دانلود رایگان مقاله انگلیسی شیوه های افشای مالی در میان مقامات محلی مالزی - امرالد 2018

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to understand and explain the financial disclosure processes among Malaysian local authorities (MLAs). Design/methodology/approach – Employing semi-structured interviews, data were collected from 26 members in five case study organisations, and interpreted using Gibbins et al. (1990, 1992) framework of financial disclosure. Findings – The study finds that financial disclosure is influenced by a hierarchical structure consisting of accountants, the Financial Accounts Committee, the mayor and other managers. The decision to disclose or not disclose was influenced by how sensitive the issue was. External auditors and mediators influenced both the identification of issues, disclosure position and disclosure output. Though there are many laws governing financial accounting, MLAs opportunistically chose to apply the Federal Treasury Circular largely because the external auditors used it. Research limitations/implications – This study contributes to the literature by illuminating who makes disclosure decisions, what influences these decisions and how. The study reveals hitherto un-researched contextual factors that affect disclosure, namely, religion and external auditors and the opportunistic choice of which laws and regulations to apply in financial disclosure. Future studies might want to apply this approach in other contexts to see what we can learn from them. Originality/value – Using case studies in the study of financial disclosure provided valuable insights into the complex and multi-dimensional phenomenon of financial information disclosure. The application of Gibbins et al. (1990, 1992) framework in the public sector and in Malaysia is novel.

7. Discussion and conclusion

The primary purpose of this study was to understand and explain the financial disclosure processes in MLAs, employing Gibbins et al.’s (1990, 1992) framework as an interpretive lens. The study reveals that financial disclosure in MLAs is influenced by both external and internal antecedents. The managements’ view on how disclosure should be practiced, mayor/president preferences, previous disclosure practices and the number and experience of accountants were some of the internal antecedents of disclosure. Though previous studies (e.g. Allen and Sanders, 1994) have revealed the significant and positive role of the CFO in financial disclosure, our study reveals how professionals – including accountants – managers and politicians, especially the mayor/president, affect financial disclosure. Our study, however, adds a further insight, which is, that financial disclosure may be affected by the experience of the person of the mayor/president, which possibly enables them to navigate through different political interests. The study lifts the veil on the venerated position of the accountant in financial disclosure and shows other players to be perhaps more influential.