No abstract

Purpose: Kosovo's legal framework requires from businesses to implement IFRS when preparing financial statements. Based on this, the study aims to reflect the current situation regarding the recognition of IFRS by the accountants and the level of their implementation when preparing the financial statements, their attitudes and opinions regarding the effect they have on the quality and relevance of financial reporting for business directors and for all users of accounting information. Design and Methodology: The study was carried out with data collected from 264 businesses with turnover of over 1 million € selected as a research sample and processed through descriptive statistics and the quantitative analytical method. The design of the study involves two essential steps. The first step was a secondary data survey whose purpose was to research and analyze the framework of financial reporting of businesses. Meanwhile, the second step is the primary research conducted through questionnaires filled out in businesses and addressed to accountants (one employee in each business, a total of 264 accountants interviewed). Findings: The research results showed Kosovo's economic reality as far as financial reporting is concerned, which implies that businesses prepare accounting information according to the IFRS and publish it through publicly available financial statements under the regulatory requirements for accounting, financial reporting and auditing. In addition, the study highlights the level of awareness of accountants that the IFRS affect the quality and relevance of accounting information that will be used by third parties for economic decisionmaking. Practical Implications: Recognition of IFRS by accountants and their full implementation provides a qualitative and transparent financial information, useful to all users of that information, as well as to business executives. Unification of accounting language exceeds group interests by penetrating the capital market in and out of the country. The Significance of The Study: This study presents a clear picture of the level of implementation of IFRS in Kosovo and the identification of factors affecting this level. In this respect, the study has raised the importance of enforcing standards by professionals, contributing to the improvement of financial reporting.

This study analyses the impact of credit risk management on financial performance of commercial banks in Kosovo, and comparing the relationship between the determinants of credit risk management and financial performance by using CAMEL indicators. Panel data of 85 observations from 2008 to 2012 of ten commercial banks was analysed using multiple regression model. Findings through multiple regression analysis are presented in forms of tables and regression equations. The study also elaborates whether capital adequacy, asset quality, management efficiency, earnings and liquidity have strong or weak relationship with financial performance of commercial banks. The study concludes that CAMEL model can be used as a system of assessment and rating of credit risk management by commercial banks in Kosovo.

Companies that transact in different currencies

This paper investigate whether compliance with the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) Sect. 302 (financial reporting) and 404 (internal controls) enhances financial reporting quality (FRQ). This study focuses on EU publicly traded companies that are cross-listed in the US markets. Using a novel approach with respect to operationalization of the SOX, the empirical research integrated into this paper advances the understanding of financial reporting quality for both practitioners and policymakers. The study argues that financial reporting quality increased after SOX entered into force but, notably, we find that FRQ improves with compliance with SOX302 but not with SOX404. Examination of the latter relationship at the subsection level also reveals that compliance with certain SOX requirements is not satisfactory. We find that three out of six subsections of SOX302 are directly associated with financial reporting, while subsections (1), (5) and (6) of SOX302 are not related with FRQ, indicating that the management team, albeit not entirely, provides a reliable financial reporting systems. We also find that compliance with some SOX404’s subsections has been relatively low (i.e. subsections (1) and (3) of SOX404)), suggesting that corporations have not established and are not maintaining suitable internal control systems over financial reporting.