Forensic Accounting and Financial Reporting

The financial performance of commercial banks is intricately linked to the macroeconomic environment in which they operate. In Zimbabwe, a country characterized by economic volatility, hyperinflation, and fluctuating exchange rates, understanding the role of macroeconomic factors in shaping bank performance is critical. Therefore, this study investigates the extent to which key macroeconomic variables influence the profitability, stability, and overall financial health of commercial banks. Using a General Moments Methods (GMM) approach the study reveal that macroeconomic instability, particularly high inflation and volatile exchange rates, significantly impacts bank profitability and asset quality. Conversely, periods of economic growth and stable monetary policies are associated with improved financial performance. The study also highlights the resilience of Zimbabwean banks in navigating economic challenges, underscoring the importance of adaptive strategies and robust risk management practices. This research contributes to the broader discourse on the interplay between macroeconomic conditions and banking performance, offering valuable insights for policymakers, bank managers, and financial analysts. Therefore, the study recommends that government of Zimbabwe should address economic problems facing the entire economy. The poor macroeconomic instability facing the country also weighs down heavily to the banking sector. Due because of the poor economic environment and perceived risk tied to the country, local commercial banks are facing significant challenges to attract fresh capital from the international market.

This study examines the impact of the real sector on Nigeria's economic development, utilising data from 100 respondents representing diverse demographics and professions. A structured questionnaire assessed perceptions on the sector's role, challenges, and policy environment. Descriptive and inferential statistical tools, including chi-square tests and mean score analysis, were employed. Findings reveal widespread agreement on the sector's contribution to GDP, employment, poverty reduction, and its potential to drive sustainable development. However, significant challenges such as inadequate access to finance, policy inefficiencies, skills shortages, and corruption undermine performance. Mean scores and chi-square tests confirm the statistical significance of these concerns. The study recommends financial inclusion reforms, skills development programs, stronger anticorruption mechanisms, and enhanced infrastructure and policy frameworks to unlock the sector's full potential. The results underscore the need for multi-stakeholder collaboration to transform Nigeria's real sector into a robust engine of inclusive economic growth.

The study was conducted “Exploring the Accounting and Reporting System in The Case of Progynist Butajira Branch” specifically to implementing the accounting theories set for NPO. The study utilized a sample of 5 Progynist staffs that are directly related with financial activities. Simple random sampling technique was adopted as sampling method for the research and tried to address all brunch including head offices (Addis Ababa, Butajira, Hossana, and Mizan – Aman) which are coordinated by Addis Ababa office. In order to achieve the main research objectives, this study applies a mixed methods approach which adopts both quantitative and qualitative. The researcher used descriptive data and both primary and secondary data was conducted. The most commonly identified weaknesses of the NGO sector include; luck of smooth transition, orientation and lobbing with in employees, depend on donors fund and their interest, The budget plan doesn’t approved at the intended time and probably gets a revision, the organization has no clear direction for depreciation method. Therefore the following recommendations were made: the organization better to have an internal auditor who helps to sustain the accuracy and reliance of financial activities, it is better to have smooth staff transition, orientation and lobbing; and need focus on enhancing of employee satisfaction, the organization should look another income generating activities and fund raising options to avoid the dependency on donor; and the organization had better to well scrutinize on donor interest before reaching consensus, It’s better to give a due focus to the preparation of budget plan, understanding of donor interest, It is need to have clear method set for depreciation. In general, if the organization fully performs the above-mentioned possible remedies, it will address all its gaps.

The concept of quality financial reporting (QFR) has commanded considerable research interest around the world. However, neither researchers nor practitioners or regulators have been able to provide a clear definition of what constitutes quality financial reporting and how „quality‟ should be measured (Pomeroy and Thomton, 2008). Rather than define “quality of financial reporting,” prior literature has focused on factors which tend to inhibit the attainment of high quality financial reporting; such as earnings management, financial restatements, and fraud. These researchers tend to use the presence of these factors as evidence of low QFR. Compliance of financial reporting with accounting and auditing standards has also been used as proxy for assessing the quality of financial reporting (Song & Windram, 2004). The apparent lack of consensus on what constitutes „quality‟ in financial reporting has lead to streams of criteria for the measurement of QFR. For instance accrual methods, wh...

The objective of this research is to examine both antecedent and consequences of effective preparation of financial statement of Thai-listed companies. Accountant capability, accounting information system (AIS) competency, and corporate governance (CG) awareness are assumed to become the antecedents of effective preparation of financial statements. Furthermore, the consequences of effective preparation of financial statements are corporate sustainability. The listed companies in the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) are samples of the research. A mail-survey procedure via the questionnaire was used for data collection from chief accountant officers. The overall results indicate that accountant capability, AIS competency, and CG awareness have a positive significant effect on effective preparation of financial statements. Moreover, effective preparation of financial statements including both timeliness and understandability, has a positive significant effect on corporate sustainability. The results reveal that firm should develop accountant capability, AIS competency, and CG awareness in order to build effective preparation of financial statements and links to corporate sustainability. Overall, the results of this research contribute to both chief accounting officer and accounting practitioner to emphasise on develop and support-generating effective preparation of financial statements in order to generate accounting information for decision making.

This study aims to investigate the roles and impacts of mobile phones in empowering women within communities in Bangladesh. Employing a mixed-methods approach, it delves into how mobile phones contribute to women's empowerment across political engagement, economic participation, and social connectivity in the country. The study utilized a semi-structured questionnaire to interview purposively selected 110 women aged 18 and above, all mobile phone users residing in Dhaka and Satkhira districts of Bangladesh. The quantitative analyses underscore the significant contributions of mobile phones to political, social, and economic empowerment. Political empowerment is evidenced by increased access to voting information, heightened election participation, and policy change advocacy. Social empowerment is reflected in strengthened interpersonal connections, heightened awareness of women's rights, and active engagement in online discussions. Economically, mobile phones play a crucial role in facilitating e-commerce, enhancing job accessibility, fostering skill development, and supporting entrepreneurial endeavors. The qualitative insights from respondent narratives complement the quantitative findings, offering depth and context to the research outcomes. While acknowledging certain limitations, the study emphasizes the transformative potential of mobile phones in advancing women's empowerment in Bangladesh. It calls for sustained efforts to bridge the digital gender gap and maximize the benefits of mobile technology for women across the country.

The ability to make savvy financing decisions is now a key differentiator for corporate firms seeking to outpace competition and achieve sustainable growth. In view of this, this study examined the moderating effect of firm size on the nexus between financing decisions and financial stability of listed industrial goods firms in Nigeria. The study employed Altman's Z-score in evaluating the financial stability of listed industrial goods firms in Nigeria and a combination of debt-equity ratio, interest coverage ratio, and total debt ratio as key predictors. Altman's Z-score assisted in gauging firms' financial stability over the research period. Additionally, the natural logarithm of total assets was integrated into the analysis to further refine the predictive model and to achieve the study objectives. The study adopted an ex-post facto research design and utilized a panel data of one hundred and fifty (150) pooled observations gathered across a sample of ten (10) listed industrial goods firms in Nigeria over a period of fifteen (15) years (2009-2023). The study employed descriptive statistics tools, Pearson correlation analysis and Fixed effects regression technique via Eviews 10.0 statistical package in analyzing the data. The study findings revealed that with the moderating effect of firm size, debt equity ratio has an insignificant negative relationship {(Coeff. =-0.000247 (0.6571)} with financial stability of listed industrial goods firms in Nigeria while interest coverage ratio has a significant positive relationship {Coeff. = 2.322405 (0.0173)} with financial stability of listed industrial goods firms in Nigeria. It also revealed that total-debt ratio has an insignificant negative relationship {Coeff. =-0.002365 (0.4236)} with financial stability of listed industrial goods firms in Nigeria. It was thus concluded that firm size has a significant moderating effect on the relationship between financing decisions and financial stability of listed industrial goods firms in Nigeria. The study recommended, amongst others, that firms should consider their size when making financing decisions and adjust their strategies accordingly for enhanced financial stability, growth prospects, and overall success.

Changes are unavoidable in today's risky and uncertain business environment including unpredictable supply chains of which the floriculture industry is not exempt The floriculture industry frequently encounters diverse and new challenges which must be managed to avoid losses, recovery challenges and even closure. It is important that firms employ relevant updated technology to enhance their resilience strategies to prepare for such disruptions, to continue existing and improve performance. However whether technology jointly contributes significantly in enhancing resilience and performance in floricultural firms is a topic that remains under-explored. Using the relevant empirical literature, the study sheds light on the relationship between resilience strategies and floricultural firms performance under the moderating effect of supply chain technology. The study adopted descriptive research design. Target population was 101 flower firms in Nakuru County-Kenya. Purposive sampling was used to pick 255 respondents. Moderated multiple regression analysis was used to test the moderating effect of supply chain technology. Performance was the dependent variable while supply chain resilience strategies i.e. supply chain collaboration, supply chain agility, supply chain flexibility and supply chain risk management were predictor variables. The study established that supply chain technology positively and significantly moderated the relationship between the supply chain resilience strategies and performance of floricultural firms. The study findings contribute to existing literature and provide practical recommendations to policy makers and floricultural supply chain managers to establish effective resilience policies and appropriate use of technology to manage and survive the unforeseen disruptions which will contribute significantly to their improved performance.

This study sought to determine the influence of cost leadership strategy on mortgage performance of banking institutions within the mortgage industry in Kenya whilst assessing the moderating effect of bank size measured using total net asset base and branch network. About 83% of lending to the mortgage market was carried out by only 8 out of the 39 registered banks as at December 2022. The study was based on the theories of Porter's Generic Strategies and Resource-Based View (RBV) of competitive advantage. To achieve the research objective, a sample of 30 commercial banks was picked out of the entire accessible population of 39 banking institutions. Respondents from the banks' offices in Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, and Kisumu were considered for the study. Questionnaires, with 5-point Likert-scale responses were administered to the respondents. There were five respondents drawn from the mortgage experts in each bank making 150 respondents with a response rate of 78.7%, or 118 questionnaires being returned. The data gathered was presented using descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation, and frequencies to measure central tendency and dispersion. From the linear regression conducted, cost leadership strategy explained 17.7% of variation in mortgage performance of banking institutions within the mortgage industry in Kenya. Regression results indicated that cost leadership had statistically significant positive influence on mortgage performance. Bank size significantly moderated the relationship between cost leadership and mortgage performance. These were justified by significant p-value that was less than 0.05. As a result, the study rejected the null hypotheses. The study recommends that banks should focus on increasing their net asset base prior to the adoption and implementation of cost leadership strategy. The Central Bank of Kenya as the industry regulator should also develop measures that encourage fewer banks with large asset bases to enhance overall mortgage performance.

The ability to make savvy financing decisions is now a key differentiator for corporate firms seeking to outpace competition and achieve sustainable growth. In view of this, this study examined the moderating effect of firm size on the nexus between financing decisions and financial stability of listed industrial goods firms in Nigeria. The study employed Altman's Z-score in evaluating the financial stability of listed industrial goods firms in Nigeria and a combination of debt-equity ratio, interest coverage ratio, and total debt ratio as key predictors. Altman's Z-score assisted in gauging firms' financial stability over the research period. Additionally, the natural logarithm of total assets was integrated into the analysis to further refine the predictive model and to achieve the study objectives. The study adopted an ex-post facto research design and utilized a panel data of one hundred and fifty (150) pooled observations gathered across a sample of ten (10) listed industrial goods firms in Nigeria over a period of fifteen (15) years (2009-2023). The study employed descriptive statistics tools, Pearson correlation analysis and Fixed effects regression technique via Eviews 10.0 statistical package in analyzing the data. The study findings revealed that with the moderating effect of firm size, debt equity ratio has an insignificant negative relationship {(Coeff. =-0.000247 (0.6571)} with financial stability of listed industrial goods firms in Nigeria while interest coverage ratio has a significant positive relationship {Coeff. = 2.322405 (0.0173)} with financial stability of listed industrial goods firms in Nigeria. It also revealed that total-debt ratio has an insignificant negative relationship {Coeff. =-0.002365 (0.4236)} with financial stability of listed industrial goods firms in Nigeria. It was thus concluded that firm size has a significant moderating effect on the relationship between financing decisions and financial stability of listed industrial goods firms in Nigeria. The study recommended, amongst others, that firms should consider their size when making financing decisions and adjust their strategies accordingly for enhanced financial stability, growth prospects, and overall success.

The object of this article is to examine the power granted to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to carry out assessment based on Turnover (Turnover Assessment). The FIRS has the discretion to subject a fair and reasonable percentage of the turnover of a company to tax at the rate of 30% where the assessable profits of a company are not ascertainable or less than might be reasonably expected under Section 30 of the Companies Income Tax Act1 (CITA). Although this calls for the exercise of discretion on a case-by-case basis, in practice, FIRS usually subjects 20% of the turnover to tax where the Turnover Assessment is applicable especially when the company involved is a foreign company.

On 24th June 2024, the Federal High Court per Honourable Justice Aneke, upheld the power of the FIRS in respect of Turnover Assessment in the case of BJ Pumping Services SA Panama v. Federal inland Revenue Service.2  The court held in respect of Turnover Assessment inter alia as follows:

(i) Section 30(1)(b) of CITA grants FIRS, the discretion to assess foreign companies’ tax, like the Appellant, on a fair and reasonable percentage of their turnover where it appears to FIRS that the company has no assessable profits or assessable profits are less than expected or the profits of the companies cannot be ascertained. The discretion to tax on a fair and reasonable percentage of their turnover is that of the FIRS. It is not that of the Tax Appeal Tribunal or the court.3

(ii) There is no provision in Section 30(1)(b) of CITA that the FIRS, must state the reason or reasons why it applied a particular percentage or 20% of the turnover as profit for Turnover Assessment. All the law requires the FIRS to do is to use "a fair and reasonable percentage of the Appellant's turnover or a fair and reasonable percentage of the turnover of the company that is being assessed as profit.4

While the writer agrees with the decision of the court in paragraph (i) above, the article seeks to critically examine the holding by the court that the FIRS must not state the reason or reasons it applied 20% of the Turnover for the purpose of Turnover Assessment in assessing the company. This no doubt calls for the interpretation of Section 30 CITA and a critical review of case law on the issue, which we have undertaken to do here. It is our expectation that this article will clarify this issue.

Risk management in SMEs is now a growing area of interest. This study sought to empirically bring a nexus between informal risk management and formal risk management by profiling the mitigation strategies used by manufacturing SMEs in Bulawayo. A descriptive survey design based on a hermeneutic phenomenological approach was used. Data was collected using interviews. Strategies used include diversification ,memorandums of understanding, networks ,collaborations,cashflow management ,working with same suppliers or local suppliers, returning to the source of raw material, continuously innovating
,trading in the informal foreign exchange markets ,offering incentives to employees, reinvesting profits, bulk buying, conforming to general business regulations, enhancing workmanship, delivering quality products, niche marketing, bulk buying, keeping extra stock, maintenance of machines amongst other strategies. The study concluded that the risk management done by SMEs is entrenched in the way they make decisions. It is ingrained in experience, insights and gut feeling. The study also concludes that the decision making process though done informally mimics the formal risk management process thereby showing a nexus between SME informal risk management and formal risk management. Mitigation strategies used were concluded to broadly fall under risk reduction, risk transfer, risk avoidance and risk acceptance which are strategies in formal risk management. Risk reduction was the dominant strategy used by Manufacturing SMEs.Convergence of formal and informal risk management was also validated using the eight actions suggested by Lazarus Falkner in his theory of coping as well as the New Perspectives Theory. To bridge the gap between the informal and formal this study recommends a framework. The framework suggests formation of a Risk Management Incubator organization that will work with grass root SMEs. This institution will start off at the decision making point and understand it from the SME level then work to bring them into a more structured way of decision making in running their businesses. It will systematically work with a team of experts to demystify formal risk management and articulate it at elementary grass root SME level through awareness programs, closely working with SMEs until they are ready to formalize risk management. This hand in glove method will ensure that SMEs are moved to a systematic way of doing risk management.

In the vibrant markets of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, where women entrepreneurs thrive, a critical challenge persists: financial inclusion remains low. However, Mobile Financial Services (MFS) digital platforms have the potential to revolutionize access to affordable financial solutions for women entrepreneurs. Our study delved into the experiences of women vendors at the bustling Bulawayo Vegetable Market during the period from 2016 to 2023. Through a descriptive survey design, we aimed to uncover the hurdles faced by these enterprising women as they navigated the realm of MFS. Findings revealed that many women were unaware of the existence and benefits of MFS. The lack of knowledge hindered their participation. Proper documentation essential for accessing financial services remained elusive for some. Without it, women faced barriers in utilizing MFS. Limited education posed a significant obstacle. Basic financial literacy and digital skills were prerequisites for effective MFS adoption. The absence of digital skills impeded women from confidently using mobile platforms for financial transactions. Scarce availability of mobile money agents in the market area restricted women’s access to MFS. To bridge this gender gap and empower women entrepreneurs, we recommend Financial Institutions to Collaborate with MFS providers to offer targeted training programs. These sessions should focus on MFS awareness, digital literacy, and documentation procedures. NGOs Community Initiatives should launch awareness campaigns specifically tailored for women vendors. These campaigns can demystify MFS, emphasize its benefits, and address common concerns. By dismantling these barriers, we can unlock the full potential of MFS, enabling women entrepreneurs to thrive and contribute significantly to sustainable development in Zimbabwe

Համակարգչային ծրագրի՝ որպես ոչ նյութական ակտիվի շուկայական արժեքի որոշման մեթոդաբանությունը համապատասխան ոլորտային գիտամեթոդական մշակումներում այդքան էլ հստակեցված կերպով չի ներկայացվում: Այդ նպատակով կատարվող հետազոտությունների ընթացքում ծագում են բազմապիսի հարցեր, որոնք հիմնականում բխում են տվյալ ակտիվների ոչ նյութական լինելու բնույթից:
Սույն հոդվածում առաջարկվել է դատական ֆինանսատնտեսագիտական փորձաքննությունների շրջանակներում համակարգչային ծրագրերի արժեքի որոշման մեթոդաբանական մոտեցում: Վերջինիս համաձայն համակարգչային ծրագրի շուկայական արժեքի որոշման մեթոդի ընտրության պարագայում պետք է դիտարկել, ըստ ամենայնի, եկամտային մոտեցման շրջանակներում կիրառվող «ինքնարժեքում շահում» մեթոդը, այնուհետև իրականացնել ինքնարժեքում շահումից ստացվող ապագա եկամտի հոսքի ներկա արժեքի բերման հաշվարկ՝ կումուլյատիվ մեթոդով ստացված զեղչման դրույքի օգնությամբ:
Հոդվածում հիմնավորվում է նաև, որ նշված մեթոդների համակցության միջոցով իրականացվող ոչ նյութական ակտիվի գնահատման դեպքում հաշվի են առնվում համակարգչային ծրագրի օգտագործմամբ ապագա ժամանակահատվածում կանխատեսվող եկամուտների ձևավորման հնարավորությունները և կումուլյատիվ մեթոդի միջոցով համակարգված մտավոր սեփականության օբյեկտին բնորոշ ռիսկերը, ինչն առավելագույն կերպով նեղացնում է ոչ նյութական ակտիվի կողմից գեներացվող եկամուտների կանխատեսումների շրջանակը՝ նրա իրական արժեքին հանգելու հաշվարկներ կատարելիս:

This study examined the moderating effects of firm size on the financial leverageperformance relationship of nonfinancial firms in Nigeria. The study used the ex-post facto research design and secondary data was adopted from annual reports of 50 non-financial firms listed on the Nigeria Stock Exchange as at 31 December 2019. The data used was for the period of 2010-2019 and multiple regression tool was used to analysed the data collected. The findings of this study shows that debt ratio (β=-0.459; p < 0.05) has a significant negative relationship with financial performance of listed non-financial firms as at 31 December, 2019. Also, introducing firm size as a moderating variable led to a (β=0.043; p < 0.05) significant positive effects on the leverageperformance relationship. The study concluded that financial leverage affects the financial performance of non-financial firms in Nigeria and that firm size has effects on the leverage-performance relationship. The study recommended that management must determine their organization optimal capital mix and also put their firm size into consideration before deciding the amount of debt finance to be included in the capital.

The study has observed that despite the reforms adopted in the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) countries to prevent a situation similar to the subprime crisis experienced in the 1970s, the banking sector in the CEMAC zone has remained unprofitable. With increase in globalisation across the globe, the study therefore examines the drivers of financial globalisation on bank lending of the banking sector in the CEMAC zone. Using panel data obtained from IMF Financial Development database and the World Development Indicators, the study carried out the investigation with the aid of the Feasible Generalized Least Squares (FGLS) and Panel Quantile on Quantile regressions. The finding reveals that financial globalization and bank concentration have strong negative relationships with bank lending, while the impact of regulatory capital is inconclusive. GDP and gross fixed capital formation also exhibit negative associations with lending. Base on the findings, the study suggests that policymakers should carefully assess the effects of financial globalisation and bank concentration, promote competition and diversification in the banking sector, and prioritize policies that support macroeconomic stability and growth.

The use of computer and communication networks to provide a variety of value-added goods and services to bank clients is known as electronic banking. Therefore, e-business is transforming the way that business is done across all industries, and commercial banks are no different from other businesses in this regard. The introduction of electronic banking services has shown to be a key advancement in the banking sector in Ghana. In light of this, the study looked into the connection between Ghana's commercial banks' performance and e-banking. The specific goal of the study was to determine whether there is a relationship between the independent variables-such as the number of ATMs, debit and credit cards issued to customers, point of sale terminals, and the amounts of e-banking usage such as electronic funds transfers, mobile banking, and internet banking-and the dependent variable, such as performance as measured by profit after tax. The findings of the study were that e-banking has a strong and significant effect on the profitability of commercial banks in the Ghanaian banking industry. Thus, there exists a positiverelationship between ebanking and bank performance. The significance test showed that theinfluence of bank innovations on bank profitability was statistically significant meaning that the combined effect of the bank innovations in this research is statistically significant in explaining the profits of commercial banks in Ghana. The study recommends to the management of those banks that are slow in innovation adoption, to move in and adopt various innovations in their operations to shore up their profitability. It also recommends that Government policymakers should review policies related to the promotion of innovation adoption and transfer of technology. Adoption of innovations will improve the profitability of organizations because it will translate to better tax revenues for the government.

In the vibrant markets of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, where women entrepreneurs thrive, a critical challenge persists: financial inclusion remains low. However, Mobile Financial Services (MFS) digital platforms have the potential to revolutionize access to affordable financial solutions for women entrepreneurs. Our study delved into the experiences of women vendors at the bustling Bulawayo Vegetable Market during the period from 2016 to 2023. Through a descriptive survey design, we aimed to uncover the hurdles faced by these enterprising women as they navigated the realm of MFS. Findings revealed that many women were unaware of the existence and benefits of MFS. The lack of knowledge hindered their participation. Proper documentation essential for accessing financial services remained elusive for some. Without it, women faced barriers in utilizing MFS. Limited education posed a significant obstacle. Basic financial literacy and digital skills were prerequisites for effective MFS adoption. The absence of digital skills impeded women from confidently using mobile platforms for financial transactions. Scarce availability of mobile money agents in the market area restricted women's access to MFS. To bridge this gender gap and empower women entrepreneurs, we recommend Financial Institutions to Collaborate with MFS providers to offer targeted training programs. These sessions should focus on MFS awareness, digital literacy, and documentation procedures. NGOs Community Initiatives should launch awareness campaigns specifically tailored for women vendors. These campaigns can demystify MFS, emphasize its benefits, and address common concerns. By dismantling these barriers, we can unlock the full potential of MFS, enabling women entrepreneurs to thrive and contribute significantly to sustainable development in Zimbabwe.

This paper proposes a novel conceptualisation that holistically places the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Artefact in Capability Approach (CA). The conceptualisation harmonises the different views about technology within CA-based frameworks in ICT4D, in order to address the inconsistencies. To demonstrate the utility of the conceptualisation, while simultaneously addressing the highest thematic research gap among post-2015 ICT4D research priorities, the study collected primary data from users of Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) solar kits who reside in rural Kenya. Using the conceptualisation, the study demonstrated that the ICT-artefact can holistically be placed within three of CA’s concepts: under material resources as a capability input; as a new category of conversion factors (technological factors); and as a component within the structural context. The study further demonstrated how the same ICT artefact could play out in the three different conceptualisations, resulting in different development outcomes. The study finally presents the implications for policy and practice.

Businesses must manage their working capital well since it affects their resilience and profitability. Liquidity and profitability must be balanced. Sustaining sufficient operating capital guarantees operational stability and on-time payment of debts. Shortening the cash conversion cycle and increasing efficiency maximizes cash flow. This approach provides advantageous lending terms and increases credibility with stakeholders. Conversely, poor working capital management can lead to cash flow issues, increased costs, and missed opportunities. Overtrading brought on by low liquidity might jeopardize financial stability. To secure a business's long-term success in the face of changeable market conditions, regular assessments and adaptable plans are essential. Thus, this study focuses on the effects of poor working capital management resulting to business failure.

Nigerian Firms have mostly been facing the challenge of disseminating accounting information that would be readily available to users at the expected time. This situation has posed challenges to the quality of accounting information. This study, therefore, investigated the effect of big data on accounting information quality in selected firms in Nigeria. The study specifically focused on data volume, data variety, and data velocity as it affects the timeliness of accounting information. The study adopted a survey research design. The population of the study comprised 157 firms listed on the Nigeria exchange group as of 31 st December 2021. A sample size of 20 firms was selected using the purposive sampling method. The study used 100 respondents which represented 5 respondents from each firm. Data were collected from primary sources using a well-structured questionnaire. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. The results revealed that data volume, data variety, and data velocity have a positive significant effect on the timeliness of accounting information. The study concluded that the attribute of data used by firms significantly affects the timeliness of accounting information disseminated. The study recommended that firms should prioritize the management of big data to improve their accounting information.

The study examined the effect of equity financing on the financial performance of listed deposit money banks in Nigeria. Return on Assets was used as a measure of financial performance while share capital, retained earnings, and other reserves were used as independent variables. Data for the study was obtained from the audited annual reports of the 14 sampled deposit money banks for a period of 10 years covering 2009 to 2018. The study employed robust ordinary least square regression as a tool for analysis and testing of hypotheses based on the Hausman specification test. The result reveals that share capital has a positive and insignificant effect on return on assets while retained earnings and other reserves have a positive and significant effect on return on assets. The study concludes that retained earnings and other reserves improve the financial performance of listed deposit money banks in Nigeria, in line with pecking other theories. The study recommends, among others, that the board of directors should critically and closely monitor the financial structure decisions of the banks by closely ensuring that retained earnings and other reserves are ploughed back on profitable investments.

In Nigeria's public sector, there is a high amount of financial theft and corruption due to a lack of accountability and transparency in financial reporting. This necessitated the goal of this study, which was to examine if there was a nexus between professional ethics and improved financial reporting quality in the public sector. The descriptive research methodology was employed in the study, which included both primary and secondary data. The primary data came from a survey of auditors, financial managers, investors, and accountants using a five-point Likert scale structured questionnaire, while the secondary data came from journal papers, textbooks, and the internet. The targeted population and the sample size was 120respondents, determined through a purposive sampling technique. In general, the findings of this study from the regression analysis result, revealed that with the t-calculated of 2.939 > t-tabulated of 0.004 at a 5% level of significance, professional code of conduct has a significant positive impact on the quality of Financial statement. This implies that proper and strict adherence of professional codes of conduct by accountants in the public sectors in Nigeria will have a positive impact on financial reporting reliability, credibility, and integrity, as well as promote a uniform chart of financial reporting across Nigeria's three tiers of government. The study, therefore, recommended the need for auditors to continue to uphold the ethical standard for improved confidence on their reports by the relevant stakeholders.

This paper delved into the link between ethical financial standards and financial reporting quality. Data were collected from 45 accountants in selected companies in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The Pairwise correlation was applied to scrutinize the data. The outcomes disclosed that integrity and objectivity were positively and substantially related to timeliness and adequacyof financial reports. Based on the results of the study, it is recommended amongst others that engagement processes of firms should be enhanced so that men and women with top level of ethical standing would be appointed. Companies in Nigeria must provide principles and conformity unit to guide and supervise ethical application in their everyday tasks; companies reportage arrangement must follow closely the financial reporting structure disseminated by the International Financial Reporting Standards for healthier and more satisfactory financial reports; accountants as upholders of reliable financial reports must adhere to the principles of professional practice issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), ACCA, CPA, ANAN for their everyday duties; and all the relevant professional accounting bodies in Nigeria should scrutinize the actions of their associates to certify that the rules of ethics are adhered to in the formulation of quality financial reports in the country.

The dairy industry in Kenya plays an important role in the creation of employment and food security. It is one of the major drivers which the country is using to achieve the Sustainable Development goals and Kenya Vision 2030. The success of the sector however, is dependent on the ability of the different firms to improve performance through gaining a competitive edge that is sustainable. The main purpose of this study was to find out the competitive strategies used by small and medium dairy processors in Nairobi County. The study used a descriptive survey research design, and a census of the firms. Questionnaire was the key instrument of data collection. The data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The summarized information was presented using tables and charts. The study found out that the dairy enterprises had adopted the differentiation strategy more than the cost leadership, cost focus and differentiation focus strategies as represented by 32% of the respondents. It is recommended that a longitudinal and inferential study be carried out on a larger study population of the small and medium dairy firms, which extends beyond Nairobi County. The study recommended that a replication of the study be carried out using more objective measures of performance like profits. The conclusions made from the study findings may be used by managers of both existing firms and new entrants into the industry, who may need to make decisions on what competitive strategies may be suited to their business in order to position themselves in the industry and to improve performance.

This study examines the effect of financial inclusion and financial technology on the performance of SMEs in Ekiti State. The study adopted descriptive survey research and covered all the registered 928 SMEs in Ekiti State, Nigeria; out of which 282 SMEs were sampled across the senatorial district in Ekiti State. A close-ended questionnaire was used to elicit the needed information from the sampled respondents across the study location. Pearson correlation and simple linear regression were used to analyze the responses of the respondents. However, before the administration of the instrument, validity and reliability of the instrument were carried out. It was discovered that there is a positive significant effect of availability of financial services on the performance of SMEs in Ekiti State proxied with customer satisfaction and profitability to the tune of 0.608 (p=0.036<0.05) for customer satisfaction and 0.384(p=0.002<0.05) for profitability. Also, it was revealed that a positively significant relationship exists between financial literary programs and customer satisfaction and profitability of SMEs in Ekiti State to the tune of 0.485 (p=0.042<0.05) and 0.841 (p=0.022<0.05) respectively. Furthermore, it was revealed that there is a positive significant effect of point of sales (POS) on the performance of SMEs measured with customer satisfaction and profitability in Ekiti State to the tune of 0.625 (p=0.017<0.05) for customer satisfaction and 0.434 (p=0.048<0.05) for profitability. From the findings made, it was concluded that both financial inclusion and technology contribute significantly to the performance of SMEs in Ekiti State. Based on the findings, it is therefore recommended that the owners of SMEs should engage themselves in financial literary programs.

The aim of this research is to highlight the relationship between financial reporting quality and corporate social responsibility (CSR) on the family firm sphere. Using a database of 1275 companies for the period 2002-2010 and the GMM estimator of Arellano and Bond (1991) for panel data, our results show that those companies that report high-quality financial statements promote more CSR practices. However, this relationship is weaker in family firms which support the existence of an entrenchment effect that associates greater family ownership with poor-quality information. We argue that family firms differ from non-family regarding the effect of financial reporting quality on the level of CSR practices.

Financial reporting quality (FRQ) refers to better information dissemination across different user groups. It remains a prevalent phenomenon for assessing organizations' performance and survival. Drawing on theoretical exigencies, this study tests the effects of political influence on FRQ using survey research approach and selfadministered questionnaire. Data were gathered from 118 directors of finance representing local governments from four States at the northwest geopolitical zone of Nigeria. The regression estimate revealed a significant positive relation between political influence and FRQ. The study implication was discussed in the context of Nigeria.

Financial reporting quality (FRQ) refers to better information dissemination across different user groups. It remains a prevalent phenomenon for assessing organizations' performance and survival. Drawing on theoretical exigencies, this study tests the effects of political influence on FRQ using survey research approach and selfadministered questionnaire. Data were gathered from 118 directors of finance representing local governments from four States at the northwest geopolitical zone of Nigeria. The regression estimate revealed a significant positive relation between political influence and FRQ. The study implication was discussed in the context of Nigeria.

The objective of this study is to analyze the effect of auditor’s competence, ethics and independence on audit quality. The data used in this study are primary data in the form of questionnaires filled out by auditors at Public Accounting Firms of West Jakarta and South Tangerang. The population of this study was the auditors who work at the Public Accounting Firms in West Jakarta & South Tangerang. The sample in this study was 100 respondents, using non-probability sampling method, namely convenience sampling. The data were analyzed by multiple linear regression analysis. The results of this study reveal that auditor’s competence has a significant effect on audit quality, auditor ethics has a significant effect on audit quality, and independence has no significant effect on audit quality. This study is expected to contribute to the development of theory especially those relating to auditing and behavioral accounting for empirical testing of the influence of competence, ethics, and ...

The study focuses on the impact of training and development on employee performance at United Bottling Company in Mogadishu-Somalia. Accordingly, data was collected using a questionnaire. The study was limited to employees of UBC. The data was collected from 63 respondents subsequently; the findings revealed that working conditions and a lack of resources affect the training and development of employees. It is recommended that certain areas be improved, that is, management support, the provision of feedback to employees and the conducting of employee training on a continuous basis. The findings show that this would improve employee performance in the organization. On the other hand, the study also showed from the literature that there are strong positive relation between of training and development and employee performance.

Despite the large numbers of regulatory bodies governing the accounting profession, financial reporting and its end products (financial statements) still lack external validity and reliability. Against this backdrop we investigated the effect of ethical accounting practices on financial reporting quality. Primary data was used for the study. The data was sourced from questionnaires administered to practising and non-practising accountants in tertiary institutions in Edo state. Preliminary analysis was done and appropriate statistical estimation was used to make inference on the population studied. The analysis of the data showed that accounting ethics had a significant relationship with financial reporting quality. The study recommends that accountants should uphold high ethical standards and that further work should be done on this subject area taking into account religiosity.

The objective of this study is to analyze the effect of auditor’s competence, ethics and independence on audit quality. The data used in this study are primary data in the form of questionnaires filled out by auditors at Public Accounting Firms of West Jakarta and South Tangerang. The population of this study was the auditors who work at the Public Accounting Firms in West Jakarta & South Tangerang. The sample in this study was 100 respondents, using non-probability sampling method, namely convenience sampling. The data were analyzed by multiple linear regression analysis. The results of this study reveal that auditor’s competence has a significant effect on audit quality, auditor ethics has a significant effect on audit quality, and independence has no significant effect on audit quality. This study is expected to contribute to the development of theory especially those relating to auditing and behavioral accounting for empirical testing of the influence of competence, ethics, and ...

Assessment is determination of the total taxable profit and tax payable through the returns and other information supplied to the Board or Relevant Tax Authority, by the various Tax payers. The Board may proceed to assess every person or company chargeable with income tax as it may deemed fit after the expiration of the time limit to such person or company and the delivering of the audited accounts and making of returns.

Poslovne knjige, odnosno finansijski izveštaji, kao krajnji produkt računovodstva poslovnih subjekata, imaju za cilj da njihovim korisnicima pruže pouzdan informacioni izvor o ekonomskim resursima, finansijskom položaju, rezultatu (uspehu) poslovanja, tokovima i stanju novčanih sredstava tih subjekata. U praksi vrlo često dolazi do manipulisanja računovodstvenim informacijama i kršenja zakonskih propisa i profesionalne regulative u svrhu postizanja različitih ciljeva, kao što je prikazivanje lošijeg finansijskog rezulta zbog poreske evazije ili prikazivanje boljeg rezultata od ostvarenog radi ostvarenja bonusa ili vrednovanja imovine po vrednosti većoj od realne što može dovesti do neosnovanog odobrenja kredita privrednom društvu. Negativne posledice finansijskih prevara i malverzacija koje snose investitori i ostali korisnici finansijskih izveštaja, nametnule su potrebu za razvojem nove grane računovodstva, tj. finansijskog računovodstva čiji je glavni zadatak otkrivanje i sprečavanje prevara u finansijskim izveštajima. S tim u vezi, u radu je definisa pojam forenzičkog računovodstva, predstavljeni su ciljevi i zadaci forenzičkog računovodstva, kao i uloga i aktivnosti forenzičkog računovođe u pogledu istraživanja sumnjivih transakcija i otkrivanju prevara u finansijskim izveštajima.

Ključne reči: forenzika, forenzičko računovodstvo, veštačenje, poslovne knjige.

FORENSIC-ACCOUNTING EXPERTIZE OF BUSINESS BOOKS

Abstract: Business books or financial statements, as the final product of accounting subjects, aim to provide their customers a reliable source of information about economic resources, financial position, results (success) business flows and the balance of cash these entities. In practice, very often there is a manipulation of accounting information and violations of the law and professional regulations in order to achieve various objectives, such as showing poor financial results due to tax evasion or showing better results than achieved in order to achieve bonuses or valuation of assets for price higher than the real which may lead to unfounded loan approval for business company. The negative consequences of financial fraud and embezzlement brook by investors and other users of financial statements, have imposed the need to develop a new branch of accounting, ie. financial accounting, whose main task is to detect and prevent fraud in the financial statements. In this regard, the paper defines the term forensic accounting, presented the objectives and tasks of forensic accounting, as well as the role and activities of forensic accountants concerning the investigation of suspicious transactions and the discovery of fraud in the financial statements.

Keywords: forensics, forensic accounting, expert, business books.