Accounting and Auditing Assessment
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Publication
Republic of Tajikistan : Accounting and Auditing
(Washington, DC, 2009-12)This report describes the results of a ROSC assessment of the accounting, financial reporting and auditing requirements and practices of the Republic of Tajikistan's enterprise and financial sectors. The report assesses the quality of the Tajik financial reporting framework and makes policy recommendations for improvement. With a gross national income per capita of US$430, Tajikistan remains the poorest country in the former Soviet Union. Despite various reforms over the past several years, the business climate still lags behind other transition countries. Many of the country's problems stem from the 1992-1997 civil war, which so damaged the country's economic infrastructure that it precipitated a sharp decline in industrial and agricultural production. Although there has been moderate domestic growth since 1997, real output is currently just over 50 percent of the 1989 level. The Republic of Tajikistan's small financial system is dominated by a few banks. The level of financial activity is among the lowest in the world, with Tajik lending amounting to merely 7.1 percent of GDP in 2007. More than 80 percent of the country s small- to medium-sized enterprises do not use the banking sector. The Republic of Tajikistan needs to improve and strengthen its corporate financial reporting system to ensure that public interest entities, such as banks and state-owned entities, become more accountable and transparent. The country needs enhanced accounting, disclosure and auditing regulations, more power for regulators and professional bodies to enforce accounting and auditing regulations and more extensive, practical and continuing professional education. All of this should be done without adding excessive regulatory burdens on medium-sized, small and micro entities. -
Publication
Bhutan - Report on the Observance of Standards and Codes : Accounting and Auditing
(World Bank, 2009-05-26)Bhutan has registered rapid economic growth in the recent past. But the private sector's contribution to this growth has not been significant. Recognizing that the private sector can play an important role as an engine of growth, the Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB) mapped out strategies to encourage the private sector to participate in the Kingdom's growth. An important strategy outlined under Bhutan's Tenth Five-Year-Plan (10FYP) is to enhance employment opportunities by encouraging private sector development, which will broaden the employment base. This strategy is also in line with another major 10FYP objective of vitalizing industry, in which the private sector is envisaged to play a major role. Bhutan's financial sector has hitherto been very small and underdeveloped, owing to the lack of adequate development in the private sector and the small size of the economy. The RGoB assessed that the lack of a clear institutional framework is one the major factors responsible for the slow growth and weak performance of industries in Bhutan, notably in the manufacturing and trade sectors. It is against this backdrop that the World Bank at the invitation of the RGoB has undertaken an assessment of accounting and auditing practices in the Kingdom of Bhutan with respect to the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and the International Standards on Auditing (ISA) issued by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). This assessment is positioned within the broader context of the country's institutional framework and capacity needed to ensure compliance with international standards and to improve the quality of financial reporting in the country. These recommendations are aimed at achieving corporate financial reporting practices of international standards and to help create a world-class working environment for professional accountants and auditors in Bhutan. -
Publication
Afghanistan : Report on Observance of Standards and Codes - Accounting and Auditing
(World Bank, 2009-02-16)This report is based on a review of the strengths and weaknesses of corporate accounting and auditing practices in Afghanistan. It forms part of a joint initiative between the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Reports on the Observance of Standards and Codes (ROSC), which covers a set of twelve internationally recognized core standards and codes relevant to economic stability and private and financial sector development. The review involved the assessment of actual practices and an analysis of the effectiveness of monitoring and enforcement mechanisms, in the area of corporate accounting and auditing in Afghanistan. International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and International Standards on Auditing (ISA) served as benchmarks for evaluating comparability of locally applicable accounting and auditing requirements. The review used a diagnostic template developed by the World Bank to facilitate collection of information. The information was complemented by the findings of a due diligence exercise, based on a series of meetings with key stakeholders, conducted by World Bank staff and consultants. -
Publication
An Independent Oversight Body for Quality Assurance Review in the Philippines
(Washington, DC, 2009-02)The paper is part of a program to provide support to a major recommendation in the Philippine Review of Standards and Codes on Accounting and Auditing (ROSC-A&A). The ROSC-A&A brought out that there were major improvements in the accounting and auditing scene since the last assessment made in 2001. Substantially complete improvements include the adoption of the international standards for accounting, auditing, and professional ethics. The objects of this program were as follows: First, to develop a strategic plan to provide for the adoption and implementation of a QAR (Quality Assurance Review) program for auditing firms in the Philippines. Second, begin devloping a cooperative arrangement between Philippine regulatory authorities and the accounting professional body, and develop rules and regulations subjecting auditors and/or auditing firms to such a quality assurance review program. This would include administrative steps to be taken by the relevant government authority to initiate this program. Third, to enable the development a medium-term strategic plan for sustainability of the QAR program. The proposed plan should be the product of working closely with the relevant regulatory body (BOA) and PICPA incorporating their inputs in the study. This should ensure their eventual acceptability for adoption and implementation by these entities. -
Publication
Accounting and Auditing : Romania
(Washington, DC, 2008-12)This assessment of accounting and auditing practices in Romania is part of a joint initiative by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) to prepare Reports on the Observance of Standards and Codes (ROSC). The assessment focuses on the strengths and weaknesses of the accounting and auditing environment that influence the quality of corporate financial reporting, and includes a review of both statutory requirements and actual practice. It uses International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and International Standards on Auditing (ISA) as benchmarks and draws on international experience and best practices. This assessment updates the findings of the previous accounting and auditing ROSC conducted in Romania in 2002 and published in 2003. It is important to note that there has been significant growth in the credit environment including significant increases in the granting of foreign currency denominated credit. The proportion of loans denominated in foreign currency has risen recently to 50 per cent of all loans granted. Provisions to convert outstanding loan amounts into local currency under certain thresholds often exist in foreign currency denominated loan contracts. These provisions aim to address the potential credit risk arising from the foreign exchange risk borne by the borrowers. While the National Bank of Romania is monitoring the situation closely and requiring higher bank reserves for loans denominated in foreign currency (to curb the growth of such loans), these aspects could provide significant challenges to the National Bank of Romania in future years. -
Publication
The Republic of Uzbekistan : Accounting and Auditing
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2008-12)This report describes the results of an assessment of the accounting, financial reporting and auditing requirements and practices of the Republic of Uzbekistan's enterprise and financial sectors. The report uses, inter alia, International Accounting Standards (IAS), International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), and International Standards on Auditing (ISA) as benchmarks, and draws on international experience and good practices in the field of accounting and audit regulation, to assess the quality of Uzbek financial information and make policy recommendations -
Publication
Accounting and Auditing: Ukraine
(Washington, DC, 2008-12)This assessment of accounting and auditing practices in Ukraine is part of a joint initiative of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) to prepare Reports on the Observance of Standards and Codes (ROSC). The assessment focuses on the strengths and weaknesses of the accounting and auditing environment that influence the quality of corporate financial reporting and includes both a review of both mandatory requirements and actual practice. The report uses International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and International Standards on Auditing (ISA) as benchmarks and draws on international experience and good practice in the field of accounting and auditing regulation. All the key economic sectors in Ukraine rely on high quality financial information, which requires high quality private sector accounting and auditing. As Ukraine moves towards further reforms, liberalization and deregulation in efforts to foster an investment-friendly business environment enhanced financial transparency and improved accounting and auditing practices must support this. In this context, this report sets out policy recommendations to enhance the quality of corporate financial reporting and foster a financial reporting platform conducive to sustainable private and financial sector growth, thus increasing access to global financial markets and other tools of the market economy. -
Publication
The Kyrgyz Republic : Accounting and Auditing
(Washington, DC, 2008-11)This report provides an assessment of accounting, financial reporting, and auditing requirements and practices within the enterprise and financial sectors in the Kyrgyz Republic. The report uses International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and International Standards on Auditing (ISA) as benchmarks and draws on international experience and good practices in the field of accounting and audit regulation to assess the quality of financial information and make policy recommendations. The main finding of this report is that enhancements in accounting and auditing legislation have often not been carried through to improvements in practice. Greater efforts need to be made to apply and enforce legal requirements properly. Compounding this challenge is the lack of compliance with existing public disclosure requirements and there is a need for greater public availability of financial information. Otherwise, even if accounting and auditing improves, users will not be able to access and make use of this information, reducing the overall benefits to society and the potential for private-sector-led economic growth. The Kyrgyz economy has achieved moderate growth (5.4 percent in 2004, -0.2 percent in 2005, and 2.7 percent in 2006); however, in order to enhance growth, promote further economic development, and decrease the cost of capital, additional reforms in accounting and auditing are required to produce financial information of high quality. -
Publication
Organization of Eastern Carribbean States : Report on the Observance of Standards and Codes
(Washington, DC, 2008-06-21)This report provides an assessment of accounting, financial reporting and auditing requirements and practices within the enterprise and financial sectors in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). The report uses International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and International Standards on Auditing (ISA) as benchmarks and draws on international experience and good practices in the field of accounting and audit regulation. High-quality financial information supports relevant strategic objectives for the OECS, including: (1) an investor-friendly business climate; (2) sub-regional and regional harmonization; (3) better management and increased transparency of public-interest enterprises; and (4) improved Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) access to credit as an outgrowth of a shift toward lending based on the borrower's financial performance and cash flow. Due to their small size (total population about 560,000) and their tropical island geography, OECS countries face special development challenges, including limited human and institutional capacity, high per capita costs of basic social and infrastructure services, and vulnerability to natural disasters and other external shocks. High levels of indebtedness and fiscal imbalance are additional factors affecting growth and crowding out private investment. These constraints significantly affect the strategic planning and decision-making processes in both the public and private sectors and make capacity issues more significant than in larger countries. The OECS accounting and auditing practices need to be strengthened and modernized to serve adequately the emerging needs of the market and support sustainable economic development. -
Publication
Republic of Rwanda : Accounting and Auditing
(Washington, DC, 2008-06-19)This report is an assessment of the corporate sector accounting, financial reporting, and auditing practices within Rwanda. This Report on the Observance of Standards and Codes (ROSC) is benchmarked to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and International Standards on Auditing (ISA) and draws on international experience and good practices to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the institutional underpinnings of corporate financial reporting and make policy recommendations. This assessment is mainly aimed at preparing a road map for institutional capacity building including development of the accountancy profession for bolstering the corporate sector accounting, financial reporting, and auditing in Rwanda. Rwanda is making considerable effort to align its accounting and auditing practices with internationally accepted standards and codes. Along with its growing economy, Rwanda must take effective steps for strengthening all the pillars of the infrastructure of accounting and auditing in line with the international good practices. The ROSC review findings reveal that there are varying compliance gaps in both accounting and auditing practices in Rwanda. These gaps stem from lack of clearer understanding among practicing accountants and auditors about the requirements of internationally accepted standards, inadequate technical capacities of the regulators, absence of implementation guidance, lack of independent oversight of the auditing profession, and shortcomings in professional education and training. The Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Rwanda (ICPAR) will assume the role of the self-regulatory professional accountancy body in the country.