Accounting Errors in Nonprofit Organizations

2015 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 341-361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey J. Burks
Keyword(s):  
Nonprofit Organizations ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Internal Control ◽  
Error Rate ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Financial Reports ◽  
Public Charities ◽  
Accounting Errors

SYNOPSIS This study examines the accounting errors committed by public charities as revealed by searching for disclosures of their corrections in auditor reports, financial statements, and footnotes. A sample of 5,511 audited financial statements, predominantly from the years 2006 to 2010, was obtained from GuideStar, a data provider for nonprofits. Public charities report errors at a rate that is 60 percent higher than that of publicly traded corporations, and almost twice as high as that of similar-sized corporations. The errors are commonly errors of omission (i.e., failing to recognize items). The error rate has a strong positive association with internal control deficiencies and a strong negative association with Big 4 and second-tier auditors. Regressions are unable to detect a significant association between the error rate and organization size, type, or portion of the budget devoted to administrative activities. The error corrections often have low visibility in the financial reports issued by public charities; although they are reported in the footnotes of the audited financial statements, they often are not mentioned in auditor reports and in IRS Form 990s. The study improves our understanding of the accounting challenges faced by nonprofits, and may enhance nonprofit financial reporting by helping nonprofit managers and auditors understand the common circumstances and types of errors, and thus what activities to monitor more closely. The study also contributes to the academic literature by comparing the errors of nonprofits to those of corporations, by examining the outcomes of audits conducted by large as well as small auditors, and by advancing our understanding of discrepancies between audited and unaudited financial reports. Data Availability: Data are available from sources identified in the paper.

Expense Misreporting in Nonprofit Organizations

2006 ◽  
Vol 81 (2) ◽  
pp. 399-420 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ranjani Krishnan ◽  
Michelle H. Yetman ◽  
Robert J. Yetman
Keyword(s):  
Nonprofit Organizations ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Managerial Incentives ◽  
Managerial Compensation ◽  
Anecdotal Evidence ◽  
Financial Reports

We examine whether nonprofit organizations understate fundraising expenses in their publicly available financial statements. A large body of anecdotal evidence notes that an inexplicable number of nonprofits report zero fundraising expenses. We provide empirical evidence that the zero fundraising expense phenomenon is at least partly due to inappropriate reporting. We then examine to what extent these misreported expenses are the result of managerial incentives. Prior research finds an association between reported expenses and managerial compensation as well as the level of donations received. Using these findings we construct two incentive variables and find a positive association between misreporting behavior and managerial incentives. Our results also suggest that the use of an outside accountant reduces the probability that a nonprofit will misreport expenses, consistent with the use of an outside paid accountant increasing the reliability and usefulness of nonprofit financial reports. Finally, we find that SOP 98-2 reduced the probability that a nonprofit will misreport fundraising expenses.

Section 404 Compliance and Financial Reporting Quality

2010 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 441-454 ◽  
Author(s):  
Albert L. Nagy
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Internal Control ◽  
Reporting Quality ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Securities And Exchange Commission ◽  
Small Companies ◽  
Section 404 ◽  
Financial Reports ◽  
Sarbanes Oxley

SYNOPSIS: This study examines whether the Sarbanes-Oxley Act Section 404 (S404) compliance efforts lead to higher quality financial reports. An objective of S404 is to encourage companies to devote adequate resources and attention to their internal control systems, which should lead to more reliable financial statements. A natural laboratory of S404 compliance and noncompliance companies exists because the Securities and Exchange Commission has deferred the S404 compliance date for small companies (nonaccelerated filers). A logistic regression model is estimated using a sample of companies surrounding the S404 compliance threshold to measure the S404 compliance effect on the likelihood of issuing materially misstated financial statements. The results show a significant and negative relation between S404 compliance and issuance of materially misstated financial statements, and suggest that the S404 regulation is meeting its objective of improving the quality of financial reports.

scholarly journals PENGARUH KETEPATAN WAKTU PENYAMPAIAN LAPORAN KEUANGAN, KELEMAHAN SISTEM PENGENDALIAN INTERNAL, KEPATUHAN PERATURAN PERUNDANG-UNDANGAN, STATUS DAERAH DAN UKURAN DAERAH TERHADAP OPINI LAPORAN KEUANGAN PEMERINTAH DAERAH DI PULAU JAWA TAHUN 2013

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 99
Author(s):  
Samsul Rosadi ◽  
Yudi Siyamto ◽  
Helti Nur Aisyiah
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Internal Control ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Financial Reports ◽  
Internal Control System ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
The City ◽  
Timely Delivery

This study aims to examine the effect of timely delivery of financial statements, weaknesses of internal control systems, compliance with statutory regulations, regional status and size of the region on the opinion of local government financial reports on the island of Java. By using LKPD 110 the city / regency government in Java Island. Sampling technique is purposive sampling, that is how to determine sample by using certain criterion. Hypothesis testing techniques using logistic regression analysis. The results of this study indicate that the variable timeliness of financial reporting, weakness of the internal control system, compliance with legislation has a negative effect on the opinion of local government financial statements. While the variables of regional status and size of the regions have no effect on the opinion of local government financial statements.

The Causes and Consequences of Internal Control Problems in Nonprofit Organizations

2011 ◽  
Vol 86 (1) ◽  
pp. 325-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Petrovits ◽  
Catherine Shakespeare ◽  
Aimee Shih
Keyword(s):  
Nonprofit Organizations ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Internal Control ◽  
Nonprofit Sector ◽  
Internal Controls ◽  
Control Problems ◽  
Financial Health ◽  
Government Grants ◽  
Donor Support ◽  
Public Charities

ABSTRACT: This study examines the causes and consequences of internal control deficiencies in the nonprofit sector using a sample of 27,495 public charities from 1999 to 2007. We first document that the likelihood of reporting an internal control problem increases for nonprofit organizations that are in poor financial health, growing, more complex, and/or smaller. We then present evidence that the disclosure of weak internal controls over financial reporting is negatively associated with subsequent donor support received after controlling for the current level of donor support and other factors influencing donations. We likewise report a negative association between internal control problems and subsequent government grants. Our results suggest that donors and government agencies, important sources of capital for nonprofit organizations, react either directly or indirectly to internal control information.

Do Quarterly and Annual Financial Statements Reflect Similar Financial Statement Error in the Post-SOX Era?

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-31
Author(s):  
Erik S. Boyle ◽  
Melissa F. Lewis-Western ◽  
Timothy A. Seidel
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Financial Statement ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Fiscal Year ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Financial Reports ◽  
Quality Reporting ◽  
Public Company

ABSTRACT The U.S. has invested substantial resources into the regulation and oversight of public-company financial reporting. While these investments should incentivize high-quality reporting among quarterly and annual financial statements, the sharp rise in public company auditor oversight may disproportionately benefit annual reports given the fiscal year-centric nature of audits. We compare the within company-year difference in financial statement error between quarterly and annual financial reports and examine how any difference changed following SOX. We find that pre-SOX error is lower for audited financial statements than for reviewed financial statements and that this difference increases following SOX. Additional tests suggest that elevated auditor oversight, rather than managerial incentives, is the impetus for the change. Despite regulatory investment designed to incentivize the production of high-quality quarterly and annual financial statements, the post-SOX difference in error between quarterly and annual financial statements appears to have increased. Data Availability: Data are available from public sources cited in the text. JEL Classifications: M41; M42.

scholarly journals PENERAPAN PSAK NOMOR 45 TENTANG PELAPORAN KEUANGAN ORGANISASI NIRLABA PADA SMK NEGERI 1 MANADO

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mario Rantung ◽  
Harijanto Sabijono ◽  
Victorina Z. Tirayoh
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Analysis ◽  
Qualitative Analysis ◽  
Nonprofit Organizations ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Research Method ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Financial Reports ◽  
School Activities ◽  
The World ◽  
Education Today

Along with the development of the world of education today, the Indonesian government is very serious in responding to the development of education to produce quality schools, this is also with considerable school activities. Things that must be accounted for and delivered through financial statements.This study aims to describe the presentation of financial reports on Nonprofit Organizations and to find out how to implement the application of PSAK number 45 concerning the Presentation of Financial Statements of SMK Negeri 1 Manado. The data research method used is qualitative analysis with qualitative analysis and quantitative analysis. Qualitative analysis to find out the comparative object of research is financial reporting at SMK Negeri 1 Manado with PSAK No. 45 and also with the preparation of budget and budget. Economic analysis to find out the values that arise from the financial statements of SMK Negeri 1 Manado The results of the analysis show that the preparation of financial statements at SMK Negeri 1 Manado has not been used to make financial statements, financial statements, and financial statements that are in accordance with the financial format contained in PSAK No. 45.

Market Response to Audited Internal Control Weakness Disclosures

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-20
Author(s):  
Subash Adhikari ◽  
Binod Guragai ◽  
Ananth Seetharaman
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Internal Control ◽  
Market Reaction ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Market Response ◽  
Market Participants ◽  
Sarbanes Oxley ◽  
Time Periods ◽  
First Time

ABSTRACT To help guard against weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting (ICFR), the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires certain filers to have their ICFR assertions audited. Beneish et al. (2008) show that market participants fail to react negatively to adverse ICFR audit opinions. This is puzzling because weak ICFR heightens the risk of fraud or materially misstated financial statements. Our study reexamines this issue for the time periods covered by Auditing Standard No. 2 (AS2) and Auditing Standard No. 5 (AS5). We too find no significant negative market reaction to the disclosure of adverse ICFR audits in the AS2 era. However, we show that markets react negatively for first-time disclosures of adverse ICFR audits after the adoption of AS5. Furthermore, in the AS5 regime, markets seem to differentiate between entity-wide versus account-specific ICFR weaknesses. We also show that correcting previous ineffective ICFR results in a positive market reaction. Data Availability: Data are available from sources cited in the text.

The Search for Order in Municipal Administration: Herman A. Metz and the New York City Experience, 1898–1909

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-74
Author(s):  
Ryan P. McDonough ◽  
Paul J. Miranti ◽  
Michael P. Schoderbek
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
New York City ◽  
Internal Control ◽  
York City ◽  
Internal Controls ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Financial Reports ◽  
The Public ◽  
Operational Activities ◽  
The City

ABSTRACT This paper examines the administrative and accounting reforms coordinated by Herman A. Metz around the turn of the 20th century in New York City. Reform efforts were motivated by deficiencies in administering New York City's finances, including a lack of internal control over monetary resources and operational activities, and opaque financial reports. The activities of Comptroller Metz, who collaborated with institutions such as the New York Bureau of Municipal Research, were paramount in initiating and implementing the administrative and accounting reforms in the city, which contributed to reform efforts across the country. Metz promoted the adoption of functional cost classifications for city departments, developed flowcharts for improved transaction processing, strengthened internal controls, and published the 1909 Manual of Accounting and Business Procedure of the City of New York, which laid the groundwork for transparent financial reports capable of providing vital information about the city's activities and subsidiary units. JEL Classifications: H72, M41, N91. Data Availability: Data are available from the public sources cited in the text.

Interim Reporting Frequency and the Mispricing of Accruals

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 29-47
Author(s):  
Shou-Min Tsao ◽  
Hsueh-Tien Lu ◽  
Edmund C. Keung
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Stock Prices ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Financial Reports ◽  
Regulatory Changes ◽  
Sample Composition ◽  
Reporting Frequency ◽  
Over Time ◽  
Jel Classifications ◽  
Accrual Mispricing

SYNOPSIS This study examines the association between mandatory financial reporting frequency and the accrual anomaly. Based on regulatory changes in reporting frequency requirements in Taiwan, we divide our sample period into three reporting regimes: a semiannual reporting regime from 1982 to 1985, a quarterly reporting regime from 1986 to 1987, and a monthly reporting regime (both quarterly financial reports and monthly revenue disclosure) from 1988 to 1993. We find that although both switches (from the semiannual reporting regime to the quarterly reporting regime and from the quarterly reporting regime to the monthly reporting regime) hasten the dissemination of the information contained in annual accruals into stock prices and reduce annual accrual mispricing, the switch to monthly reporting has a lesser effect. Our results are robust to controlling for risk factors, transaction costs, and potential changes in accrual, cash flow persistence, and sample composition over time. These results imply that more frequent reporting is one possible mechanism to reduce accrual mispricing. JEL Classifications: G14; L51; M41; M48. Data Availability: Data are available from sources identified in the paper.

Does Auditor Explanatory Language in Unqualified Audit Reports Indicate Increased Financial Misstatement Risk?

2014 ◽  
Vol 89 (6) ◽  
pp. 2115-2149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith Czerney ◽  
Jaime J. Schmidt ◽  
Anne M. Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Reporting Quality ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Financial Statement ◽  
Financial Reporting Quality ◽  
Accounting Principles ◽  
Client Relationship ◽  
Financial Misstatement ◽  
Audit Reports

ABSTRACT According to auditing standards, explanatory language added at the auditor's discretion to unqualified audit reports should not indicate increased financial misstatement risk. However, an auditor is unlikely to add language that would strain the auditor-client relationship absent concerns about the client's financial statements. Using a sample of 30,825 financial statements issued with unqualified audit opinions during 2000–2009, we find that financial statements with audit reports containing explanatory language are significantly more likely to be subsequently restated than financial statements without such language. We find that this positive association is driven by language that references the division of responsibility for performance of the audit, adoption of new accounting principles, and previous restatements. In addition, we find that (1) “emphasis of matter” language that discusses mergers, related-party transactions, and management's use of estimates predicts restatements related to these matters, and that (2) the financial statement accounts noted in the explanatory language typically correspond to the accounts subsequently restated. In sum, our results suggest that present-day audit reports communicate some information about financial reporting quality.

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