ISSUES AND CHALLENGES IN THE ADOPTION OF IFRS FOR SMES IN NIGERIA

ISSUES AND CHALLENGES IN THE ADOPTION OF IFRS FOR SMES IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The general objective of this research work is to investigate the likely challenges that SMEs will encounter in adopting IFRs for SMEs within the Nigerian environment and those factors that could hamper the adoption of the standard by SMEs. Understanding the vital role of SMEs in every economy, ranging from positive developments to creation of employments and their very key impact within the various sectors where they are operational, it therefore becomes so operational to critically analyze, using extant literature, the benefits and likely challenges of implementing IFRs for SMEs in Nigeria. The study examines the issues and challenges faced by SMEs in the adoption of IFRS for SMEs in Nigeria. To obtain answers to the research questions, questionnaires were distributed seeking the opinion of respondents. A total of 400 questionnaires was distributed to Accountants, Accounts clerks, Analysts, Executives/Business owners, etc. out of which 318 was returned. The data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics and Multiple Regression analysis. The results show the various relationships existing between the factors that affect the adoption of IFRS for SMES and the standard itself.  The finding also reveals that despite the challenges bedeviling the SMEs, SMEs are willing and ready to adopt the standard however, training and re-training has to be enhanced. The study encourages the government to ensure a level playing ground by drawing out a timetable, which the SMEs are to abide to while adopting the standard and to also provide the necessary funding where the need arises considering the cost involvement in adoption.

CHAPTER ONE

Introduction

1.1                   Background of the Study

The process of businesses presenting financial reports in a unified worldwide acceptable manner started witnessing a sporadic revolution within the European Union in 2002 when it was made mandatory that all publicly quoted companies or rather, companies with public accountability must prepare their financial statements in accordance with the requirement of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) with effect from 2005 (Ball, 2006). Such revolution encompasses the adoption and adaptation of local accounting practices and harmonizing it with that of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) which formally was the International Accounting Standards (IAS).

It is in recognition of the need to having quality financial reports and other benefits such as ability to improve the comparability among entities, having access to global capital markets and reduced cost of capital, access to cross border acquisitions, that the adoption of IFRS is becoming a trend among nations. Nigeria as a country therefore, set out its roadmap to harmonization and accepting of the IFRS in 2010 with a reporting date of 2012 (Ayuba, 2012). Although, there are significant benefits of adopting IFRS, it is not without problems. Among such problems, include the conversion challenges such as increased volatility of earning, high cost of implementation, complex nature of IFRS and issues of implementation.

To cater for the needs of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and understanding their impact in the sustenance and development of a nation and the need to make them present a quality financial statement, the International Accounting Standard Board (IASB) in 2009 developed the International Financial Reporting Standards for Small and Medium Enterprises – IFRS for SMEs (Mazhindu and Mafuba, 2013), and also as a response to a ‘strong international demand from both developed and emerging economies for a rigorous and common set of accounting standard for smaller companies’ (Albu, 2013). With its stated benefits, Albu (2013) noticed that the adoption of IFRS for SMEs is laden with various challenges such as high level of expectation, the associated cost of implementation, lack of competencies of local professions among others. According to Ayuba (2012), proper criteria for the definition of SMEs may constitute a challenge as Nigeria adopts its roadmap of the SMEs reporting date of 2014.

Understanding the vital role of SMEs in every economy, ranging from positive developments to creation of employments and their very key impact within the various sectors where they are operational, it therefore becomes so operational to critically analyze, using extant literature, the benefits and likely challenges of implementing IFRs for SMEs in Nigeria.Various studies have been conducted to assess the adoption of IFRS for SMEs in different countries of the world. A set of studies have been conducted in relations to the importance or benefits (Neag, Masca and Pascan, 2009; Mazhindu and Mafuba, 2013; Schutte and Buys, 2011a) and the challenges of adopting IFRS from SMEs (Stainbank, 2008; Albu, 2013; Kordecki and Bullen, 2012). Most of these studies were conducted using member European Union for data analysis. Comparatively, few researches have been conducted or carried out on emerging economies. Therefore, with respect to the researcher’s knowledge, few empirical research exits on the issues and challenges of adopting IFRS for SMEs in Nigeria. This study therefore, will attempt to bridge the gap and equally adopt the Nigerian data with particular reference to the adoption of IFRS for SMEs, issues with IFRS for SMEs in Nigeria, challenges likely to be faced by stakeholders in the adoption process and the factors affecting the adoption.

By utilizing an analytical framework from the extant literature, empirical evidence from other countries context, the research elaborated in detail the benefits, challenges and factors/issues that could affect the adoption of IFRS for SMEs in Nigeria. Through questionnaires that were distributed to finance officers, CEOs and accountants of selected companies, and review of some related documents, inferences were drawn regarding the adoption of IFRS for SMEs in Nigeria.

1.2                   Statement of the Problem

The development of IFRS for SMEs and its subsequent adoption by industrialized and developed countries such as Britain, Turkey, Sweden, Germany and other EU Members have been a major concern among accounting professionals. In spite of existing studies on the adoption of IFRS for SMEs by the developed and industrialized countries of the world, less attention has been given to the developing countries. Little educational publication exists on the adoption of IFRS for SMEs in Nigeria. Those existing few focuses mainly on the likely benefits to the government and are viewed from a general African perspective (Mazhindu and Mafuba, 2013; Stainbank, 2008; Kopperschaar, 2012).

This study is therefore motivated because of absence of studies in the area of IFRS for SMEs adoption in Nigeria, its benefits, challenges and factors likely to explain the reasons for its adoption. Considering the differences in environment between the developed and the emerging economies, it is imperative to see the problem in the developing countries context to enrich and extend the understanding of IFRS for SMEs and the issues relating to its first time adoption within the Nigerian environment.

1.3                   Purpose of the Study

The adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards for Small and Medium Enterprises (IFRS for SMEs) has received widespread acceptability by various nations of the world as the benchmark for the financial reporting of SMEs. However, many countries and researchers suggest that the adoption of IFRS for SMEs may not improve the financial reporting of SMEs across board because every economy have peculiar and unique factors surrounding their financial reporting activities.

This research work therefore intends to carry out an empirical investigation on those issues and challenges that SMEs within the Nigerian environment may encounter in the processes of adopting IFRS for SMEs and how these issues could be solved so as to making sure that their reports is in line with international best practices.

1.4                   Aims and Objectives of the Study

The general aim of this research work is to investigate the likely challenges that SMEs will encounter in adopting IFRs for SMEs within the Nigerian environment and those factors that could hamper the adoption of the standard by SMEs. To achieve the intended aim of this study, the researcher will try to:

i.          establish the various challenges that will be faced by SMEs while adopting the standard (IFRS for SMEs);

ii.          Ascertain the benefits that SMEs could derive from adopting the standard (IFRS for SMEs);

iii.         Identify some issues that are likely to prevent SMEs from adopting the standard (IFRS for SMEs) and

iv.        Ascertain the underlying factors (i.e. government policy, professional bodies, company size, and capital market and education/qualification level) that could affect the level of adoption of IFRS for SMEs.

TOPIC: ISSUES AND CHALLENGES IN THE ADOPTION OF IFRS FOR SMES IN NIGERIA

Chapters: 1 - 5
Delivery: Email

Number of Pages: 95

Price: 3000 NGN

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