IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i20p15121-d1264398.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Transitioning to an IFRS-Based Accounting System: Longitudinal Insights from Practitioners in Portugal

Author

Listed:
  • Ana Paula Silva

    (School of Business Sciences, Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo, 4930-600 Valença, Portugal
    Centre for Organizational and Social Studies of Polytechnic of Porto (CEOS.PP), ISCAP, 4465-004 Porto, Portugal)

  • Alexandra Fontes

    (School of Economics and Management, Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
    Research Centre in Accounting and Taxation, 4750-821 Barcelos, Portugal)

  • Carlos Menezes

    (School of Economics and Management, Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal)

  • Tânia Menezes Montenegro

    (School of Economics and Management, Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
    Research Centre in Accounting and Taxation, 4750-821 Barcelos, Portugal)

Abstract

This paper explores the extent to which International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)-wide support (regardless of the institutional context) is warranted. Drawing from an institutional theory framework, it investigates the extent to which practitioners in a code-law-rooted country perceive the materialization of claimed benefits of IFRS and the institutional forces that may hinder the IFRS’s institutionalization process. An interpretative approach based on qualitative research was adopted. Longitudinal evidence was gathered from 34 in-depth semi-structured in-person interviews with Portuguese preparers conducted in 2009 (just before an IFRS-based accounting system was adopted) and 2017 (at a post-implementation mature stage). Qualitative data analysis was carried out using a thematic coding scheme derived from the adopted theoretical framework: legitimacy and economic (operational and financial) benefits and institutional contradictions (IFRS’s in-country adequacy). The main results highlight that, while legitimacy benefits have been broadly recognized, economic benefits were scantly perceived due to the enduring code-law institutional logic embedded in the Portuguese context. Consistently, a high possibility of decoupling and manipulating accounts was acknowledged, which in turn casts reservations not only about the material consequences of the international convergence process to IFRS but also about its contribution towards sustainable development. Given that a major academic debate persists on whether accounting harmonization is beneficial, this research’s findings fill this gap and provide valuable insights for future research, practice, and regulation. Particularly, our findings enhance the urgency of developing institutional adjustments, such as changing national culture, on behalf of the Anglo-Saxon-based institutional approach of IFRS.

Suggested Citation

  • Ana Paula Silva & Alexandra Fontes & Carlos Menezes & Tânia Menezes Montenegro, 2023. "Transitioning to an IFRS-Based Accounting System: Longitudinal Insights from Practitioners in Portugal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-21, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:20:p:15121-:d:1264398
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/20/15121/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/20/15121/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Tadeusz Dudycz & Jadwiga Praźników, 2020. "Does the Mark-to-Model Fair Value Measure Make Assets Impairment Noisy?: A Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-24, February.
    2. Irvine, Helen, 2008. "The global institutionalization of financial reporting: The case of the United Arab Emirates," Accounting forum, Elsevier, vol. 32(2), pages 125-142.
    3. Hodgdon, Christopher & Tondkar, Rasoul H. & Harless, David W. & Adhikari, Ajay, 2008. "Compliance with IFRS disclosure requirements and individual analysts’ forecast errors," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 17(1), pages 1-13.
    4. Hammed Afolabi & Ronita Ram & Gunnar Rimmel, 2022. "Harmonization of Sustainability Reporting Regulation: Analysis of a Contested Arena," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-26, May.
    5. Helen Irvine, 2008. "The global institutionalization of financial reporting: The case of the United Arab Emirates," Accounting Forum, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 32(2), pages 125-142, June.
    6. Carruthers, Bruce G., 1995. "Accounting, ambiguity, and the new institutionalism," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 20(4), pages 313-328, May.
    7. Moritz Bassemir, 2018. "Why do private firms adopt IFRS?," Accounting and Business Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 48(3), pages 237-263, April.
    8. Mary Barth, 2007. "Standard-setting measurement issues and the relevance of research," Accounting and Business Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(S1), pages 7-15.
    9. Anna Che Azmi & Linda M. English, 2016. "IFRS Disclosure Compliance in Malaysia: Insights from a Small-sample Analytical Study," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 26(4), pages 390-414, December.
    10. Brigitte Eierle & David Shirkhani & Christiane Helduser, 2018. "The Need to Provide Internationally Comparable Accounting Information and the Application of IFRS: Empirical Evidence from German Private Firms," Accounting in Europe, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(3), pages 323-346, September.
    11. Palea, Vera, 2018. "Financial reporting for sustainable development: Critical insights into IFRS implementation in the European Union," Accounting forum, Elsevier, vol. 42(3), pages 248-260.
    12. Juarez Carneiro & Lúcia Lima Rodrigues & Russell Craig, 2017. "Assessing international accounting harmonization in Latin America," Accounting Forum, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 41(3), pages 172-184, September.
    13. Jason Zezhong Xiao & Pauline Weetman & Manli Sun, 2004. "Political Influence and Coexistence of a Uniform Accounting System and Accounting Standards: Recent Developments in China," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 40(2), pages 193-218, June.
    14. Ding, Yuan & Hope, Ole-Kristian & Jeanjean, Thomas & Stolowy, Herve, 2007. "Differences between domestic accounting standards and IAS: Measurement, determinants and implications," Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, Elsevier, vol. 26(1), pages 1-38.
    15. Suddaby, Roy & Cooper, David J. & Greenwood, Royston, 2007. "Transnational regulation of professional services: Governance dynamics of field level organizational change," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 32(4-5), pages 333-362.
    16. Zeff, Stephen A., 2007. "Some obstacles to global financial reporting comparability and convergence at a high level of quality," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 39(4), pages 290-302.
    17. Nadia Albu & Cătălin N. Albu & Sidney J. Gray, 2020. "Institutional factors and the impact of international financial reporting standards: the Central and Eastern European experience," Accounting Forum, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 44(3), pages 184-214, July.
    18. Krishnan, Sarada R., 2018. "Influence of transnational economic alliances on the IFRS convergence decision in India—Institutional perspectives," Accounting forum, Elsevier, vol. 42(4), pages 309-327.
    19. Tyrrall, David & Woodward, David & Rakhimbekova, Almagoul, 2007. "The relevance of International Financial Reporting Standards to a developing country: Evidence from Kazakhstan," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 42(1), pages 82-110.
    20. Alessandro Ghio & Roberto Verona, 2015. "Accounting harmonization in the BRIC countries: A common path?," Accounting Forum, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 39(2), pages 121-139, June.
    21. Woo Jae Lee, 2019. "Toward Sustainable Accounting Information: Evidence from IFRS Adoption in Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-17, February.
    22. David Abad & M. Fuensanta Cutillas†Gomariz & Juan Pedro Sánchez†Ballesta & José Yagüe, 2018. "Does IFRS Mandatory Adoption Affect Information Asymmetry in the Stock Market?," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 28(1), pages 61-78, March.
    23. Christopher Nobes, 2011. "IFRS Practices and the Persistence of Accounting System Classification," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 47(3), pages 267-283, September.
    24. Sarada R. Krishnan, 2018. "Influence of transnational economic alliances on the IFRS convergence decision in India—Institutional perspectives," Accounting Forum, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 42(4), pages 309-327, December.
    25. Aburous, Dina, 2019. "IFRS and institutional work in the accounting domain," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 1-15.
    26. Mostafa Kamal Hassan, 2008. "The development of accounting regulations in Egypt: Legitimating the International Accounting Standards," Managerial Auditing Journal, Emerald Group Publishing, vol. 23(5), pages 467-484, May.
    27. Philippe Touron, 2005. "The adoption of US GAAP by French firms before the creation of the International Accounting Standard Committee: an institutional explanation," Post-Print hal-03002955, HAL.
    28. Vicentiu M. Covrig & Mark L. Defond & Mingyi Hung, 2007. "Home Bias, Foreign Mutual Fund Holdings, and the Voluntary Adoption of International Accounting Standards," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 45(1), pages 41-70, March.
    29. In Tae Hwang & Kang Sung Hur & Sun Min Kang, 2018. "Does the IFRS Effect Continue? An International Comparison," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-20, December.
    30. Costanza Fabio, 2018. "Voluntary application of IFRS by unlisted companies: evidence from the Italian context," International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 15(2), pages 73-86, May.
    31. Cascino, Stefano & Daske, Holger & Defond, Mark & Florou, Annita & Gassen, Joachim & Hung, Mingyi, 2023. "Reflections on the 20-year anniversary of worldwide IFRS adoption," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 120205, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    32. Alawattage, Chandana & Alsaid, Loai Ali, 2018. "Accounting and structural reforms: A case study of Egyptian electricity," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 15-35.
    33. Vera Palea, 2018. "Financial reporting for sustainable development: Critical insights into IFRS implementation in the European Union," Accounting Forum, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 42(3), pages 248-260, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Krishnan, Sarada R., 2018. "Influence of transnational economic alliances on the IFRS convergence decision in India—Institutional perspectives," Accounting forum, Elsevier, vol. 42(4), pages 309-327.
    2. Albu, Cătălin Nicolae & Albu, Nadia & Alexander, David, 2014. "When global accounting standards meet the local context—Insights from an emerging economy," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 25(6), pages 489-510.
    3. Bonito, Ana & Pais, Cláudio, 2018. "The macroeconomic determinants of the adoption of IFRS for SMEs," Revista de Contabilidad - Spanish Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 21(2), pages 116-127.
    4. Helen Hong Yang & Colin Clark & Changyu Wu & Alan Farley, 2018. "Insights from Accounting Practitioners on China's Convergence with IFRS," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 28(1), pages 14-27, March.
    5. Paula Silva, Ana & Fontes, Alexandra & Martins, Adelaide, 2021. "Perceptions regarding the implementation of International Financial Reporting Standards in Portugal and Brazil," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 44(C).
    6. Costas Siriopoulos & Athanasios Tsagkanos & Argyro Svingou & Evangelos Daskalopoulos, 2021. "Foreign Direct Investment in GCC Countries: The Essential Influence of Governance and the Adoption of IFRS," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-13, June.
    7. Tsalavoutas, Ioannis & Tsoligkas, Fanis & Evans, Lisa, 2020. "Compliance with IFRS mandatory disclosure requirements: A structured literature review," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 40(C).
    8. Aburous, Dina, 2019. "IFRS and institutional work in the accounting domain," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 1-15.
    9. Roberto Aprile & Laura Bini, 2018. "The role of institutions in the process of global convergence to IFRS," FINANCIAL REPORTING, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2018(2), pages 111-134.
    10. Guerreiro, Marta Silva & Rodrigues, Lúcia Lima & Craig, Russell, 2012. "Voluntary adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards by large unlisted companies in Portugal – Institutional logics and strategic responses," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 37(7), pages 482-499.
    11. Nobes, Christopher & Stadler, Christian, 2013. "How arbitrary are international accounting classifications? Lessons from centuries of classifying in many disciplines, and experiments with IFRS data," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 38(8), pages 573-595.
    12. Paul André & Peter Walton & Dan Yang, 2012. "Voluntary adoption of IFRS: A study of determinants for UK unlisted firms," Post-Print hal-00935013, HAL.
    13. Dominique Dufour & Pierre Teller & Philippe Luu, 2014. "A neo-institutionalist model of the diffusion of IFRS accounting standards," Post-Print hal-00719046, HAL.
    14. Enas Abdullah Hassan, 2020. "The Economic Consequence Of International Financial Reporting Standards Adoption: Evidence From Corporate Tax Avoidance In Gulf States," Accounting & Taxation, The Institute for Business and Finance Research, vol. 12(1), pages 45-65.
    15. Uyar, Ali & Güngörmüş, Ali Haydar, 2013. "Perceptions and knowledge of accounting professionals on IFRS for SMEs: Evidence from Turkey," Research in Accounting Regulation, Elsevier, vol. 25(1), pages 77-87.
    16. Dominique Dufour & Pierre Teller & Philippe Luu, 2014. "A Neo-institutionalist Model of the Diffusion of IFRS Accounting Standards," Computational Economics, Springer;Society for Computational Economics, vol. 44(1), pages 27-44, June.
    17. Mantzari, Elisavet & Georgiou, Omiros, 2019. "Ideological hegemony and consent to IFRS: Insights from practitioners in Greece," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 70-93.
    18. Catalina Gorgan & Vasile Gorgan, 2014. "Study On Disclosure Level Of Companies Listed On The Bucharest Stock Exchange In Accordance With International Financial Reporting Standards: The Case Of Intangible Assets," Annals - Economy Series, Constantin Brancusi University, Faculty of Economics, vol. 2, pages 104-115, April.
    19. Ahmed, Kamran & Chalmers, Keryn & Khlif, Hichem, 2013. "A Meta-analysis of IFRS Adoption Effects," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 48(2), pages 173-217.
    20. Abraham, Santhosh & Shrives, Philip J., 2014. "Improving the relevance of risk factor disclosure in corporate annual reports," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 46(1), pages 91-107.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:20:p:15121-:d:1264398. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.