The Role of Accountability in Determining the Relationship between Financial Reporting Quality and Public Organizations Performance
Subject Areas : Financial engineering
Maryam Bahmani
1
,
Javad Rashidipoor
2
1 - Department of Accounting, National University of Skills (NUS), Kashan, Iran
2 - Department of Accounting, National University of Skills (NUS), Kashan, Iran
Keywords: Financial reporting quality, performance, accountability, public sector, organization.,
Abstract :
This research, based on public management theory and new agency theory, investigates the mediating role of accountability in the relationship between financial reporting quality and the performance of government organizations. The research model and hypotheses were tested through a survey conducted with 196 accountants and managers working in the public sector in Iran. The analysis of the findings indicated that accountability serves as a mediator between financial reporting quality and performance. These results carry significant implications for government organizations seeking to enhance their financial reporting quality and organizational performance through effective systems and accountability measures.In this context, policymakers and regulatory bodies in the public sector are focused on enforcing accountability for organizations regarding their actions. They aim to ensure that these organizations operate according to their assigned responsibilities. By doing so, they hope to create a more transparent and responsible public sector. This study also seeks to delve into the mediating role of accountability in the relationship between financial reporting quality and the performance of public organizations, ultimately contributing to a better understanding of how accountability influences performance outcomes in the public sector. The findings may provide insights for improving practices in financial reporting and organizational effectiveness.
1) Adhikari, Pawan., Mellemvik, Frode., (2011). The rise and fall of accruals: A case of Nepalese central government. Journal of Accounting in Emerging Economies, 1(2), 123–143.
2) Arellano-Gault, David., Lepore, Walter., (2011). Transparency reforms in the public sector: Beyond the new economics of organization. Organization Studies. 32(8), 1029–1050.
3) Boston, Janathan., (2016). Basic NPM ideas and their development, The Ashgate research companion to new public management. Routledge, 33–48.
4) Christensen, Tom., Lægreid, Per., (2014). Performance and accountability—A theoretical discussion and an empirical assessment. Public Organization Review. 15(2), 207– 225.
5) Cohen, Sandra., Karatzimas, Sotirios., (2017). Accounting information quality and decision-usefulness of governmental financial reporting: Moving from cash to modified cash. Meditari Accountancy Research. 25(1), 95–113.
6) Doan Ngoc Phi Anh., Duc‐Tho Nguyen., (2013). Accounting in a developing transitional economy: The case of Vietnam. Asian Review of Accounting. 21(1), 74–95.
7) Dubnick, Melvin., (2005). Accountability and the promise of performance: In search of the mechanisms. Public Performance & Management Review. 28(3), 376–417.
8) Glisson, Charles A., Martin, Patricia Yancey., (1980). Productivity and efficiency in human service organizations as related to structure, size, and age. Academy of Management Journal. 23(1), 21–37.
9) Gomes, Patrícia., Mendes, Silvia M., Carvalho, João., (2017). Impact of PMS on organizational performance and moderating effects of context. Int. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Managemen . 66(4), 517–538.
10) Guthrie, James., (1998). Application of accrual accounting in the Australian public sector–rhetoric or reality. Financial Accountability & Managment. 14(1), 1–19.
11) Hair, Joseph.F., Hult, G. Tomas M., Ringle, Christian M., Sarstedt, Marko., (2017). “A primer on partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM)”. Sage Publications, The United States of America.
12) Han, Yousueng., (2020). The impact of accountability deficit on agency performance: performance-accountability regime. Publ. Manage. Rev. Public Management Review. 22(6), 927-948.
13) Hepworth, Noel., (2017). Is implementing the IPSASs an appropriate reform? Public Money & Management. 37 (2), 141–148.
14) Hood, Christopher., (1991). A public management for all seasons?. Public Administration. 69(1), 3–19.
15) Hood, Christopher., (1995). The ‘‘New Public Management” in the 1980s: Variations on a theme. Accounting, Organizations and Society. 20(2–3), 93–109. 16) IPSASB, (2013). The conceptual framework for general purpose financial reporting by public sector entities. International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board, the International Federation of Accountants.
17) Jung, Tobias., Scott, Tim., Davies, Huw.T.O., Bower, Peter., Whalley, Diane., McNally, Rosalind., Mannion, Russell., (2009). Instruments for exploring organizational culture: A review of the literature. Public Administration Reviwe. 69 (6), 1087–1096.
18) Kalimullah, Nazmul Ahsan., Alam, Kabir M. Ashraf., Nour, M. M. Ashaduzzaman., (2012). New public management: Emergence and principles. Bup Journal. 1(1), 1–22.
19) Kim, Pan.Suk., (2009). Enhancing public accountability for developing countries: Major constraints and strategies. Australian Journal of Public Administration. 68(1), 89–100.
20) Kobayashi, Mary., Yamamoto, Kiyoshi., Ishikawa, Keiko., (2016). The usefulness of accrual information in Non-mandatory Environments: The case of Japanese local government. Australian Account Reviwe. 26(2), 153–161.
21) Krambia-Kapardis, Maria., Clark, Colin., Zopiatis, Anastasios., (2016). Satisfaction gap in public sector financial reporting. Journal of Accounting in Emerging Economies. 6(3), 232–253.
22) Kroll, Alexander., (2015). Explaining the use of performance information by public managers: A planned-behavior approach. The American Review of Public Administration. 45(2), 201–215.
23) Lassou, Philippe Jacques Codjo., (2017). State of government accounting in Ghana and Benin: A ‘‘tentative” account. Journal of Accounting in Emerging Economies. 7(4), 486–506.
24) Mack, Janet., Ryan, Christine., (2006). Reflections on the theoretical underpinnings of the general-purpose financial reports of Australian government departments. Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal. 19(4), 592–612.
25) Martin, Joun., Spano, Alessandra., (2015). From performance management to strategic local government leadership: lessons from different cultural settings. Public Money & Management . 35(4), 303–310.
26) Mbelwa, Latifa Hamisi., Adhikari, Pawan., Shahadat, Khandakar., (2019). Investigation of the institutional and decision-usefulness factors in the implementation of accrual accounting reforms in the public sector of Tanzania. Journal of Accounting in Emerging Economies. 9(3), 335–365.
27) Mizrahi, Shlomo., Minchuk, Yizhaq., (2019). Accountability and performance management: Citizens’ willingness to monitor public officials. Public Management Review. 21(3), 334–353.
28) Mnif Sellami, Yosra., Gafsi, Yosra., (2019). Institutional and economic factors affecting the adoption of International Public Sector Accounting Standards. International Journal of Public Administration. 42(2), 119–131.
29) Nakmahachalasint, Oraphan., Narktabtee, Kanogporn., (2019). Implementation of accrual accounting in Thailand’s central government. Public Money & Management. 39(2), 139–147.
30) Nirwana, Haliah., (2018). Determinant factor of the quality of financial statements and performance of the government by adding contextual factors: Personal factor, system/administrative factor. Asian Journal of Accounting Research. 3(1), 28–40.
31) Patton, James.M., (1992). Accountability and governmental financial reporting. Financial Accountability & Management. 8(3), 165–180.
32) Podsakoff, Philip M., MacKenzie, Scott B., Lee, Jeong-Yeon., Podsakoff, Nathan P., (2003). Common method biases in behavioral research: A critical review of the literature and recommended remedies. Journal of Applied Psychology. 88(5), 879–903.
33) Rajib, Salah.Uddin., Adhikari, Pawan., Hoque, Mahfuzul., Akter, Mahmuda., (2019). Institutionalisation of the cash basis International Public Sector Accounting Standard in the central government of Bangladesh: An example of delay and resistance. Journal of Accounting in Emerging Economies. 9(1), 28–50.
34) Reck, Jacqueline.L., (2001). The usefulness of financial and nonfinancial performance information in resource allocation decisions. Journal of Accounting and Public Policy. 20(1), 45–71.
35) Steccolini, Ileana., (2004). Is the annual report an accountability medium? An empirical investigation into Italian local governments. Financial Accountability & Management. 20(3), 327–350.
36) Thoms, Peg., Dose, Jennifer.J., Scott, Kimberly.S., (2002). Relationships between accountability, job satisfaction, and trust. Human Resource Development Quarterly. 13(3), 307–323.
37) Tran, Thi Bich., (2014). The cycle of transparency, accountability, corruption, and administrative performance: evidence from Vietnam. Journal of Economics and Development. 16(3), 32–48.
38) Tran, Yen. Thi., Nguyen, Nguyen Phong., & Hoang, Trang Cam. (2021). The role of accountability in determining the relationship between financial reporting quality and the performance of public organizations: Evidence from Vietnam. Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, 40(1), 106801.
39) Veladar, Benina., Bašic´ , Meliha., Kapic´ , Jadranka., (2014). Performance measurement in public sector of transition countries. Business Systems Research. 5(2), 72–83.
40) Verbeeten, Frank H. M., Speklé, Roland F., (2015). Management control, results-oriented culture and public sector performance: Empirical evidence on new public management. Organization Studies. 36(7), 953–978.