing trainingcourses organized by the Body of Expert and Licensed Accountants of Romania. Weidentified that respondents are aware of the benefits of IFRS application,79.6% of indicating that the companies listed on the BSE should have appliedIFRS to the preparation of individual financial statements, even if they hadnot been required to do so. However, 69.7% of them believed that theapplication of IFRS should have been concurrent, in an initial stage, with theapplication of national regulations before proceeding with the application ofIFRS as the basis of accounting. Furthermore, they perceive the fiscal risk asthe greatest difficulty in the transition to IFRS. The most important benefitis the increased attractiveness to investors, while adapting the IT systems isconsidered the most significant cost. Overall, 63% of the respondents haveindicated that the benefits of applying IFRS outweigh the costs.



Download:   http://online-cig.ase.ro/jcig/art/12_3_2.pdf

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