Browsing by Subject "accounting"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    Open Access
    An investigation into the ability of non-IFRS earnings measures' to predict future operating cash flows for a sample of South African JSE listed companies
    (2018) Chittenden, Reece; Miller, Taryn
    This study investigates whether or not non-IFRS earnings measures can predict future operating cash flows. Many companies consistently present non-IFRS earnings measures, being voluntarily disclosed earnings measures lacking in formal definition, in order to communicate a companies’ core or sustainable earnings. Prior research into the usefulness of non-IFRS earnings measures has shown mixed results around the measures’ ability to predict a company’s future stock returns. Furthermore, there is some evidence that non-IFRS earnings measures have been used opportunistically to report a more favourable financial performance compared to IFRS earnings, questioning the usefulness and relevance of non-IFRS earnings measures. A linear mixed model was used to investigate the ability of non-IFRS earnings measures’ to predict future operating cash flows [CF(T+1)] using the top 40 Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) companies over the sample period from 2012 to 2016. The results of the statistical analysis showed that the non-IFRS earnings measure within the final model showed a positive and significant relationship with CF(T+1), which aligns with findings of a similar Australian study. Further to this, the inclusion of an indicator variable for mining companies was found to improve the model’s ability to predict future operating cash flows using non-IFRS earnings measures. The results of this study add to the growing area of research surrounding non-IFRS measures by uniquely focusing on South African companies, with similar results to prior studies. These findings may be of assistance to analysts and investors for valuation purposes and to standard-setting bodies for consideration as part of their current research project on performance reporting. Finally, the results provide justification for non-IFRS earnings measures as valid and useful metrics for analysis of company performance.
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    Responsible leadership competencies in accounting education
    (2022) Miller, Taryn; Willows, Gizelle
    The business world continues to be plagued by incidents of leadership failure, including that of Chartered Accountants (CAs). Responsible Leadership (RL) theory was in part conceived in response to misconduct by business leaders. RL competencies overlap with many competencies expected of CAs, according to international education requirements that inform the CA curriculum. Yet studies continue to show that accounting students are underdeveloped in many competencies affiliated with RL. Furthermore, an institutional strategy for developing RL competencies in accounting students is currently lacking. The purpose of this study is to explore how to incorporate the development of RL competencies into the CA curriculum. The study is grounded within RL, Transformative Learning, curriculum, and curriculum change theories. A qualitative research method was adopted. Interviews were conducted with thirteen South African CA leaders holding a variety of societal and business roles, and eleven CA educators from several South African universities. The study identifies a strategy for RL competency development comprising seven core concepts known as the RESPOND model. Strategic considerations relating to 'what', 'which', 'when', 'where', 'who' and 'how', are addressed in the model. Practical recommendations based on the RESPOND model are provided. The study's findings may assist accounting academics deliberating on adaptations to their curricula to achieve competencies and graduate outcomes synonymous with RL. In addition, the RESPOND model provides a theoretical contribution to the advancement of both accounting education and RL theory by both connecting and expanding knowledge within these research fields.
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    Open Access
    The positioning and suitability of the internal audit function to perform the assessment of organisational culture
    (2021) Sithubi, Ropfiwa; Minter, Tessa
    This study sets out a qualitative assessment of the positioning and suitability of the Internal Audit Function (IAF) to perform the assessment of organisational culture within their entities. Literature relating to management science, social psychology and the Internal audit profession was analysed prior to conducting interviews with Chief Audit Executives (CAEs) and Audit Committee Chairpersons across various industries and sectors, to determine their perspectives on: 1. Establishing the definition of organisational culture. 2. Identifying what the key drivers of organisational culture are for the various organisations and assessing how it compares to theoretical framework(s) identified. 3. Determining the characteristics of the IAF that will determine whether or not the IAF is in a position to carry out these assessments. The results show varying perspectives on the definition of organisational culture, pointing to the complexity that is inherent in the process of defining culture. Participants identified key drivers of organisational culture within their organisations which were in line with those identified in the theoretical framework(s) identified, and further identified additional factors that they viewed as resulting in an impact on organisational culture. The results also point to the independence of the IAF placing them in a suitable position to perform the assessment of organisational culture, however, the background education and training they currently undergo is perceived not to provide the suitable skills to perform the assessment of organisational culture.
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    Open Access
    THE SDSS-II SUPERNOVA SURVEY: PARAMETERIZING THE TYPE Ia SUPERNOVA RATE AS A FUNCTION OF HOST GALAXY PROPERTIES
    (2012) Smith, Mathew; Nichol, Robert C; Dilday, Benjamin; Marriner, John; Kessler, Richard; Bassett, Bruce; Cinabro, David; Frieman, Joshua; Garnavich, Peter; Jha, Saurabh W; Lampeitl, Hubert; Sako, Masao; Schneider, Donald P; Sollerman, Jesper
    Using data from the Sloan Digital Sky Supernova Survey-II (SDSS-II SN Survey), we measure the rate of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) as a function of galaxy properties at intermediate redshift. A samp ...