Evaluating the Procedures of Detecting Creative Accounting Techniques in Syrian Shareholding Companies by the External Auditor: A Field Study


Abstract in English

The main objective of this research is to identify the reality of implementing creative accounting techniques in Syrian shareholding companies, and evaluating the procedures of detecting them by the external auditor. To achieve this objective, a field study is conducted by using a questionnaire to collect data from auditors accredited by the Finance Ministry and authorized to audit shareholding companies. The questionnaire is distributed to 300 out of 493 auditors. 125 copies are returned, and 115 of them are suitable for analysis. This study concludes that Syrian shareholding companies implement techniques of creative accounting with varying rates. compared to other techniques, Off-Balance Sheet Financing technique is ranked first in implementation. This research also shows that the external auditor does pay enough attention to implementing the procedures of detecting creative accounting in Syrian shareholding companies.

References used

Amat. O., and Gowthorpe, C.-Creative Accounting: Nature, Incidence and Ethical Issue- Journal of Economic Literature classification, M41, 2005, p 1-21
Griffiths, I.- Creative Accounting- 4th ed, Sedgwick and Jackson, London, 1980,p.30
Jamal, K., and Tan, Hung-Tong- Joint Effects of Principle Based Versus Rule-Based Standard and Auditor Type in Constraining Financial Managers Aggressive Reporting", The Accounting Review, Vol. 85, No. 4. 2010, pp.1325-1346

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