The Ipsas implementation and the use and usefulness of accounting information
A comparative analysis in the Iberian Peninsula
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 20201722 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Patrícia Gomes (0000-0002-8128-7837, Polytechnic Institute of Cávado and Ave), Isabel Brusca (0000-0002-2897-1744, Universidad de Zaragoza), Maria Jose Fernandes (0000-0002-3959-6177, Polytechnic Institute of Cávado and Ave), Estela Vilhena (0000-0002-3063-5117, Polytechnic Institute of Cávado and Ave) |
| Year | 2023 |
| Volume | 35 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 12-40 |
| Publication date | 2023-01-24 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Public Budgeting Accounting & Financial Management (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1096-3367 • E-ISSN: 1945-1814 |
| Publisher | Emerald (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1108/jpbafm-12-2021-0169 |
| OpenAlex | W4287877576 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 57 |
Purpose This paper aims to research the reforms toward International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) implementation and the perceptions about the use and usefulness of accounting information in the context of local government in the Iberian Peninsula. The paper focuses on the perspective of chief financial officers (CFOs). Design/methodology/approach The paper uses a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods. Beyond the study of the context of the reform in both countries through the consultation of legislation and official documents, the authors collected primary data through a survey addressed to the local CFO to catch both countries' perceptions and beliefs toward the topic under research. Findings The authors' findings evidence that both countries have made strong efforts to adapt IPSAS to both countries' national standards. The coercive and mimetic isomorphism and the private accounting normative were important determinants in the reform. Looking at perceptions, budget information continues to be perceived as the king information for public management and decision-making. In a comparative way, the Portuguese CFO seems to be more optimistic concerning the use and usefulness of the new accounting system. The strong orientation of CFO to cash-basis and budgeting information is an important explanation of the lower use and usefulness, essentially in the Spanish context. The regression results show that individual perceptions and beliefs on the accounting reform influence the opinion about the usefulness and use of financial information. Research limitations/implications The use of the survey method has some limitations very discussed in the literature that are also applied in this study. Practical implications The paper has the potential to contribute to the academic, political and practitioner discussion of the core purposes of financial accounting information in the public sector and financial accounting information's impacts on the European Public Sector Accounting Standards (EPSAS) framework. Originality/value The recent adoption of the new accounting system in local governments of both contexts contributes to knowledge on the public sector accounting reforms toward the transition to accrual accounting and the IPSAS. The innovative character of the paper contributes to better clarify how the perceptions of the accounting reform influence the usage level of public financial information
Accounting information system · Business · Economics · Normative · Political science · Fiscal Policies and Political Economy · Local Government Finance and Decentralization · Public Policy and Administration Research · Accounting
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| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2025 - 2025 (1) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |