Managerial Ability and Financial Reporting Timeliness

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Associate Prof.faculty management, university tehran, tehran, iran.

2 Accounting, Faculty of Management University of Tehran, iran

3 MSc. Student Accounting, Faculty of Managment, Tehran University, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Journal of Accounting Advances, (2020) 12(1): 323-351
DOI: 10.22099/JAA.2020.34280.1894
  Journal of Accounting Advances (JAA)
Journal homepage: www.jaa.shirazu.ac.ir/?lang=en
Managerial Ability andFinancial Reporting Timeliness

ABSTRACT
Received: 2019-7-13
Accepted: 2020-5-11
  The timely presentation of financial information in annual reporting as an information advantage has always been the focus of investors. This feature, under the influence of management ability, can directly overshadow the effectiveness of external information disclosure. In this regard, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of management ability on the timeliness of financial reporting. For this purpose, the data of 127 companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange during the 10-year period of 2008-2018 were used. Measurement of managers' ability has been done with Demerjian et al.'s (2013) model and data envelopment analysis (DEA) method. The results of the hypothesis test showed that capable managers have a passive effect on the delay in announcing profits and audit reports, and as a result, the disclosure of financial information in a more timely manner. Overall, the results show that increasing the ability of managers has a positive effect on the timeliness of financial reporting and by publishing timely financial information news, leads to a reduction in information asymmetry between the company and investors.

1- Introduction
       The timeliness provision of financial information in annual reporting as an information advantage has always been the focal point of investors. This feature, under the influence of managerial ability, can directly affect the effectiveness of disclosure of external information. In this regard, the present study aims to investigate the effect of management's ability in timeliness in financial reporting.
 
2- Research Question or Hypothesis
       In accordance with the disclosure guidelines of companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange for requiring companies to submit financial statements for up to 4 months after the end of the financial year, the timing of the financial statements is a management decision that can be made at any time between the end of the fiscal year and the above-mentioned legal requirement. With regard to what was stated, this research seeks to answer the question of whether empowered managers can influence the timing of financial reports? In other words, can senior executives report financial reports closer to the end of the financial year than other peers?
 
3- Methods
       For this purpose, the data of 127 companies listed in Tehran Stock Exchange were used during the 10-year period of 2008-2018. Measuring the ability of managers was done with the  Demerjian et al. (2013) model and data coverage analysis (DEA) was performed.
 
4- Results                   
       The results of the hypothesis test showed that empowered managers have a passive effect on the Lag of the Earnings announcement and audit reports and, as a result, reveal more Timeliness financial information. Overall, the results show that increasing managers' ability to have a positive impact on the timeliness of financial reporting, and timely publication of financial information results in a reduction of information asymmetry between the company and investors.
 
5- Discussion and Conclusion
       The results show that there is a positive and significant relationship between managers' ability and timeliness of financial reporting. This means that empowered executives are able to provide timely financial reporting by reducing the time interval between 12/29 and the date of Earnings announcement and audit reports and help reduce information asymmetry through timely publication of financial information news. It should also be noted that the results of the stability test in Fig. 5 strongly support the early findings of the research hypothesis and strengthen the stability of the results and analyses obtained from the hypothesis test.
  Keywords: Audit Report Lag, Earnings Announcement Lag, Financial Reporting Timeliness, Managerial Ability.

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Journal of Accounting Advances
Volume 12, Issue 1 - Serial Number 80
December 2020
Pages 323-351

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History

  • Receive Date: 13 July 2019
  • Revise Date: 18 April 2020
  • Accept Date: 11 May 2020

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