Ethics And Accounting Practice In Nigeria

Project and Seminar Material for Accountancy / Accounting

Abstract

The broad objective of the study is to examine the impact of ethics on accounting practice in Nigeria. The specific objectives was to examine if ethics improves accounting practices, if corporate governance improves compliance with ethical standards and if accounting regulatory bodies affects ethical standards. The survey research design was used for the study with an extensive reliance on primary data. The populations of the study consist of accountants, auditors and management of selected companies. A sample of 147 respondents was utilized for the study. The likert scale questionnaire was used as the research instrument and chi-square parametric was utilized as the data analysis method. The findings indicate that firstly, ethics play a significant role in accounting practice. Secondly corporate governance improves ethical compliance of accounting professionals and thirdly, accounting regulatory bodies influences the level of compliance with ethical standards. The recommendation is that there is a need for ethical standards in accounting practice to extend beyond mere documentation and articulation to effective enforcement of these standards and the concerted efforts by all stakeholders ranging from the accounting professionals, top management of companies, regulatory bodies, government and indeed all users of accounting services is essential in ensuring the sustenance of the campaign for ethicality in accounting practice.

Chapter One

Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

In recent times, studies such as (Armstrong, 2008 and Leuz & Barth 2008) have all cited evidence of the clamor for improvements in financial reporting and credibility of financial statements. Fundamentally, the agitation tends to favour migration of local accounting standards to achieve convergence with international standards. This is based largely on expectations that international standards would lead to higher disclosure levels, credibility and improvement in the informativeness of financial reports (Miller and Bradshaw, 2008). However, Ball (2005) opines that standardization of accounting rules is just one of the elements of the on-going requirements which will tend towards accounting professionalism and improvement in reporting standards. Consequently, the roles of ethics in accounting practice have received considerable attention from several studies (Ryan, 2005). This is against the backdrop that cases of corporate failure have been attributed amongst other factors to unethical practices of accounting professionals (Sanusi, 2010; Ryan, 2005). This implies that the functions of the accounting professional as it relates to the accuracy and correctness of accounting records amongst others, is pertinent to the sustainability of the entity.

Furthermore, the importance of maintaining proper accounting records is reflected in the likelihood that the some error and inaccuracies in the accounting records may influence the financial statements. Consequently, this has implications beyond the sphere of the reporting entity to the multiplicity of users of accounting information. According to Hale (2005) following major corporate failures and questionable accounting practices at the beginning of the 21st century, the reputation and ethical values of the accounting profession was tarnished, thus affecting considerably the value relevance of accounting estimates reported in financial statements. Studies such as Tigos and Keefe (2004) have also recognized the role of ethics and ethical issues in accounting practice and corporate failure.

Ethics as a concept is replete with different definitions since the concept is often viewed from different perspective.

According Hanekom (1984) the question of ethics is one that is linked with the history of mankind. Ethics deals with the character and conduct and morals of human beings. It deals with good or bad, right or wrong behaviour; it evaluates conduct against some absolute criteria and puts negative or positive values on it. Conversely, Miner (2002) defined ethics as right or wrong actions that stems from the value and expectation of society. Furthermore, Mintz and Morris (2007) notes that ethics are acceptable standards of behaviour that define how people ought to act (i.e. prescriptive) not how people really act (i.e. descriptive). Consequently, a code of ethics outlines a set of fundamental principles. These principles can be used both as the basis for operational requirements (things one must do) and operational prohibitions (things one must not do). It is founded on a set of core principles or values. Those subject to the code are expected to understand, internalize, and apply the examples in situations the code does not specifically address.

The effect of ethics and ethical issues on accounting practice cuts across developed and developing economies. In Nigeria, according to Sanusi (2010) fundamental to the issues of corporate failure witnessed in the banking system was the unethical practices of the corporate structure of these institutions of which the accounting system framework is not exclusive. Consequently, this study attempts to present an overview of the issues and implications of ethics vis-à-vis the accounting practice in Nigeria.

1.2 Statement of the Research Problem.

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act was passed in 2002 to correct amongst other things ethical issues in corporate governance and strengthen accounting practice by promoting transparent financial reporting, discouraging earning manipulation, fraud and falsification of accounting records. Though passed in the united states of American, the contents and issues addressed in the act are either presently existing challenges or foreseeable challenges for developing countries like Nigeria. According to Egwuonwu (2007), there is a long list of corporate casualties across international and national divides on account of variance from ethical standards. In Nigeria alone 54 banks have either failed or forced to close shop between 1994 and 2005. Then there were the cases of the then Lever Brothers Nigeria Plc and Cadbury Nigeria Plc who overstated their earnings through the cooking of accounts. However, when we ask the question “who are behind these figures”, we are ultimately exploring to reveal the behavioral quality of the Accountants and their management collaborators who have authored and endorsed the accounts or financial statements presented to the organization. No such financial statements can be reliable if the behavioral accountability of those behind them is not reliable. However, there are few studies in Nigeria that have evaluated the issue of ethics and its implications on the accounting practice in Nigeria. This has created a gap in the stock of knowledge and hence the need and relevance of a study of this nature using Lagos State as our case study.

1.3 Research Objective

The main objective of this study is to examine the impact of ethics on accounting practices in Nigeria. The specific objectives are to:

Overview ethics on accounting practices in Nigeria.
Investigate the degree of adoption of accounting ethics by professional accountants in Nigeria.
Evaluate if Ethics plays a significant role in accounting practice.

1.5 Research Hypothesis

The following hypothesis was formulated for this study;

Hypothesis one

Ho: There is a low degree of adoption of accounting ethics by professional accountants in Nigeria.
Hi: There is a high degree of adoption of accounting ethics by professional accountants in Nigeria.

Hypothesis Two

Ho: Ethics plays a significant role in accounting practice.
Hi: Ethics do not play a significant role in accounting practice.

1.5 Significance of the Study

It is expected that this study would consolidate existing literature on the issues around ethics and the accounting profession. Furthermore, the outcome of this study would aid policy makers and regulatory bodies in the formulation of policies to enhance the accounting profession. More so, it is expected that this study would provide the required theoretical framework needed to revitalize the accounting curriculum of undergraduates t incorporate the consideration of more ethical issues. Finally, it is also expected that the results of this study would provide motivation for further studies.

1.7 Scope and Limitations of the Study

This study Ethics and the accounting profession is restricted to the Nigerian environment. Consequently, it is based on respondents, consisting of professional accountants, top management staffs and users of accounting information. Questionnaires would be used to generate the required information needed to test the hypotheses formulated.

However, in the course of this research, the following constraints were encountered thus:

1. Non-Availability of Enough Resources (Finance):

A work of this nature is very tasking financially, money had to be spent at various stages of the research such resources which may aid proper carrying out of the study were not adequately available.

2. Time Factor:

The time used in carrying out the research work is relatively not enough to bring the best information out of it. However, I hope that the little that is contained in this study will go a long way in solving many greater problems.

1.9 Definition of Terms

Accounting Ethics:

This is a body of good conscience which accounting professional bodies promote.

1.8 Organization of the Study

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows;

Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), historical background, statement of problem, objectives of the study, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, definition of terms and historical background of the study.
Chapter two highlights the theoretical framework on which the study is based, thus the review of related literature.
Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study.
Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.
Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study.

Chapter Five

Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation

5.1 Introduction

It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to examine the impact of accounting ethics on accounting practice in Nigeria.

In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations are made, which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefit in addressing the challenges of accounting ethics on accounting practice in Nigeria.

5.2 Summary

This study aimed at having a critical analysis of impact of accounting ethics on accounting practice in Nigeria. The study opened with chapter one where the statement of the problem was clearly defined. The study objectives and research hypotheses were defined and formulated respectively. The study reviewed related and relevant literatures. The chapter two gave the conceptual framework, empirical and theoretical studies. The third chapter described the methodology employed by the researcher in collecting both the primary and the secondary data. The research method employed here is the descriptive survey method. The study analyzed and presented the data collected in tables and the hypotheses were tested using the Chi square while the fifth chapter gives the study summary and conclusion.

5.3 Conclusion and Recommendations

The outcome of the study has clearly shown that there is a low degree of adoption of accounting ethics by professional accountants in Nigeria and Ethics plays a significant role in accounting practice.

The recommendation is that there is a need for ethical standards in accounting practice to extend beyond mere documentation and articulation to effective enforcement of these standards and the concerted efforts by all stakeholders ranging from the accounting professionals, top management of companies, regulatory bodies, government and indeed all users of accounting services is essential in ensuring the sustenance of the campaign for ethicality in accounting practice.

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