Corporate compliance with international financial reporting standards (IFRS): A case study of selected small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Cape Coast Metropolis

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to explore the extent to which Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the Cape Coast Metropolis comply with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs). The study further looked at firm attributes (size, profitability, audit type, internationality, type of SME, and leverage) that relate and also influence the level of SMEs’ compliance with IFRSs. The descriptive design was adopted for this study. The study sampled 89 SMEs within the metropolis, however, data were collected from 67 medium scale enterprises. A self-constructed compliance index (CINDEX) checklist and an interview guide were the instruments used. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used in analysing the data. The findings of the study revealed that medium scale enterprises in the metropolis average level of compliance of IFRSs is 77.9%. Also, enterprise’s attributes such as types, profitability, and audit type are able to influence 70.6% of the variance in the level of enterprise’s compliance with IFRSs disclosure requirements. The study recommended that the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) and the owners/managers of the various SMEs in the metropolis should liaise with Institute of chartered Accountant Ghana (ICAG) to organise regular training programmes, for accountants within the sector, intended to provide practical guide for compliance with the International Accounting Standard Board (IASB) standards since the IFRSs receive continuous amendment.