Corporate Transparency in the Asia Pacific Region: Factors Explaining Differences in Financial Disclosure Levels. The adequacy of corporate transparency, as evidenced by relevant disclosures and accounting measurement policies, is of concern to investors and regulators worldwide but notably in respect of companies located in the Asia Pacific region following the Asian financial crisis. The aim of this project is to assess financial disclosure levels in major countries in the region against reco ....Corporate Transparency in the Asia Pacific Region: Factors Explaining Differences in Financial Disclosure Levels. The adequacy of corporate transparency, as evidenced by relevant disclosures and accounting measurement policies, is of concern to investors and regulators worldwide but notably in respect of companies located in the Asia Pacific region following the Asian financial crisis. The aim of this project is to assess financial disclosure levels in major countries in the region against recognised benchmarks especially International Accounting Standards and to evaluate the significance of factors associated with differences in disclosure levels. The results of this study will provide valuable insights for Australian standard setters as well as the IASB, IOSCO and the World Bank.Read moreRead less
Global convergence to International Financial Reporting Standards : factors explaining compliance with and impact of changing standards. The major benefit of this research is that it assesses the extent to which Australia's epoch-making switch to International Financial Reporting Standards in 2005 has been successful in practice relative to similar developments in the EU and elsewhere. Further, the research measures the actual quantitative impact of the change in accounting standards to assess w ....Global convergence to International Financial Reporting Standards : factors explaining compliance with and impact of changing standards. The major benefit of this research is that it assesses the extent to which Australia's epoch-making switch to International Financial Reporting Standards in 2005 has been successful in practice relative to similar developments in the EU and elsewhere. Further, the research measures the actual quantitative impact of the change in accounting standards to assess whether or not the change has been significant from the standpoint of making international comparisons of Australian corporate performance. Thus important evidence is provided about the outcomes of Australia's global convergence initiative, how we compare with our major trading partners, and the key change factors involved.Read moreRead less
Consistency of going concern audit report modifications over time, audit firms and countries. This research has both national and international benefits. Evidence of the consistency of the going concern audit reporting decision over time and by audit firms in Australia is important to financial report users. Further, an examination of audit reporting behaviour across countries contributes to international convergence. Without consistent application, the benefits of convergence decrease and trans ....Consistency of going concern audit report modifications over time, audit firms and countries. This research has both national and international benefits. Evidence of the consistency of the going concern audit reporting decision over time and by audit firms in Australia is important to financial report users. Further, an examination of audit reporting behaviour across countries contributes to international convergence. Without consistent application, the benefits of convergence decrease and transactions costs and information risk increase. Australia has a policy of international convergence and it is important that Australian representatives have input into the standard-setting process and policy and research supporting these standards both nationally and internationally. The research team can have this input.Read moreRead less
InformationTechnology (IT) Audit Methodologies in the Australian Public Sector: Addressing Mandatory Requirements of International Standards. The primary benefit occurs in relation to National Research Priority 3: Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries, notably Priority Goal 'Smart Information Use', as it will enable more sophisticated and accurate assessments of current IT audit methodologies. In turn, these improvements will enable more effective IT audits by ....InformationTechnology (IT) Audit Methodologies in the Australian Public Sector: Addressing Mandatory Requirements of International Standards. The primary benefit occurs in relation to National Research Priority 3: Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries, notably Priority Goal 'Smart Information Use', as it will enable more sophisticated and accurate assessments of current IT audit methodologies. In turn, these improvements will enable more effective IT audits by government audit offices in Australia, bringing reduced risk and increased efficiency to organisations subject to audit, as well as increasing conformance with the new accounting and auditing standards. Furthermore, all Australian citizens, (the indirect clients of public sector audit services), will benefit from well-managed program-delivery systems.Read moreRead less
Evaluating regulatory initiatives directed at audit firms to improve audit quality. This project will provide evidence as to whether recent regulatory initiatives are improving the quality of audits and provide a comparison of benefits associated with audit firm inspections under differing regulatory schemes. It will inform discussion as to whether these initiatives overcome identified problems in audit quality of listed companies.
Do Converged International Auditing Standards Result in Converged International Auditor Behaviour? This research has both national and international benefits. International convergence of standards is beneficial as it reduces costs incurred in understanding and evaluating variations in national auditing standards. However, if auditor behaviour does not converge under converged standards, such benefits are reduced, and costs and information risk are increased. Australia has a policy of internatio ....Do Converged International Auditing Standards Result in Converged International Auditor Behaviour? This research has both national and international benefits. International convergence of standards is beneficial as it reduces costs incurred in understanding and evaluating variations in national auditing standards. However, if auditor behaviour does not converge under converged standards, such benefits are reduced, and costs and information risk are increased. Australia has a policy of international convergence by 2005, and it is important that Australian representatives have input into the standard-setting process, and policy and research supporting these standards. Simnett, being the academic on the international standard-setting body, is in a unique position to directly provide this input, and improve the quality of these standards. Read moreRead less
Improving the Credibility of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Disclosures. There is increasing demand for disclosures about greenhouse gas emissions around the world, and a desire to improve their credibility. This study will provide insights into the types of reporting and assurance that can be provided. In addition, it will examine the extent to which users are influenced by the greenhouse gas disclosures and assurance provided. As such, this research will provide an important knowledge base in determ ....Improving the Credibility of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Disclosures. There is increasing demand for disclosures about greenhouse gas emissions around the world, and a desire to improve their credibility. This study will provide insights into the types of reporting and assurance that can be provided. In addition, it will examine the extent to which users are influenced by the greenhouse gas disclosures and assurance provided. As such, this research will provide an important knowledge base in determining the appropriate focus of future reporting and assurance in this area. It is expected that this research will inform the development of an international and Australian assurance standard on greenhouse gas emissions.Read moreRead less
GST and the global economy: identifying the underlying causes of consumption tax conflicts affecting cross-border trade. This project will provide an independent analysis of the desirability of particular types of destination based jurisdictional rule in a GST/VAT in light of their effects on global trade and revenue collection. Focussing on basic principles, the project will assess the relationship between the ideal subject of the tax (consumption) and the practical effects of existing laws (wh ....GST and the global economy: identifying the underlying causes of consumption tax conflicts affecting cross-border trade. This project will provide an independent analysis of the desirability of particular types of destination based jurisdictional rule in a GST/VAT in light of their effects on global trade and revenue collection. Focussing on basic principles, the project will assess the relationship between the ideal subject of the tax (consumption) and the practical effects of existing laws (which tax their own peculiar concept of consumption). The inclusion of comparative research on developing and transition countries will enable Australia to assess the outcomes of the concurrent OECD and EC work in this area from a broader perspective and to evaluate the effects of its own laws on both global trade and the revenue of Australia and its trading partners.Read moreRead less
Strategic Resource Management in the Twenty-First Century: an Australian Perspective. Strategic resource management (SRM) is evolving rapidly due to the information revolution. Much is claimed for 'good' SRM but there is little hard evidence to support these claims. This project will develop theoretical frameworks to codify the multi-disciplinary nature of SRM, empirically gather data on SRM practices by questionnaire and interview surveys, benchmark firms and identify exemplars of best practi ....Strategic Resource Management in the Twenty-First Century: an Australian Perspective. Strategic resource management (SRM) is evolving rapidly due to the information revolution. Much is claimed for 'good' SRM but there is little hard evidence to support these claims. This project will develop theoretical frameworks to codify the multi-disciplinary nature of SRM, empirically gather data on SRM practices by questionnaire and interview surveys, benchmark firms and identify exemplars of best practice. The results of the research will be published annually in a monograph for dissemination to Australian senior management. Significant findings will be published in academic journals.Read moreRead less
Extended reporting and assurance for not-for-profit organisations. This project aims to improve the relevance and reliability of extended reporting now being required of not-for-profit organisations (NFPOs). Society is increasingly demanding that NFPOs disclose additional information beyond financial information, as evidenced by the service performance reporting and integrated reporting initiatives. These reporting initiatives better align the reporting with the mission of NFPOs: to achieve outc ....Extended reporting and assurance for not-for-profit organisations. This project aims to improve the relevance and reliability of extended reporting now being required of not-for-profit organisations (NFPOs). Society is increasingly demanding that NFPOs disclose additional information beyond financial information, as evidenced by the service performance reporting and integrated reporting initiatives. These reporting initiatives better align the reporting with the mission of NFPOs: to achieve outcomes that are beyond financial returns. This project aims to evaluate and to aid the development and implementation of these extended reporting responsibilities and mechanisms that increase the quality and credibility of the information. This would improve the relevance of the information produced by NFPOs and increase confidence in extended reporting.Read moreRead less