[go: up one dir, main page]
IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/crpeac/v62y2019icp1-15.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

IFRS and institutional work in the accounting domain

Author

Listed:
  • Aburous, Dina
Abstract
This study highlights how the implementation of International Financial Reporting Standards, in a context of minimal readiness, induces power imbalance between corporate accounting and audit, and changes acceptable accounting practices, and roles. Using the concept of institutional work, I analyze data from interviews and secondary sources, focusing attention on the practices of issuing financial statements. I find that the technical dependency of corporate accounting on audit blurs the boundaries between the two fields. I argue that this generates conditions for implicit negotiations, in which both groups (corporate accountants and auditors) engage in institutional work. Two subtypes of institutional work are identified as corporate accountants relinquish some of their traditionally institutionalized activities to the ‘expert’ auditors, to maintain field stability, while auditors encroach on the corporate accounting field, to remove obstacles during the implementation of IFRS. While there is no shortage of research documenting the economic outcomes of the adoption of IFRS, there is hardly any examination of how this technical disruption, has affected practices and relations within the accounting domain. Incorporating views and actions from the much-ignored corporate accounting field enables a more holistic view of how responses to IFRS are constructed, especially in contexts where IFRS are adopted for legitimacy.

Suggested Citation

  • Aburous, Dina, 2019. "IFRS and institutional work in the accounting domain," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 1-15.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:crpeac:v:62:y:2019:i:c:p:1-15
    DOI: 10.1016/j.cpa.2018.10.001
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1045235418303125
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.cpa.2018.10.001?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bertrand Malsch & Yves Gendron, 2013. "Re-Theorizing Change: Institutional Experimentation and the Struggle for Domination in the Field of Public Accounting," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 50(5), pages 870-899, July.
    2. Chiapello, Eve & Medjad, Karim, 2009. "An unprecedented privatisation of mandatory standard-setting: The case of European accounting policy," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 20(4), pages 448-468.
    3. Canning, Mary & O'Dwyer, Brendan, 2016. "Institutional work and regulatory change in the accounting profession," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 1-21.
    4. Nieves Carrera & Salvador Carmona, 2013. "Educational Reforms Set Professional Boundaries: The S panish Audit Function, 1850–1988," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 49(1), pages 99-137, March.
    5. Kees Camfferman & Stephen Zeff, 2011. "Comment on ‘A political economy of accounting standard setting’," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 15(2), pages 297-304, May.
    6. T. Lawrence & R. Suddaby & B. Leca, 2009. "Introduction : Theorizing and studying institutional work," Post-Print hal-00808954, HAL.
    7. Suddaby, Roy & Saxton, Gregory D. & Gunz, Sally, 2015. "Twittering change: The institutional work of domain change in accounting expertise," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 52-68.
    8. Lounsbury, Michael, 2008. "Institutional rationality and practice variation: New directions in the institutional analysis of practice," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 33(4-5), pages 349-361.
    9. Hans B. Christensen & Edward Lee & Martin Walker & Cheng Zeng, 2015. "Incentives or Standards: What Determines Accounting Quality Changes around IFRS Adoption?," European Accounting Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(1), pages 31-61, May.
    10. Ahrens, Thomas & Chapman, Christopher S., 2007. "Management accounting as practice," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 32(1-2), pages 1-27.
    11. Alp, Ali & Ustundag, Saim, 2009. "Financial reporting transformation: the experience of Turkey," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 20(5), pages 680-699.
    12. Botzem, Sebastian & Quack, Sigrid, 2009. "(No) Limits to Anglo-American accounting? Reconstructing the history of the International Accounting Standards Committee: A review article," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 34(8), pages 988-998, November.
    13. Bradley N. Potter, 2005. "Accounting as a social and institutional practice: perspectives to enrich our understanding of accounting change," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 41(3), pages 265-289, October.
    14. 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.
    15. Sebastian Botzem, 2014. "Transnational standard setting in accounting : Organizing expertise-based self-regulation in times of crises," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing, vol. 27(5), pages 933-955.
    16. 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.
    17. Thomas Lawrence & Roy Suddaby & Bernard Leca, 2009. "Introduction: theorizing and studying institutional work," Post-Print hal-00576557, HAL.
    18. Botzem, Sebastian, 2014. "Transnational standard setting in accounting: Organizing expertise-based self-regulation in times of crises," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 27(6), pages 933-955.
    19. Sebastian Botzem, 2014. "Transnational standard setting in accounting," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 27(6), pages 933-955, July.
    20. Jere R. Francis & Dechun Wang, 2008. "The Joint Effect of Investor Protection and Big 4 Audits on Earnings Quality around the World," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(1), pages 157-191, March.
    21. Rania Kamla & Sonja Gallhofer & Jim Haslam, 2012. "Understanding Syrian accountants' perceptions of, and attitudes towards, social accounting," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 25(7), pages 1170-1205, September.
    22. 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.
    23. Eve Chiapello & Karim Medjad, 2009. "An unprecedented privatisation of mandatory standard-setting: The case of European accounting policy," Post-Print hal-00466513, HAL.
    24. 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.
    25. Ahrens, Thomas & Chapman, Christopher S., 2006. "Doing qualitative field research in management accounting: Positioning data to contribute to theory," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 31(8), pages 819-841, November.
    26. Laura Empson & Imogen Cleaver & Jeremy Allen, 2013. "Managing Partners and Management Professionals: Institutional Work Dyads in Professional Partnerships," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 50(5), pages 808-844, July.
    27. Cooper, David J. & Robson, Keith, 2006. "Accounting, professions and regulation: Locating the sites of professionalization," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 31(4-5), pages 415-444.
    28. Arnold, Patricia J., 2005. "Disciplining domestic regulation: the World Trade Organization and the market for professional services," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 30(4), pages 299-330, May.
    29. 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.
    30. 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.
    31. Al-Akra, Mahmoud & Jahangir Ali, Muhammad & Marashdeh, Omar, 2009. "Development of accounting regulation in Jordan," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 44(2), pages 163-186, June.
    32. Kamla, Rania, 2012. "Syrian women accountants’ attitudes and experiences at work in the context of globalization," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 37(3), pages 188-205.
    33. Carmona, Salvador & Trombetta, Marco, 2008. "On the global acceptance of IAS/IFRS accounting standards: The logic and implications of the principles-based system," Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, Elsevier, vol. 27(6), pages 455-461.
    34. Al-Akra, Mahmoud & Eddie, Ian A. & Ali, Muhammad Jahangir, 2010. "The influence of the introduction of accounting disclosure regulation on mandatory disclosure compliance: Evidence from Jordan," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 42(3), pages 170-186.
    35. Marta Silva Guerreiro & Lúcia Lima Rodrigues & Russell Craig, 2015. "Institutional Change of Accounting Systems: The Adoption of a Regime of Adapted International Financial Reporting Standards," European Accounting Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(2), pages 379-409, June.
    36. Christine Cooper & Joanne Johnston, 2012. "Vulgate accountability: insights from the field of football," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 25(4), pages 602-634, May.
    37. Holger Daske & Luzi Hail & Christian Leuz & Rodrigo Verdi, 2013. "Adopting a Label: Heterogeneity in the Economic Consequences Around IAS/IFRS Adoptions," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(3), pages 495-547, June.
    38. Carnegie, Garry D. & Napier, Christopher J., 2010. "Traditional accountants and business professionals: Portraying the accounting profession after Enron," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 35(3), pages 360-376, April.
    39. Burchell, Stuart & Clubb, Colin & Hopwood, Anthony & Hughes, John & Nahapiet, Janine, 1980. "The roles of accounting in organizations and society," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 5(1), pages 5-27, January.
    40. Chua, Wai Fong & Taylor, Stephen L., 2008. "The rise and rise of IFRS: An examination of IFRS diffusion," Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, Elsevier, vol. 27(6), pages 462-473.
    41. repec:dau:papers:123456789/11661 is not listed on IDEAS
    42. T. Lawrence & R. Suddaby & B. Leca, 2011. "Institutional work - Re-focusing institutional studies of organization," Post-Print hal-00802293, HAL.
    43. Lisa Evans & Rachel Baskerville & Katariina Nara, 2015. "Colliding Worlds: Issues Relating to Language Translation in Accounting and Some Lessons from Other Disciplines," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 51(1), pages 1-36, March.
    44. Sikka, Prem & Willmott, Hugh, 1995. "The power of "independence": defending and extending the jurisdiction of accounting in the United Kingdom," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 20(6), pages 547-581, August.
    45. Gallhofer, Sonja & Haslam, Jim & Kamla, Rania, 2011. "The accountancy profession and the ambiguities of globalisation in a post-colonial, Middle Eastern and Islamic context: Perceptions of accountants in Syria," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 22(4), pages 376-395.
    46. Bakre, Owolabi M., 2008. "Financial reporting as technology that supports and sustains imperial expansion, maintenance and control in the colonial and post-colonial globalisation: The case of the Jamaican economy," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 19(4), pages 487-522.
    47. Camfferman, Kees & Zeff, Stephen A., 2007. "Financial Reporting and Global Capital Markets: A History of the International Accounting Standards Committee, 1973-2000," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199296293.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Riaz, Zahid & Ray, Pradeep & Ray, Sangeeta, 2022. "The impact of digitalisation on corporate governance in Australia," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 410-424.
    2. Lantto, Anna-Maija, 2022. "Obtaining entity-specific information and dealing with uncertainty: Financial accountants' response to their changing work of financial reporting and the role of boundary objects," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    3. Laaksonen, Jenni, 2022. "Translation, hegemony and accounting: A critical research framework with an illustration from the IFRS context," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    4. Hervé Kohler & Christine Pochet & Anne Le Manh, 2021. "Auditors as intermediaries in the endogenization of an accounting standard: The case of IFRS 15 within the telecom industry," Post-Print hal-03337420, HAL.
    5. Bayar Gardi & Mehmet Aga & Nabaz Nawzad Abdullah, 2023. "Corporate Governance and Financial Reporting Quality: The Mediation Role of IFRS," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-19, June.
    6. Albu, Nadia & Albu, Cătălin Nicolae & Cho, Charles H. & Pesci, Caterina, 2023. "Not on the ruins, but with the ruins of the past – Inertia and change in the financial reporting field in a transitioning country," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    7. Kohler, Hervé & Pochet, Christine & Le Manh, Anne, 2021. "Auditors as intermediaries in the endogenization of an accounting standard: The case of IFRS 15 within the telecom industry," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    8. Emilio Abad-Segura & Mariana-Daniela González-Zamar, 2020. "Research Analysis on Emerging Technologies in Corporate Accounting," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 8(9), pages 1-29, September.
    9. 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.
    10. Tlotlo Segotso & Jean Damascene Mvunabandi & Masibulele Phesa, 2024. "A Systematic Literature Review of the Challenges of Adopting and Implementing IFRS for SMEs in South Africa," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 14(5), pages 131-147, September.
    11. Khalil Feghali & Joelle Matta & Samir Moussa, 2022. "Digital Transformation of Accounting Practices and Behavior During COVID-19: MENA Evidence," Journal of Accounting and Management Information Systems, Faculty of Accounting and Management Information Systems, The Bucharest University of Economic Studies, vol. 21(2), pages 236-269, June.
    12. Yaser Saleh ALfrijat, 2020. "Compliance with Continuing Professional Development (IES7) of Internal Auditor and Quality of Internal Audit Function," Accounting and Finance Research, Sciedu Press, vol. 9(1), pages 1-28, February.
    13. Dunne, Neil J. & Brennan, Niamh M. & Kirwan, Collette E., 2023. "How the Big Four maintain and defend logic equilibrium at concurrent performances," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    14. Ahmed Eltweri & Alessio Faccia & Scott Foster, 2022. "International Standards on Auditing (ISAs) Adoption: An Institutional Perspective," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-19, September.
    15. Sidhu, Jasvinder & Carnegie, Garry D. & West, Brian, 2021. "Australia's divided accounting profession: The 1969 merger attempt and its legacy," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 53(3).

    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. Laaksonen, Jenni, 2022. "Translation, hegemony and accounting: A critical research framework with an illustration from the IFRS context," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    2. Canning, Mary & O'Dwyer, Brendan, 2016. "Institutional work and regulatory change in the accounting profession," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 1-21.
    3. Kettunen, Jaana, 2017. "Interlingual translation of the International Financial Reporting Standards as institutional work," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 38-54.
    4. S. Susela Devi & R. Helen Samujh, 2015. "The Political Economy of Convergence: The Case of IFRS for SMEs," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 25(2), pages 124-138, June.
    5. 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.
    6. 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.
    7. Hopper, Trevor & Lassou, Philippe & Soobaroyen, Teerooven, 2017. "Globalisation, accounting and developing countries," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 125-148.
    8. Crawford, L. & Ferguson, J. & Helliar, C.V. & Power, D.M., 2014. "Control over accounting standards within the European Union: The political controversy surrounding the adoption of IFRS 8," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 25(4), pages 304-318.
    9. 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.
    10. 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.
    11. Kohler, Hervé & Pochet, Christine & Le Manh, Anne, 2021. "Auditors as intermediaries in the endogenization of an accounting standard: The case of IFRS 15 within the telecom industry," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    12. Hervé Kohler & Christine Pochet & Anne Le Manh, 2021. "Auditors as intermediaries in the endogenization of an accounting standard: The case of IFRS 15 within the telecom industry," Post-Print hal-03337420, HAL.
    13. 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.
    14. Stenka, Renata, 2022. "Beyond intentionality in accounting regulation: Habitual strategizing by the IASB," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    15. Crawford, Louise, 2019. "Exploring the emancipatory dimensions of globalisation: The struggle over IFRS8 and country-by-country reporting," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    16. Daoust, Laurence & Malsch, Bertrand, 2019. "How ex-auditors remember their past: The transformation of audit experience into cultural memory," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 1-1.
    17. Troshani, Indrit & Janssen, Marijn & Lymer, Andy & Parker, Lee D., 2018. "Digital transformation of business-to-government reporting: An institutional work perspective," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 17-36.
    18. Himick, Darlene & Brivot, Marion & Henri, Jean-François, 2016. "An ethical perspective on accounting standard setting: Professional and lay-experts’ contribution to GASB’s Pension Project," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 22-38.
    19. Dominique Dufour & Pierre Teller & Philippe Luu, 2014. "A neo-institutionalist model of the diffusion of IFRS accounting standards," Post-Print hal-00719046, HAL.
    20. Daniel Muzio & David M. Brock & Roy Suddaby, 2013. "Professions and Institutional Change: Towards an Institutionalist Sociology of the Professions," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 50(5), pages 699-721, July.

    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:eee:crpeac:v:62:y:2019:i:c:p:1-15. 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: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/critical-perspectives-on-accounting/ .

    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.