نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی

نویسندگان

• اسماعیل خوشبخت ¹
• امیرحسین تائبی نقندری ²

¹ دانشجوی دکتری حسابداری، دانشکده ادبیات و علوم انسانی، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی واحد کرمان،کرمان،ایران

² استادیار گروه حسابداری، دانشکده ادبیات و علوم انسانی، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی واحد کرمان، کرمان،ایران

چکیده

فزایش میزان تقلب‌‌‌های گزارشگری به ورشکستگی شرکت‌‌‌های بزرگ و در سطح کلان به بحران‌‌ها و رسوایی‌‌‌های مالی منجر می‌شود و به‌تبع این بحث؛ عدم‌درستکاری حسابداران در کانون توجه نهاد‌ها و بازار‌‌های مالی قرار می‌گیرد؛ ازاین‌رو با توجه تئوری نمایندگی که رابطه بین مالک و مدیر را بررسی می‌کند، شناسایی احتمال وقوع تقلب در صورت‌‌‌های مالی و راه‌‌ها و روش‌‌‌های کاهش آن، همواره کانون توجه سرمایه‌گذاران، قانون‌گذاران، مدیران و حسابرسان بوده است. ازاین‌رو، هدف پژوهش حاضر بررسی تأثیر باورهای ایمانی بر عدم‌درستکاری حسابداران در تهیه صورت‌های مالی با توجه به نقش میانجی اخلاق حرفه‌‌ای در کشور ایران است. بدین منظور 400 پرسشنامه طراحی و در بین اعضای کارشناسان رسمی دادگستری حسابداری و حسابرسی توزیع شد و 312 فقره آن درنهایت مورداستفاده و تحلیل قرار گرفت. جهت بررسی تأثیر متغیر‌ها از رویکرد مدل‌سازی معادلات ساختاری و برای تحلیل از نرم‌افزار آموس استفاده شد. یافته‌‌ها نشان داد که باورهای ایمانی بر عدم‌درستکاری حسابداران تأثیر منفی و معناداری دارد و بر اخلاق حرفه‌ای حسابداران دارای تأثیر مثبت و معناداری است. همچنین، اخلاق حرفه‌ای حسابداران نیز همانند باورهای ایمانی، عاملی کاهنده بر عدم‌درستکاری حسابداران در تهیه صورت‌های مالی است و بر آن تأثیر منفی و معناداری دارد. درنهایت، اخلاق حرفه‌ای، به‌عنوان یک متغیر میانجی رابطه بین باورهای ایمانی و عدم‌درستکاری حسابداران را توضیح می‌دهد و متغیر میانجی‌ اخلاق حرفه‌‌ای، به‌صورت میانجی جزئی است.

کلیدواژه‌ها

• اخلاق حرفه‌ای
• باورهای ایمانی
• عدم‌درستکاری حسابداران
• مدل‌سازی معادلات ساختاری

موضوعات

• حسابداری وجنبه های مختلف مالی

عنوان مقاله [English]

The Effect of Religious Beliefs and the Mediating Role of Professional Ethics on Accountants’ Inaccuracy in Preparing Financial Statements

نویسندگان [English]

• Esmaeil Khoshbakht ¹
• Amirhossein Taebi naghandari ²

¹ Ph.D. Student in Accounting, Faculty of Literature and Humanity, Islamic Azad University, Kerman Branch. Kerman.Iran

² Assistant Professor of Accounting Department, Faculty of Literature and Humanity, Islamic Azad University, Kerman Branch. Kerman.Iran

چکیده [English]

The present study aims to investigate the effect of religious beliefs on the inaccuracy of accountants in preparing financial statements, with a focus on the mediating role of professional ethics in Iran. For this purpose, 400 questionnaires were designed and distributed among official accounting and auditing professionals. The data was analyzed using Amos software. The findings indicate that religious beliefs have a negative and significant effect on accountants’ dishonesty and a positive and significant effect on their professional ethics. Additionally, the professional ethics of accountants is a factor that reduces inaccuracies in preparing financial statements, exerting a negative and significant effect. Finally, as a mediating variable, professional ethics explains the relationship between religious beliefs and accountants' dishonesty. The findings confirm that professional ethics serves as a partial mediator in this relationship.

Introduction

Fraud and inaccuracies in financial reporting have drawn significant attention in the accounting and auditing professions, particularly regarding their causes and the methods available to prevent fraudulent behavior. The inaccuracy of accountants is a multi-dimensional and complex phenomenon with various causes and effects, often leading to destructive consequences for business units and society.
Increasing levels of inaccuracy in financial reporting have resulted in the bankruptcy of both large and small companies, raising concerns about the quality of financial statements. Consequently, identifying opportunities and possibilities to address accountants' inaccuracies in financial statements has become a key focus for creditors, investors, consultants, legislators, accountants, and other stakeholders.
The expansion of morality and religiosity can often be more effective than laws, regulations, and standards in preventing inaccuracies. Accountants and auditors primarily follow laws and standards imposed by regulatory bodies such as the standards development committee and the auditing organization. However, these externally imposed standards may not always be fully accepted or embraced wholeheartedly. In contrast, religious and moral principles such as honesty and truthfulness are deeply rooted in personal beliefs. These principles often stem from family upbringing and are influenced by factors such as schooling, religion, and public or cultural institutions, which are deeply intertwined with native and natural structures. As a result, there is a stronger likelihood that auditors and accountants will adhere to religious and moral principles compared to externally imposed standards.

Literature Review

The relationship between religiosity and religious beliefs can be analyzed through the theory of social norms. Social norm theory suggests that social norms influence people's behavior. It predicts that the religious beliefs of managers are shaped by the religious norms prevalent in their local geographical area. The importance of social and religious norms within a society plays a significant role in fostering people's adherence to these norms. By emphasizing the overall importance of moral behavior, faith-based beliefs provide specific guidelines and equip adherents with a framework for describing and understanding moral or immoral experiences.

Methodology

This research is one of the few studies that utilize the scientific method of construction and experimental proof, conducted based on pre-determined research hypotheses and plans. This type of research is appropriate when the data measurement criteria are quantitative, and statistical techniques are employed to extract results. Additionally, since the data for this study is collected through a questionnaire, it can be classified as survey research. In terms of its purpose, it falls within the applied research category.
In this study, all official accounting and auditing justice experts working at the provincial centers across the country were considered as the statistical population. Using Cochran's formula, the sample size for the study was determined to be 385 individuals. To ensure caution, 400 questionnaires were distributed among the members of the statistical population. Given the existing limitations, the questionnaire was administered online through the Judiciary Research Center. Out of the respondents, 325 individuals completed the questionnaire, and the number of valid responses suitable for analysis was 312. It should be noted that 13 questionnaires were excluded due to incomplete information. Therefore, the total number of questionnaires used for statistical analysis in this study was 312.

Results

Figure 1 illustrates the regression coefficients and the paths related to the testing of research hypotheses. The variable of faith-based beliefs is considered an independent variable, the inaccuracy of accountants in financial reporting is the dependent variable, and professional ethics is the mediating variable. Path c represents the relationship between the independent and dependent variables in the absence of a mediating variable. Path a shows the relationship between the independent variable and the mediator, while path b indicates the relationship between the mediator and dependent variables. Additionally, path c' represents the relationship between the independent and dependent variables in the presence of the mediating variable. To test the research hypotheses in Amos software, three mediation models, the direct model and the indirect model were employed. These models were included in the present study, and the related findings were reported. The findings revealed that religious beliefs have a negative and significant effect on accountants’ dishonesty and a positive and significant effect on their professional ethics. Furthermore, the professional ethics of accountants, similar to religious beliefs, is a factor that reduces the inaccuracy of accountants in preparing financial statements and has a negative and significant effect on it. Finally, as a mediating variable, professional ethics explains the relationship between religious beliefs and accountants' dishonesty. The findings confirm that professional ethics is a partial mediator in this relationship.

Discussion

This research demonstrated how religiosity and professional ethics can effectively reduce the inaccuracy of accountants in preparing financial statements. The beliefs of accountants and preparers of financial statements can often have a greater impact than reporting laws and standards. Since accountants’ dishonesty has highly destructive effects on society, economic stability, and public trust, the findings of the research suggest that strengthening accountants’ faith and moral beliefs can help prevent this harmful factor.

Conclusion

At first glance, it might be expected that an accountant with strong religious principles would demonstrate higher moral standards, thereby preventing them from preparing reports and financial statements that deviate from accounting principles. However, this is not always the case, and in some instances, the result may be the opposite. In reality, if religious beliefs alone do not enhance the moral system, they cannot effectively mitigate fraudulent behavior. In such situations, religiosity without moral commitment may manifest as hypocritical behaviors, which not only fails to reduce wrongdoing, but may even exacerbate it. Without ethical commitment, managers and accountants may manipulate financial statements to make them appear favorable, altering the numbers to avoid managerial threats without adhering to ethical principles.

کلیدواژه‌ها [English]

• Inaccuracy of Accountants
• Professional Ethics
• Religious Beliefs
• Structural Equations Modeling