Gidemy Elibray

Items

• More corporate environmental reporting in South Africa?
  The environment is establishing itself as an important business issue. There are no laws or regulations to enforce environmental disclosure or reporting in South Africa, yet it is on the increase. However, the reporting tends to be biased and general in nature. The amount and the quality of environmental reporting will only be improved if made compulsory. This will only be feasible if the relevant parties are in favour. A survey was done amongst the preparers and auditors of financial statements as well as others, to establish whether they would be willing to support additional environmental reporting. A large number of individuals are indeed in favour of more compulsory corporate environmental reporting.
• Thirty years of Accounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal : a critical study of the journal’s most cited articles
  PURPOSE : The purpose of this paper is to analyse the highly cited articles published in Accounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal (AAAJ), since its inception, to answer three research questions: first, how have scholarly articles published in AAAJ developed? second, what are the focus areas and characteristics of articles in AAAJ, and who are the influential authors? third, who are the emerging next generation scholars and what are the emerging research themes in AAAJ? DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH : A structured literature review (SLR) was used to analyse 126 most cited classic AAAJ articles and 21 additional emerging articles published between 1988 and 2016. Traditional literature reviews can have varied results because of a lack of rigour. The SLR method allows for an examination in detail of the articles, authors, focus areas and pattern of AAAJ publishing over three decades. FINDINGS : The findings show increased diversity in more recent years in theories, methods, origins, focus areas, and where AAAJ articles are cited, which highlights that the interdisciplinary accounting research project is maturing and remaining true to the ideal of being inclusive. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS : Within this diversity, the analyses show that AAAJ remains focussed on and presents opportunities for impactful accounting research related to social issues, including non-financial corporate reporting/disclosure, public sector accounting, corporate governance and alternative forms of accounting, audit and accountability. Additionally, there is a need for more practice-based research to address the “wicked” problems at the intersection between accounting and society. ORIGINALITYVALUE : This paper presents accounting researchers with an opportunity to develop insightful and publishable studies. Also, it serves as a basis for developing future research agendas in the interdisciplinary accounting field.
• Concept mapping as a strategy to scaffold concept literacy in accounting for extended programmes
  While great strides have been made to improve accessibility to higher education in South Africa, successful completion of bachelor's degrees within the prescribed time remains a challenge. Research suggests that a lack of conceptual understanding by students might be at the heart of the problem. This study, which is grounded in Ausubel's Assimilation Theory as applied by Joseph Novak and his colleagues, investigates the value of concept mapping as a scaffolding technique to improve conceptual understanding. The research involved a quasi-experiment with a test and a control group. It was hypothesised that accounting students in an extended programme who had been introduced to the concept mapping technique would demonstrate an improved grasp of accounting concepts, indicated by an improvement in their marks when composing an explanatory paragraph of accounting concepts after a teaching intervention. However, the post-intervention marks of the test group showed no improvement, and therefore no proof can be offered to support the claim that concept mapping improves conceptual understanding. Pre-and post-intervention questionnaires were used to collect data on confounding variables and also to assess student experiences of concept mapping. An analysis of student experiences indicated enthusiasm for the technique. Limitations of the study included the absence of a pilot study and insufficient time to become familiar with concept mapping. An unforeseen constraint on the study was low student participation.
• Evaluating the integrated reporting journey : insights, gaps and agendas for future research
  This paper forms part of a special section “Case study insights from the implementation of integrated reporting”.
• Corporate social responsibility disclosure, dividend payments and firm value - relations and mediating effects
  DATA AVAILABILITY : Data is available upon request.
• The essence of a university and scholarly activity in accounting, with reference to a Department of Accounting at a South African university
  There is increasing academic pressure on Departments of Accounting in South Africa whose academic programmes are accredited with the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA). The reason for this that the academic training of potential chartered accountants has long been their main academic focus, and they often fail to do justice to their real academic mission of scholarly activity in accounting (the pursuit of science as an endeavour), which is central to the essence of a university. The quality of such departments’ research is not yet an important criterion for their prestige. However, only Departments of Accounting that develop Accounting as a social science in scholarly activity in accounting deserve international recognition. This empirical study attempts to convince Departments of Accounting, particularly those whose academic programmes are accredited by SAICA, to embark on scholarly activity in accounting as soon as possible.
• Accounting students in the role of equal-status team teacher for the purpose of knowledge and competency development
  DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT : The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are not publicly available due to institutional review board requirements, but the de-identified data can be shared upon request.
• Trends in South African corporate environmental reporting : a research note
  The contents of the annual reports of listed mining companies as well as of the Top 100 industrial companies in South Africa were analysed to determine how the disclosure of environmental information has changed over time. Disclosure of general environmental information increased until 1999 and then stabilised at that level. The initial increase in the disclosure of specific environmental information, such as measurable objectives and environmental performance, was followed by a decrease from 1998 onwards. A possible explanation could be that the lack of legal requirements with regard to the reporting of environmental information enables companies to decide what to report and what the extent of the reporting should be. They can therefore elect not to report specific and sometimes sensitive information, because stakeholders could perceive such information to be negative and it could therefore have a negative impact on the corporate image.
• Developing a framework for flexibility within organisations
  Recent research in Management Sciences has shown that flexibility is an essential characteristic of successful enterprises in a highly competitive and rapidly changing business environment (Kogut, 1985; Ansoff, 1988; Pasmore, 1994; Volberda, 1998). Consequently, management should not only understand flexibility but also be able to create flexible organisations and to measure and monitor flexibility. However, flexibility is a nebulous, elusive and multidimensional concept which is poorly understood and seldom managed and measured in enterprises (Gerwin, 1993; Parthasarthy & Sethi, 1993; Upton, 1994). The purpose of this article is firstly, to define the construct flexibility and secondly, to develop a conceptual framework that explains its multiple attributes in organisations. This framework is used as a basis for the measurement of flexibility. The article suggests procedures that managers can apply to develop indicators of flexibility and these indicators are used in turn, to identify current levels of flexibility, to set targets for flexibility and to monitor the progress made towards the achievement of these targets.
• Analysis of the application of budgetary control in non-profit organisations : a case study of Adra Namibia
  Non-profit organisations (NPOs) are faced with difficulties in maintaining financial stability and sustainability due to lack of funding and poor resource management. This has resulted in failure and abandonment of various projects. Thus the aims of this paper are: to assess the significance of budgetary controls in reviewing the performance of NPOs in Namibia, to examine the challenges associated with designing, implementing budgets and budgetary controls in non-profit organisations and to evaluate whether the budget is regularly monitored against actual results. A qualitative case study design was used to get an in-depth understanding of the matter. The population comprised of all employees of ADRA in Namibia from which ten participants were chosen using non-probability purposive sampling. Data was collected by means of unstructured interviews. A narrative and thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. The findings revealed that ADRA has sound financial management due to functional and clear budgetary control procedures despite the challenges faced in designing and implementing budgetary measures and scarcity of resources in the NPO sector. Furthermore, budgetary controls at ADRA have provided a roadmap which is vital in achieving strategic goals and financial stability for the organization. Hence, NPOs should consider establishing board committees that are responsible for directing and approving the budgetary processes and constantly review the financial position of the organisation. Management should draw up a comprehensive budget policy manual that outlines the budgetary framework and the control thereof.
• A systems approach to research inquiry in accounting : a research note
  Accounting research is strongly influenced by the research methodology and methods adopted in the natural sciences. As a result many researchers in Accounting have steered away from non-formal or interpretative methods. From a methodological perspective, Accounting research therefore has a narrow base (Tomkins and Groves, 1983). A solution to expanding the research base may be to search for non-formal, naturalistic research methods in disciplines related to Accounting, where they are more established. The purpose of the article is to introduce a research method, employed in Management Information Systems (Mitroff, Betz, Pondy and Sagasti, 1974) that may be of value to postgraduate students and Accounting researchers engaged in non-formal and naturalistic research. It is hoped that the exposure to this and other research models will contribute towards the broadening of the Accounting research base.
• Differences in accounting students' perceptions of their development of generic skills and emotional intelligence in a heterogeneous classroom
  Dissertation (MCom)--University of Pretoria, 2016.
• Unused STC credits : is AC 501 bullet proof?
  On 21 February 2007, the Minister of Finance announced that government proposes to phase out secondary Tax on Companies (STC) and to replace it with a new tax on dividends. It is proposed that this process will take place in two phases. The first phase will see a decrease in the rate of STC from 12.5% to 10%, with effect from 1 October 2007, and a redefinition of the base to apply to all distributions. It is proposed that phase two will commence during 2008 and that it will introduce a dividend tax at the shareholder level. The administrative enforcement of this dividend tax will be by way of a withholding tax that the company deducts from the dividend and pay over to SARS on behalf of the shareholders. It is expected that the introduction of the withholding tax should be complete by the end of 2008. The future abolishment of STC will be viewed as a relief to accountants, as the accounting treatment of STC has always been contentious. Generally speaking the accounting for a withholding tax is much easier and internationally more common. Until STC is however abandoned the accounting considerations remain relevant and in order to be in compliance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) due consideration should be given to the accounting treatment in terms of these standards.
• The influence of environmental information contained in the annual financial reports of South African listed companies on the investment decisions taken by unit trust fund managers
  As a result of the sustained increase in the environmental awareness of the community, it is to be expected that investors in unit trust will require socially responsible investment behaviour from the fund managers of their unit trusts. Little research has yet been done in this regard. This article endeavours to determine to what extent fund managers of unit trusts invest in listed companies that fulfil their environmental responsibility. A checklist and assessment scale were used to evaluate the extent to which companies fulfil their environmental obligation. This information was then used to evaluate the environmental responsibility of companies in which the fund managers invest.
• Insights from narrative disclosures regarding integrated thinking in integrated reports in South Africa and Japan
  PURPOSE : This study aims to provide insights into the poorly understood concept of integrated thinking by comparing and contrasting disclosures related to integrated thinking provided in integrated reports in two different institutional settings. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH : The study uses content analysis of the narrative sections of integrated reports to explore similarities and differences in the way the concept of integrated thinking is portrayed. It uses a matched sample of financial services companies in two different institutional settings, South Africa (where integrated reporting (IR) is mandatory and IR practices are world-leading) and Japan (where IR is voluntary and interest in IR is still developing). IR adoption is viewed through the lens of institutional theory, focussing on isomorphic forces which affect companies’ structure, policies and practices. FINDINGS : Even though the conceptualisation of integrated thinking differs between South Africa and Japan, in both settings there is a strong association between integrated thinking disclosures and corporate governance practices, materiality assessments and the pursuit of an industry leadership position, suggesting a link between these concepts and the underlying level of integrated thinking. Japanese disclosures appear to mimic South African disclosures, highlighting South Africa’s leading role in IR, although Japan shows more varied interpretations of integrated thinking. ORIGINALITY/VALUE : This study contributes to the growing body of literature on the poorly understood concept of integrated thinking, responding to calls from both academics and practitioners for more research in this area. It shows the potential for integrated thinking to develop through a process of mimicry and highlights South Africa’s leading role in the dissemination of best practice in the field. Its findings relating to the fluid conceptualisation of integrated thinking in different institutional settings will be of interest to regulators and practitioners. To the knowledge this is one of the first studies to consider disclosures relating to integrated thinking in the financial services sector. Focussing on the financial services sector, with its unique features and regulatory frameworks, allows for deeper analysis, free from the potential distortions inherent in studying a broader cross-section of industries. The study also highlights the importance of corporate governance to integrated thinking, suggesting future research avenues.
• Tax preferences, dividends and lobbying for maximum value
  BACKGROUND : The value of equity investments depends to some extent on the tax consequences for investors. When groups of investors have different tax preferences, this can lead to conflicting pressures on firms to either retain earnings or pay dividends. The findings of this study will be of interest to researchers of taxation and corporate governance alike, as they highlight the role that corporate shareholders play in the decisions of the firm. Investors and regulators will also be interested in the findings as they reveal more about the interaction between shareholders with conflicting interests. Lastly, changes in behaviour as a result of changes in tax legislation are of interest to those with fiscal responsibility. SETTING : A 2012 dividend tax change in South Africa, which simultaneously altered the tax preferences of individual and corporate investors, provides a unique opportunity to investigate firms’ reaction to their investors’ tax preferences. AIM : This article seeks to determine whether firms respond to changes in their investors’ tax preferences in their decisions to either retain earnings or pay dividends. METHOD : The article investigates the responses of firms to the 2012 dividend tax change using multivariate regressions. RESULTS : Findings show that firms consider changes in the tax preferences of their investors in setting dividend policies. In addition, it appears that corporates have greater success in lobbying for beneficial dividend changes than individuals. CONCLUSION : Changes in investors’ tax preferences impact on firms’ dividend policy decisions. These decisions ultimately affect the value of the firm to its investors.
• Teachers and perceptions
  A questionnaire was circulated in 2007 to the career-guidance counselors or, in their absence, mathematics teachers, teaching at the 200 primary feeder schools of the University of Pretoria to determine their perception of the accounting profession in comparison to the engineering, legal and medical professions. The South African secondary school teachers generally held the accounting profession in lower esteem than the engineering and medical professions, but in higher esteem than the legal profession.
• Substance and form adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards and financial statement comparability : evidence from South Africa
  We investigate whether the comparability of financial statements changes after a switch from International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in substance (i.e., content of IFRS) to IFRS in both substance and form (i.e., IFRS as issued by the IASB). While the substance of the accounting standards remains the same, form is added to the adoption in that it is now formally referred to as “IFRS as issued by the IASB.” We use data from South Africa, a country whose local generally accepted accounting practices (GAAP) was the same, word-for-word, as IFRS prior to the adoption of IFRS as issued by the IASB in 2005. We compare South African firms with firms in other countries, divided into two groups: mandatory IFRS adopters and non-adopters. We find evidence of increased comparability of financial statements of South African firms with both adopters and non-adopters. Furthermore, we find a global increase in the comparability of firms’ financial statements, consistent with market changes unrelated to IFRS adoption. However, an incremental increase in the comparability of financial statements of South African firms with the adoption of IFRS relative to non-adopting firms is consistent with benefits from South Africa’s addition of form to its existing in-substance adoption of IFRS. This increased comparability is also consistent with the benefits observed in the accounting amounts of firms from other adopting countries becoming more comparable with those of South African firms.
• Five recent developments’ impact on the traditional academic culture of Departments of Accounting at South African universities
  The fact that Departments of Accounting at South African universities, whose academic programmes are accredited by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA), have for many years focused primarily only on the academic training of prospective chartered accountants, has established a culture that is removed from research, and this is in contrast to the nature of a university. The aim of this paper is to evaluate some recent developments in the South African academic environment that may promote a research culture and to point out the coercive role these developments may play in changing the existing culture of a Department of Accounting. The study concludes that in view of a list of specific recent developments in the national academic environment, Departments of Accounting will be forced to change course toward becoming more research oriented. A number of recommendations are made to expedite the process.
• Financial flexibility and the assessment of future cash flows
  Information on financial flexibility is important to consider when projecting the cash flows of an enterprise. The level of financial flexibility can influence inter alia the risk profile, solvency and rate of return of an enterprise. At present, a gap exists between the informational needs of users and the actual information on financial flexibility presented in the financial statements. This paper suggests several improvements to the existing disclosure of this type of information.
• The timing of the recognition of a liability for secondary tax on companies in accordance with international financial reporting standards
  United States Generally Accepted Accounting Practice ("US GAAP") generally requires taxes to be measured at the rate applicable to distributed profits, while International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") requires the undistributed rate to be used. This current conflict between US GAAP and IFRS has particular relevance in South Africa, which has a dual tax' system as a result of Secondary Tax on Companies ("STC") being levied when a company distributes its profits. Currently, under US GAAP, South African companies would be required to raise a liability for the tax that would become payable' on the future distribution of profits, while under IFRS, this is only recognised when the profits are distributed. The objective of the study is, therefore, to consider the timing of the recognition of a liability for STC. The literature study has indicated strong arguments for both the recognition of a inability for STC prior to the declaration of a dividend and the non-recognition of a liability for STC prior to the dec1aration of a dividend. The empirical study, however, concluded that the recognition of ability prior to the declaration of a dividend is not appropriate, as a majority of the respondents believe that no "past event" has occurred and therefore the definition of a liability in terms of the IASB Framework is not satisfied. The results of the empirical study, however, also indicate that if the "past event” hurdle could be overcome, uncertainty exists as to whether the recognition of a liability for STC prior to the declaration is appropriate. This is as a result of mixed opinions among the respondents as to whether the "probability" and "measurability" criteria, in terms of the IASB Framework, could be satisfied prior to the declaration of a dividend.
• The influence of integrated reporting and stakeholder information needs on the disclosure of social information in a state-owned enterprise
  PURPOSE : The purpose of this study is to examine how social disclosures are influenced by the adoption of integrated reporting (IR), focusing on the three social capitals in the international IR framework, namely, intellectual, human and social and relationship capital. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH : This study takes the form of a single case study involving content analyses of annual reports and integrated reports from 2009 to 2017 (i.e. before and after IR adoption in 2013), as well as in-depth, semi-structured interviews with key preparers of the integrated report at New Zealand Post, to study changes in disclosures towards different stakeholder groups, from an internal organisation perspective. The empirical evidence is analysed through the lens of stakeholder theory. FINDINGS : This study provides empirical evidence that contributes to our understanding of IR’s influence on the disclosure of social information and enhanced stakeholder relations in a public sector context. The study shows that the IR framework promoted a materiality assessment approach with stakeholders, which led to a reduction in social disclosures, while the materiality focus led to the disclosure of social matters more relevant to stakeholders. SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS : IR led to meaningful stakeholder engagement, which led to social disclosure that are more relevant to stakeholders. ORIGINALITY/VALUE : This study assesses the influence of IR on social disclosures. The findings will be of interest to organisations seeking to enhance stakeholder relations and/or undertake IR and/or social disclosures.
• Are boards' risk management committees associated with firms’ environmental performance?
  We examine the relationship between board of director committees tasked with risk management and environmental performance, based on a sample of 1466 firm-year observations from 2007 to 2015. We find that the presence of board committees dedicated only to risk management is associated with better environmental performance. The human capital of risk committees (measured by board tenure, committee tenure, experience, and qualifications) is also positively related to environmental performance. Our findings suggest that the benefits of risk management committees extend to non-financial matters, such as environmental performance. Our findings further suggest that environmental performance is now managed through the regular governance mechanisms within firms. This supports the notion that environmental performance is managed for economic reasons and for the benefit of investors, rather than for the aggrandisement of individual managers. Our findings should be of interest to boards, CEOs, and CFOs who are interested in risk management, as well as to investors, lenders, and auditors who are interested in assessing risk.
• A critical reflection on the future of financial, intellectual capital, sustainability and integrated reporting
  This paper examines the future of IC reporting by offering critical reflection on different forms of reporting, with a particular focus on Integrated Reporting (<IR>). While, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) framework for corporate social responsibility disclosures, the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC), and the various financial reporting regulators appear to be in a contest for supremacy, what does this mean for IC? We examine how IC is reported under each of these frameworks and conclude that <IR> is unlikely to subsume traditional financial statement reporting, nor will it be able to provide all the information currently reported in GRI-type reports. The interplay of these reporting frameworks and their future development bodes well for IC, because different kinds of IC information will be reported under each of <IR>, GRI-type reports and in financial statements; that is IC does not compete with these forms of reporting forms, but forms an essential part of each.
• Deferred tax and long-term insurers
  Focuses on the new AC 102 on Income Taxes, which was issued in March 1999. Discusses several new issues regarding the provision of deferred tax that arose for enterprises in general and for long-term insurers in particular.