Helen Irvine - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Helen Irvine
Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, 2006
Getting in, getting on and getting out: reflections on a qualitative research project Abstract Pu... more Getting in, getting on and getting out: reflections on a qualitative research project Abstract Purpose. This paper seeks to provide a behind-the-scenes view of how a qualitative research project was conducted. It is therefore a paper about the process of qualitative research from the point of view of a researcher, rather than a qualitative research paper about an organization. Design/methodology/approach. Its approach is both theoretical and reflective rather than being a description or analysis of what went on in the organization. Findings. Because the focus of the paper is personal rather than organizational, it does not offer "findings" about the way in which accounting is practised, but rather reflections and insights about the way research was conducted, from getting into the organization (getting in), conducting the research (getting on) and finally exiting the organization (getting out). Research limitations/implications. Even though this paper represents the reflections of one researcher conducting a qualitative study (and another coaching from the sidelines) in one unique organization, the experiences shared emphasize the need for flexibility, reflection and reflexivity in any qualitative research project. Practical implications. The intention of the authors is that this paper should be informative, but they do not view it as a manual of practice. It is hoped that it may help to prepare new researchers for what they may face as they conduct a qualitative research project, while at the same time providing resonances for experienced researchers. Originality/value. While much qualitative research has been undertaken within the discipline of accounting, little or no attention has been paid to the way in which that research has been conducted. This paper addresses that gap, in the hope that it will enlighten both experienced and new qualitative researchers.
Purpose: This is a study of the social consequences of accounting controls over labour. It exami... more Purpose: This is a study of the social consequences of accounting controls over labour. It examines the system of tasking used to control Indian indentured workers in the historical context of Fijian sugar plantations during the British colonial period, from 1879 to 1920.
Method/ Methodology: Archival data consisting of documents from the Colonial Secretary’s Office, reports and related literature on Indian indentured labour was accessed from the National Archives of Fiji. In addition, documented accounts of the experiences of indentured labourers over the period of the study give voice to the social costs of the indenture system, highlighting the social impact of accounting control systems.
Findings: Accounting and management controls were developed to extract surplus value from Indian labour. The practice of tasking was implemented in a plantation structure where indentured labourers were controlled hierarchically through a variety of calculative monitoring practices. This resulted in the exploitation and consequent economic, social and racial marginalisation of indentured workers.
Originality: The paper contributes to the growing body of literature highlighting the social effects of accounting control systems. It exposes the social costs borne by indentured workers employed on Fijian sugar plantations.
Practice/ Research Implications: The study promotes better understanding of the practice and impact of accounting as a technology of government and control within a particular institutional setting, in this case the British colony of Fiji. By highlighting the social implications of these controls in their historical context, we alert corporations, government policy makers, accountants and workers to the socially damaging effects of exploitive management control systems.
Acknowledgments:
We are grateful for the helpful comments provided by Professors Theresa Hammond and James Guthrie, by participants at the 6th Annual New Zealand Management Accounting Conference, 2012, and Asia Pacific Interdisciplinary Research in Accounting Conference, 2013. We would also like to thank Waikato Management School at the University of Waikato for funding this research.
The focus of this paper is the rationale and impact of the adoption of a globalized set of accoun... more The focus of this paper is the rationale and impact of the adoption of a globalized set of accounting standards on an emerging economy, with particular emphasis on the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The paper is based on data gathered primarily from archival sources, studied in the context of the globalization of international financial reporting and the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The UAE has embraced globalization in order to participate in the benefits it offers, including attracting foreign direct investment. Its adoption of IFRS is part of that process. In implementing IFRS, the UAE will face challenges including the development of a legal and regulatory structure to overcome a culture of secrecy and fraud, prevalent in emerging economies with a non-democratic history.
Australian Centre For Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies Qut Business School School of Accountancy, 2015
Qut Business School, 2007
Research into non-profit organisations abounds, but public sector non-profit organisations have b... more Research into non-profit organisations abounds, but public sector non-profit organisations have been neglected. Recent funding incentives have led to significant changes in the market environment for such organisations. This study describes market changes and explores the reactions of one environmental public sector non-profit organisation, Bushcare NSW, to these changes. This paper contends that, within this institutional environment, non-profit organisations more successful in attracting large amounts of external funding have better administrative structures in place, whereas those less successful find themselves confronted with burdensome administrative duties. Neo-institutional theory provides a theoretical basis for this empirical investigation. Funding changes have had a major impact on Bushcare organisations, those more successful in attracting grants reporting significantly fewer recent administrative changes.
Qut Business School, 2005
The last decade has seen increased competition amongst voluntary organisations. This has resulted... more The last decade has seen increased competition amongst voluntary organisations. This has resulted in a number of changes to the nonprofit sector, such as increased levels of scrutiny and accountability. Voluntary organisations compete not only for limited numbers of volunteers but also for limited grant funding made available at local, state and federal government levels. Increased competition has placed pressure on organisations to take a more commercial approach to the management of their organisations and to adopt what have been previously considered 'for profit' business practices such as marketing. This empirical study uses neo-institutional theory to investigate the marketing of nonprofit organisations, specifically the concept of "mimetic isomorphism". The 'Bushcare' program in NSW is examined to determine the extent to which competitive pressures are forcing nonprofit environmental volunteering organisations to copy each other and grow more homogenous in terms of their marketing strategies. Since the most commonly accepted marketing practices are not necessarily the most efficient, managers of these organisations are faced with the challenge of attracting new volunteers and need to assess their current strategies and motivations for recruitment programs.
Qut Business School, 2006
... benefits of having “one set of high-quality globally recognized financial reporting standards... more ... benefits of having “one set of high-quality globally recognized financial reporting standards” [10 ... of IFRS to “developing or emerging economies”, drawing attention to the conflict caused by ... contextual elements”, and questioned the ability of countries in the South Pacific to deliver ...
Qut Business School, 2006
Purpose -The purpose of this paper is illuminate the way in which key constituents have influence... more Purpose -The purpose of this paper is illuminate the way in which key constituents have influenced the process of setting an International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) for the extractive industries. Design/ methodology/approach -Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) is used to identify some of the key players involved in the international accounting standard setting process for the extractive industries, analyse their discourse and its implications, and assess the outcomes. A case study of one international accounting firm, one global petroleum corporation, and one petroleum industry lobby group was used to provide a crosssection of key players and explicate their influence on the international accounting standard setting process. Findings -CDA made visible the coalitions between powerful players and their impact on the eventual IFRS for the extractive industries. Evidence indicates that the setting of an IFRS for the extractive industries is merely a codification of the existing practice of powerful constituents.
Australian Centre For Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies Qut Business School School of Accountancy, Dec 1, 2010
... Page 2. 1 A Test of Podcasting Effectiveness for Lecture Revision Dr Gavin Nicholson School o... more ... Page 2. 1 A Test of Podcasting Effectiveness for Lecture Revision Dr Gavin Nicholson School of Accountancy, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia ... with students who received a live summary (Rhoads, 2009). In contrast, McKinney, Dyck & Luber ...
ABSTRACT Not‐for‐profit (NFP) financial ratio research has focused primarily on organisational ef... more ABSTRACT Not‐for‐profit (NFP) financial ratio research has focused primarily on organisational efficiency measurements for external stakeholders. Ratios that also capture information about stability, capacity (liquidity), gearing and sustainability enable an assessment of financial resilience. They are thus valuable tools that can provide a framework of internal accountability between boards and management. The establishment of an Australian NFP regulator highlights the importance of NFP sustainability, and affirms the timeliness of this paper. We propose a suite of key financial ratios for use by NFP boards and management, and demonstrate its practical usefulness by applying the ratios to financial data from the 2009 reports of ACFID (Australian Council for International Development) affiliated international aid organisations.
This study examines the players involved in the setting of an international accounting standard f... more This study examines the players involved in the setting of an international accounting standard for the extractive industries. Publicly available data is used to expose connections between key constituents involved in the process, to enhance understanding of how the international accounting standard setting process occurred, and to identify future research possibilities.
The focus of this paper is the rationale and impact of the adoption of a globalized set of accoun... more The focus of this paper is the rationale and impact of the adoption of a globalized set of accounting standards on a developing country, with particular emphasis on the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The paper is based on data gathered primarily from archival sources, studied in the context of the globalization of international financial reporting and the adoption of International
Asian Review of Accounting, 2008
... of sloppiness in the bank's risk management being uncovered (Sykes, 200... more ... of sloppiness in the bank's risk management being uncovered (Sykes, 2004, p. 9). Such was the publicity and sensationalism surrounding the scandal that it ... It is hardly surprising that users of financial reports might ask the question: what else lies beneath the numbers ...
Asian Review of Accounting, 2006
Purpose of the paper: This paper exposes the gap between rationalist banking theory and actual pr... more Purpose of the paper: This paper exposes the gap between rationalist banking theory and actual practice within the Agricultural Lending Division of the Fiji Development Bank (FDB) by focusing on the inter-relationship between power and knowledge. Design/methodology/approach: Data for this qualitative research project was gathered from archived documents, interviews, observation and reflection. A Foucauldian theoretical framework was used, which acknowledged the impact of social, economic and political factors within the bank's historical context. Findings: In practice non-rationalist factors play a vital role in decision making and the development of mechanisms of accountability within the FDB. The bank's policies and procedures have ultimately had to strike a delicate balance between the Fijian government's development goals, profitability requirements and the formal rationalities of new public management, and the cultural realities of agricultural lending in Fiji's traditional community-oriented society. Research implications: This study refutes a merely technocratic approach to banking research, opening up possibilities for further studies which focus on power within a socio-historic context. Practical implications: The findings of this study challenge banks to acknowledge the subjectivity of their lending processes and to improve the accountability of lending officers. Original/value of the paper: This paper demonstrates the credibility and usefulness of a theoretically driven qualitative research study in making visible issues that would otherwise be hidden.
Financial Accountability & Management, 2014
This paper raises the issue of whether not-for-profit (NFP) oganisations require a conceptual fra... more This paper raises the issue of whether not-for-profit (NFP) oganisations require a conceptual framework that acknowledges their mission imperative and enables them to discharge their broader accountability. Relying on publicly available documentation and literature, it suggests the current Conceptual Frameworks for the for-profit and public sectors are inadequate in meeting the accountability needs of NFPs. A NFP-specific conceptual framework would allow the demonstration of broader NFP-specific accountability and the formulation of NFP-appropriate reporting practice, including the provision of financial and non-financial reporting. The paper thus theoretically challenges existing financial reporting arrangements and invites debate on their future direction.
Australian Accounting Review, 2012
ABSTRACT This paper analyses the expenditure patterns of 97 Australian international aid and deve... more ABSTRACT This paper analyses the expenditure patterns of 97 Australian international aid and development organisations, and examines the extent to which they disclose information about their expenditure in order to discharge their accountability. Not‐for‐profit (NFP) expenditure attracts media attention, with perceptions of excessive costs potentially damaging stakeholder trust in NFP organisations. This makes it important for organisations to be proactive in communicating their expenditure stories to stakeholders, rather than being judged on their performance by standardised expenditure metrics. By highlighting what it costs to ensure longer‐term operational capability, NFP organisations will contribute to the discharge of their financial accountability and play a part in educating all stakeholders about the dangers of relying on a single metric.
The integration of instruction about academic skills into subject curricula has become widely rec... more The integration of instruction about academic skills into subject curricula has become widely recognised as an effective means of teaching students about discipline-specific academic skills; however, integration can achieve much more than this. It can involve the learning developers and discipline teaching team in collaborations that lead to such things as a rethinking of assessment types and assignment tasks, staging of assignment tasks, revision of assignment questions, redevelopment of marking criteria, provision of marking ...
International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) are a manifestation of globalization, with fin... more International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) are a manifestation of globalization, with financial reports prepared under IFRS presenting an image consistent with that of multinational corporations and developed countries. Developing countries and emerging economies, in pursuing the global economic benefits offered by the adoption of IFRS, face challenges in adapting their regulatory infrastructure and culture to westernoriented accounting standards. Based on data gathered primarily from archival sources, this paper suggests that the UAE, in embracing globalization and adopting IFRS, will need to develop appropriate regulatory systems to overcome cultural issues relating to secrecy and fraud. Word count: 2,850 JEL Code: M41 "Globalized accounting standards: the case of the United Arab Emirates" Abstract. International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) are a manifestation of globalization, with financial reports prepared under IFRS presenting an image consistent with that of multinational corporations and developed countries. Developing countries and emerging economies, in pursuing the global economic benefits offered by the adoption of IFRS, face challenges in adapting their regulatory infrastructure and culture to westernoriented accounting standards. Based on data gathered primarily from archival sources, this paper suggests that the UAE, in embracing globalization and adopting IFRS, will need to develop appropriate regulatory systems to overcome cultural issues relating to secrecy and fraud.
Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, 2006
Getting in, getting on and getting out: reflections on a qualitative research project Abstract Pu... more Getting in, getting on and getting out: reflections on a qualitative research project Abstract Purpose. This paper seeks to provide a behind-the-scenes view of how a qualitative research project was conducted. It is therefore a paper about the process of qualitative research from the point of view of a researcher, rather than a qualitative research paper about an organization. Design/methodology/approach. Its approach is both theoretical and reflective rather than being a description or analysis of what went on in the organization. Findings. Because the focus of the paper is personal rather than organizational, it does not offer "findings" about the way in which accounting is practised, but rather reflections and insights about the way research was conducted, from getting into the organization (getting in), conducting the research (getting on) and finally exiting the organization (getting out). Research limitations/implications. Even though this paper represents the reflections of one researcher conducting a qualitative study (and another coaching from the sidelines) in one unique organization, the experiences shared emphasize the need for flexibility, reflection and reflexivity in any qualitative research project. Practical implications. The intention of the authors is that this paper should be informative, but they do not view it as a manual of practice. It is hoped that it may help to prepare new researchers for what they may face as they conduct a qualitative research project, while at the same time providing resonances for experienced researchers. Originality/value. While much qualitative research has been undertaken within the discipline of accounting, little or no attention has been paid to the way in which that research has been conducted. This paper addresses that gap, in the hope that it will enlighten both experienced and new qualitative researchers.
Purpose: This is a study of the social consequences of accounting controls over labour. It exami... more Purpose: This is a study of the social consequences of accounting controls over labour. It examines the system of tasking used to control Indian indentured workers in the historical context of Fijian sugar plantations during the British colonial period, from 1879 to 1920.
Method/ Methodology: Archival data consisting of documents from the Colonial Secretary’s Office, reports and related literature on Indian indentured labour was accessed from the National Archives of Fiji. In addition, documented accounts of the experiences of indentured labourers over the period of the study give voice to the social costs of the indenture system, highlighting the social impact of accounting control systems.
Findings: Accounting and management controls were developed to extract surplus value from Indian labour. The practice of tasking was implemented in a plantation structure where indentured labourers were controlled hierarchically through a variety of calculative monitoring practices. This resulted in the exploitation and consequent economic, social and racial marginalisation of indentured workers.
Originality: The paper contributes to the growing body of literature highlighting the social effects of accounting control systems. It exposes the social costs borne by indentured workers employed on Fijian sugar plantations.
Practice/ Research Implications: The study promotes better understanding of the practice and impact of accounting as a technology of government and control within a particular institutional setting, in this case the British colony of Fiji. By highlighting the social implications of these controls in their historical context, we alert corporations, government policy makers, accountants and workers to the socially damaging effects of exploitive management control systems.
Acknowledgments:
We are grateful for the helpful comments provided by Professors Theresa Hammond and James Guthrie, by participants at the 6th Annual New Zealand Management Accounting Conference, 2012, and Asia Pacific Interdisciplinary Research in Accounting Conference, 2013. We would also like to thank Waikato Management School at the University of Waikato for funding this research.
The focus of this paper is the rationale and impact of the adoption of a globalized set of accoun... more The focus of this paper is the rationale and impact of the adoption of a globalized set of accounting standards on an emerging economy, with particular emphasis on the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The paper is based on data gathered primarily from archival sources, studied in the context of the globalization of international financial reporting and the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The UAE has embraced globalization in order to participate in the benefits it offers, including attracting foreign direct investment. Its adoption of IFRS is part of that process. In implementing IFRS, the UAE will face challenges including the development of a legal and regulatory structure to overcome a culture of secrecy and fraud, prevalent in emerging economies with a non-democratic history.
Australian Centre For Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies Qut Business School School of Accountancy, 2015
Qut Business School, 2007
Research into non-profit organisations abounds, but public sector non-profit organisations have b... more Research into non-profit organisations abounds, but public sector non-profit organisations have been neglected. Recent funding incentives have led to significant changes in the market environment for such organisations. This study describes market changes and explores the reactions of one environmental public sector non-profit organisation, Bushcare NSW, to these changes. This paper contends that, within this institutional environment, non-profit organisations more successful in attracting large amounts of external funding have better administrative structures in place, whereas those less successful find themselves confronted with burdensome administrative duties. Neo-institutional theory provides a theoretical basis for this empirical investigation. Funding changes have had a major impact on Bushcare organisations, those more successful in attracting grants reporting significantly fewer recent administrative changes.
Qut Business School, 2005
The last decade has seen increased competition amongst voluntary organisations. This has resulted... more The last decade has seen increased competition amongst voluntary organisations. This has resulted in a number of changes to the nonprofit sector, such as increased levels of scrutiny and accountability. Voluntary organisations compete not only for limited numbers of volunteers but also for limited grant funding made available at local, state and federal government levels. Increased competition has placed pressure on organisations to take a more commercial approach to the management of their organisations and to adopt what have been previously considered 'for profit' business practices such as marketing. This empirical study uses neo-institutional theory to investigate the marketing of nonprofit organisations, specifically the concept of "mimetic isomorphism". The 'Bushcare' program in NSW is examined to determine the extent to which competitive pressures are forcing nonprofit environmental volunteering organisations to copy each other and grow more homogenous in terms of their marketing strategies. Since the most commonly accepted marketing practices are not necessarily the most efficient, managers of these organisations are faced with the challenge of attracting new volunteers and need to assess their current strategies and motivations for recruitment programs.
Qut Business School, 2006
... benefits of having “one set of high-quality globally recognized financial reporting standards... more ... benefits of having “one set of high-quality globally recognized financial reporting standards” [10 ... of IFRS to “developing or emerging economies”, drawing attention to the conflict caused by ... contextual elements”, and questioned the ability of countries in the South Pacific to deliver ...
Qut Business School, 2006
Purpose -The purpose of this paper is illuminate the way in which key constituents have influence... more Purpose -The purpose of this paper is illuminate the way in which key constituents have influenced the process of setting an International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) for the extractive industries. Design/ methodology/approach -Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) is used to identify some of the key players involved in the international accounting standard setting process for the extractive industries, analyse their discourse and its implications, and assess the outcomes. A case study of one international accounting firm, one global petroleum corporation, and one petroleum industry lobby group was used to provide a crosssection of key players and explicate their influence on the international accounting standard setting process. Findings -CDA made visible the coalitions between powerful players and their impact on the eventual IFRS for the extractive industries. Evidence indicates that the setting of an IFRS for the extractive industries is merely a codification of the existing practice of powerful constituents.
Australian Centre For Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies Qut Business School School of Accountancy, Dec 1, 2010
... Page 2. 1 A Test of Podcasting Effectiveness for Lecture Revision Dr Gavin Nicholson School o... more ... Page 2. 1 A Test of Podcasting Effectiveness for Lecture Revision Dr Gavin Nicholson School of Accountancy, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia ... with students who received a live summary (Rhoads, 2009). In contrast, McKinney, Dyck & Luber ...
ABSTRACT Not‐for‐profit (NFP) financial ratio research has focused primarily on organisational ef... more ABSTRACT Not‐for‐profit (NFP) financial ratio research has focused primarily on organisational efficiency measurements for external stakeholders. Ratios that also capture information about stability, capacity (liquidity), gearing and sustainability enable an assessment of financial resilience. They are thus valuable tools that can provide a framework of internal accountability between boards and management. The establishment of an Australian NFP regulator highlights the importance of NFP sustainability, and affirms the timeliness of this paper. We propose a suite of key financial ratios for use by NFP boards and management, and demonstrate its practical usefulness by applying the ratios to financial data from the 2009 reports of ACFID (Australian Council for International Development) affiliated international aid organisations.
This study examines the players involved in the setting of an international accounting standard f... more This study examines the players involved in the setting of an international accounting standard for the extractive industries. Publicly available data is used to expose connections between key constituents involved in the process, to enhance understanding of how the international accounting standard setting process occurred, and to identify future research possibilities.
The focus of this paper is the rationale and impact of the adoption of a globalized set of accoun... more The focus of this paper is the rationale and impact of the adoption of a globalized set of accounting standards on a developing country, with particular emphasis on the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The paper is based on data gathered primarily from archival sources, studied in the context of the globalization of international financial reporting and the adoption of International
Asian Review of Accounting, 2008
... of sloppiness in the bank's risk management being uncovered (Sykes, 200... more ... of sloppiness in the bank's risk management being uncovered (Sykes, 2004, p. 9). Such was the publicity and sensationalism surrounding the scandal that it ... It is hardly surprising that users of financial reports might ask the question: what else lies beneath the numbers ...
Asian Review of Accounting, 2006
Purpose of the paper: This paper exposes the gap between rationalist banking theory and actual pr... more Purpose of the paper: This paper exposes the gap between rationalist banking theory and actual practice within the Agricultural Lending Division of the Fiji Development Bank (FDB) by focusing on the inter-relationship between power and knowledge. Design/methodology/approach: Data for this qualitative research project was gathered from archived documents, interviews, observation and reflection. A Foucauldian theoretical framework was used, which acknowledged the impact of social, economic and political factors within the bank's historical context. Findings: In practice non-rationalist factors play a vital role in decision making and the development of mechanisms of accountability within the FDB. The bank's policies and procedures have ultimately had to strike a delicate balance between the Fijian government's development goals, profitability requirements and the formal rationalities of new public management, and the cultural realities of agricultural lending in Fiji's traditional community-oriented society. Research implications: This study refutes a merely technocratic approach to banking research, opening up possibilities for further studies which focus on power within a socio-historic context. Practical implications: The findings of this study challenge banks to acknowledge the subjectivity of their lending processes and to improve the accountability of lending officers. Original/value of the paper: This paper demonstrates the credibility and usefulness of a theoretically driven qualitative research study in making visible issues that would otherwise be hidden.
Financial Accountability & Management, 2014
This paper raises the issue of whether not-for-profit (NFP) oganisations require a conceptual fra... more This paper raises the issue of whether not-for-profit (NFP) oganisations require a conceptual framework that acknowledges their mission imperative and enables them to discharge their broader accountability. Relying on publicly available documentation and literature, it suggests the current Conceptual Frameworks for the for-profit and public sectors are inadequate in meeting the accountability needs of NFPs. A NFP-specific conceptual framework would allow the demonstration of broader NFP-specific accountability and the formulation of NFP-appropriate reporting practice, including the provision of financial and non-financial reporting. The paper thus theoretically challenges existing financial reporting arrangements and invites debate on their future direction.
Australian Accounting Review, 2012
ABSTRACT This paper analyses the expenditure patterns of 97 Australian international aid and deve... more ABSTRACT This paper analyses the expenditure patterns of 97 Australian international aid and development organisations, and examines the extent to which they disclose information about their expenditure in order to discharge their accountability. Not‐for‐profit (NFP) expenditure attracts media attention, with perceptions of excessive costs potentially damaging stakeholder trust in NFP organisations. This makes it important for organisations to be proactive in communicating their expenditure stories to stakeholders, rather than being judged on their performance by standardised expenditure metrics. By highlighting what it costs to ensure longer‐term operational capability, NFP organisations will contribute to the discharge of their financial accountability and play a part in educating all stakeholders about the dangers of relying on a single metric.
The integration of instruction about academic skills into subject curricula has become widely rec... more The integration of instruction about academic skills into subject curricula has become widely recognised as an effective means of teaching students about discipline-specific academic skills; however, integration can achieve much more than this. It can involve the learning developers and discipline teaching team in collaborations that lead to such things as a rethinking of assessment types and assignment tasks, staging of assignment tasks, revision of assignment questions, redevelopment of marking criteria, provision of marking ...
International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) are a manifestation of globalization, with fin... more International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) are a manifestation of globalization, with financial reports prepared under IFRS presenting an image consistent with that of multinational corporations and developed countries. Developing countries and emerging economies, in pursuing the global economic benefits offered by the adoption of IFRS, face challenges in adapting their regulatory infrastructure and culture to westernoriented accounting standards. Based on data gathered primarily from archival sources, this paper suggests that the UAE, in embracing globalization and adopting IFRS, will need to develop appropriate regulatory systems to overcome cultural issues relating to secrecy and fraud. Word count: 2,850 JEL Code: M41 "Globalized accounting standards: the case of the United Arab Emirates" Abstract. International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) are a manifestation of globalization, with financial reports prepared under IFRS presenting an image consistent with that of multinational corporations and developed countries. Developing countries and emerging economies, in pursuing the global economic benefits offered by the adoption of IFRS, face challenges in adapting their regulatory infrastructure and culture to westernoriented accounting standards. Based on data gathered primarily from archival sources, this paper suggests that the UAE, in embracing globalization and adopting IFRS, will need to develop appropriate regulatory systems to overcome cultural issues relating to secrecy and fraud.