فصلنامه مطالعات تجربی حسابداری مالی
پیاپی 79 (پاییز 1402)

Dividend policy is one of the most important topics in financial literature. CEOs with a high level of authority are motivated to use dividends payout as a strategy to build a reputation in capital markets, aiming to obtain external financing on favorable terms. However, the expected net value of such a reputation depends on the likelihood of external financing, which is associated with low profitability and high volatility of cash flows. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effect of CEO authority on the dividends payout probability in the conditions of low profitability and high volatility of cash flow. In doing so, 128 companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange were examined from 2014 to 2021. The results show that the CEO authority has a negative and significant effect on the payment and increase of dividends. Furthermore, low profitability and high volatility of cash flow increase the negative effect of the CEO's authority on the increase of dividends. However, this factor does not have a significant moderating effect on the relationship between CEO authority and dividends payout. Additionally, financial limitations do not have a significant moderating effect on the relationship between CEO authority and payment and increase of dividends.

In this study, by using the Fuzzy Delphi research methodology and getting the expert opinions, it was tried to identify indicators for improving audit quality approved by experts in order to design a suitable model for the Economy of IRAN by utilizing a confirmatory factor analysis model. Also in this research, the gap between current and desired situation of audit quality indicators in IRAN is investigated. Finally, the dimensions of audit quality are ranked in terms of importance. For this purpose, following the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board, 60 indicators were identified. These indicators were classified in five dimensions: a. Input factors with 21 indicators; B. Process factors with 10 indicators; C. Output factors with 9 indicators; D. Key interactions with 10 indicators; and E. Contextual factors by 10 indicators. Data were analyzed by utilizing R, Amos and Super Decisions software. The findings indicate that 54 indicators have been adopted, which provide a model for improving the Audit Quality. Also the results of comparing the current and desired situation of audit quality improvement indicators shows a significant difference between the current situation of the audit quality and the desired environment in Iran. Finally, the results of ranking the dimensions affecting the improvement of audit quality Shows that process factors are in the first place of importance from the point of view of experts, input factors are in the second place, main interactions and contextual factors are both in the third place and output factors are in the fourth place.

This study aims to investigate how a change in the accounting method of calculating bank loan loss provisions affects financial reporting quality of banks. In doing so, the current theoretical literature on the topic of the research has been described and the conflicting arguments in the previous research have been expressed. Subsequently, using the transfer matrix method, loan loss reserves have been calculated for a sample of 17 banks, assuming that the method approved by international accounting standards (expected credit loss model) has been applied. Then, the research variables’ data, spanning from 2017 to 2021, was collected and analyzed under two assumptions: employing the current method and using the expected credit loss model. Then, the research hypothesis was tested using the least squares method. The results of the research show that the relationship between the change in the reporting system and discretionary accruals as an indicator of the financial reporting quality is negative and significant. Therefore, a change in the current accounting methods used for the calculation of loan loss reserves causes reduction in discretionary accruals and improvement of financial reporting quality. On the other hand, the results of this research show that large banks are more interested in using discretionary accruals and applying profit management than small banks, which can be caused by the "political costs theory".

This study examines the effect of firms’ chief executive officers’ overconfidence on their firms’ profitability and the predictability of this profitability. The study tests hypotheses regarding the significant positive impact of chief executive officers' overconfidence on profitability and its predictability. This is accomplished using the Generalized Method of Moments regression analyses on data from 257 CEOs of firms listed on the Tehran Securities Exchange over a sixteen-year period. The initial results indicate positive impacts of overconfidence on firms’ profitability and the predictability of future profitability. The robustness of the findings was tested by altering the profitability measures from return on assets (ROA) and return on equity (ROE) to Tobin's Q, as well as by changing the proxy for managerial overconfidence. These checks emphasize the role of overconfidence in the examined context. These findings support the positive roles of employing overconfident managers in the firms. By contributing to the limited body of literature on the positive effects of managers’ overconfidence, the findings can be used by investors, analysts, and other users of the results to consider overconfidence in their analyses of profitability and its predictability.

The aim of the current research is to Identification of non-fragile variables affecting quality of tax audits, considering the environmental characteristics, conditions governing taxpayers and tax auditors. The present applied research was carried out in a period of 2012-2021 and using the data of 511 tax files of Mazandaran province. In order to present the model, first, through interviews with experts and a review of research literature, 64 factors affecting the quality of tax audits were identified in the form of three groups of characteristics of taxpayers, tax auditors and macro factors, then the relevant data were entered into BMA, TVP- DMA and TVP-DMS models. Based on the error rate, the BMA model had the highest accuracy. After estimating the model, 17 main indicators in tax auditors(the tax audits quality of past period, work experience, individual or group handling, auditor expertise, auditors' use of information, auditor's workload, conducting audits in several tax sources , dealing with related parties, the existence of an unofficial invoice, using other people's business card); Intra-company variables(accrued earning management; debt ratio) and macroeconomic variables(inflation, unofficial exchange rate, tax complexity, tax fairness, business environment index and social capital index) were identified as influencing variables. Based on the results, it is quite evident that tax audit quality has a multidimensional nature. Considering the lack of comprehensive research in the field of tax audit quality in this regard, a multifaceted model has been designed; It provides a comprehensive view of the quality of tax audit.

The willingness of accountants to participate in the certified public accountant (CPA) exam is such that it has made a very difficult and professional competition inevitable, so the purpose of the research is to know the lived experiences of CPA candidates. Due to the psychological orientations, the unique Scientific and social structure of the candidates about the exam as well as its multi-dimensionality, the interpretive paradigm and the qualitative method of phenomenology have been used to study the phenomenon in depth without statistical calculations. The participants of this study were 37 people (16 CPAs and 21 people from rejected candidates) and were selected using the purposeful sampling method. The semi-structured interview method was used to collect the required data until the theoretical saturation limit was reached. Data analysis was done in five stages using Giorgi's method. Based on the opinions of candidates, 4 main themes of weaknesses and limitations, structural challenges, strengths and solutions to improve the quality of the exam were identified. Also, for each of the main themes, 3 sub-themes with 99 narratives were extracted. In addition, the results showed that despite the difference in the candidates' views, the lack of educational resources, especially in accounting and auditing courses, is highly emphasized. The results also point to the expansion of test topics to include technical skills and avoid theoretical questions. In general, the findings of the research indicate the importance of preparing educational resources and the necessity of asking practical questions as the main concern of the candidates.

The purpose of this research is evaluation of the challenging areas of implementation of accrual accounting in the General Department of the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Mazandaran Province. The methodology of this study is mixed, so that in the qualitative part, through systematic screening, the challenging areas of accrual accounting implementation in the public sector are identified. Then, during two stages of Delphi analysis, an attempt is made to check the reliability of the identified dimensions. Finally, in the quantitative part, through interpretive ranking analysis, it seeks to evaluate the areas identified in the context of the General Department of the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Mazandaran province. The results of the study in the qualitative part indicated the existence of 9 challenging areas for the implementation of accrual accounting in the public sector, and during the process of fuzzy Delphi analysis, 8 criteria were confirmed as the reasons for the gap in the implementation of accrual accounting. Then, in the quantitative part, it was determined that the challenge of applying accounting standards of the public sector is an effective factor in creating a gap in the implementation of accrual accounting in the General Department of the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Mazandaran province.