Publication: Bangladesh : Accounting and Auditing
Loading...
Date
2003-05-16
ISSN
Published
2003-05-16
Author(s)
Editor(s)
Abstract
This report provides an assessment of accounting and auditing practices within the broader context of the Bangladesh institutional framework and capacity needed to ensure the quality of corporate financial reporting. The accounting and auditing practices in Bangladesh suffer from institutional weaknesses in regulation, compliance, and enforcement of standards and rules. The preparation of financial statements and conduct of audits, in many cases, are not consistent with internationally acceptable standards and practices. Better-qualified graduates generally do not join the accounting profession because it is not viewed as a stepping-stone to a rewarding and prestigious career. The out-of-date legal requirements, widespread noncompliance with accounting and auditing standards, ineffective enforcement mechanism, poor quality accounting education and training, and inadequate adherence to professional ethics have contributed to the weakness of the financial reporting regime. The policy recommendations provided in this report focus on improving statutory framework, strengthening enforcement mechanisms, upgrading professional education and training, and enhancing capacity of regulatory and professional bodies. A major recommendation is that an independent oversight body-Financial Reporting Council-should be established. The Financial Reporting Council will be responsible for adopting, monitoring, and enforcing international accounting and auditing standards for financial reporting by the public-interest entities. In addition, arrangements will need to be made to develop a simplified financial reporting framework for small- and medium-size enterprises.
Link to Data Set
Citation
“World Bank. 2003. Bangladesh : Accounting and Auditing. © World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/13854 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”
Associated URLs
Associated content
Other publications in this report series
Journal
Journal Volume
Journal Issue
Collections
Related items
Showing items related by metadata.
Publication Cambodia : Accounting and Auditing(Washington, DC, 2007-05)This report provides an assessment of accounting and auditing practices within the corporate sector in Cambodia with reference 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 Cambodia's institutional framework and capacity needed to ensure the quality of corporate financial reporting Cambodia is putting in place an institutional framework with regard to accounting, auditing, and financial reporting practices. However, institutional weaknesses in regulation, compliance, and enforcement of standards and rules still exist. The accounting and auditing statutory framework suffers from inconsistencies among different laws. Although the national accounting standards and auditing standards are based on IFRS, and ISA, respectively, they appear outmoded and have gaps in comparison with the international equivalents. There are varying compliance gaps in both accounting and auditing practices. These gaps could primarily stem from lack of clearer understanding by professional accountants, 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. There is little awareness of the importance of quality financial information in Cambodia. Financial reporting is driven primarily by complying with requirements of shareholders, obtaining bank loans, and satisfying the taxation regime. Auditing in Cambodia is perceived as an exercise of little value. The law does not outline which standards should be followed in conducting audits. Cambodia's accounting profession is largely dominated by the members of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants of the United Kingdom. The Kampuchea Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Auditors is in its early stage of development and should be geared to contribute in creating an enabling environment for high-quality corporate financial reporting and auditing practices in the country.Publication Kingdom of Thailand : Accounting and Auditing(Washington, DC, 2008-04)Thailand has made great efforts over the past ten years to improve the quality of corporate financial reporting. Considerable progress has been made on various fronts to strengthen the institutional framework of accounting and auditing, and to move towards converging Thai national accounting and auditing standards with international benchmarks. This report focuses on areas where stakeholders in the accounting profession in Thailand could consider making changes to strengthen the profession and increase consistency with global benchmarks. The Federation of Accounting Professions (FAP) is the self-regulatory professional body, which is a member of the International Federation of Accountants. The FAP is also the standard-setter, perhaps overly stretched with many responsibilities covered by the volunteer efforts of its members. The FAP develops and reviews accounting standards, as well as audit and ethics standards in line with international good practices. Thailand has in place legislation governing the creation and responsibilities of entities engaged in commercial activities: the accounting act, the accounting professions act, and the public limited companies act. The accounting standard-setting committee reviews international standards and issues these as national standards, through the government processes, thereby significantly reducing the gap between Thai accounting standards and international standards. To aid in the implementation of Thai accounting and auditing standards, there is a need to improve the institutional framework, including the development of a standard-setting strategy and implementation plan, to enhance practical compliance and enforcement of standards. The Securities and Exchange Commission of Thailand (SEC) has established a monitoring and enforcement process. The SEC accounting supervision department co-operates with the federation of accounting professions on evaluation of the quality of auditors. Enriched by significant input from stakeholders, this report makes recommendations for enhancements to the statutory framework, for institutional and policy development; independent reviews of audit practices; development of a strategy for continued convergence of Thai and international accounting standards with adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) for public interest entities; broader training programs on practical application of the new accounting and auditing standards, and code of ethics for professional accountants; and continued development of accountancy curricula and teaching in universities throughout the country.Publication Nigeria : Accounting and Auditing(Washington, DC, 2011-06-06)This report finds that there has been limited implementation of the 2004 Country Action Plan and limited improvement in financial reporting practices in Nigeria. Nigerian authorities have successfully implemented only 6 of 14 action plans emanating from the 2004 review leaving significant areas yet to be addressed. This 2011 ROSC presents policy recommendations that take into account international experience, good practice, and local circumstances.Publication Sri Lanka : Accounting and Auditing(Washington, DC, 2004-05-21)Sri Lanka has made considerable efforts in aligning its accounting and auditing practices with international standards to establish a high-quality corporate financial reporting system. Corporate accounting and disclosure practices, particularly for publicly traded companies, have improved over the past decade. Among forward-looking actions has been the enactment of the Sri Lanka Accounting and Auditing Standards Act and establishment of the Sri Lanka Accounting and Auditing Standards Monitoring Board. However, there appears to be a certain degree of noncompliance in both accounting and auditing practices, resulting mainly from weak enforcement. The weakness is primarily attributed to inadequate regulatory capacity. This report provides an appraisal of the accounting and auditing practices within a broader context of the Sri Lanka institutional framework, and the capacity needed to ensure high-quality corporate financial reporting. Building on past achievements, comprehensive efforts are necessary for strengthening the capacity of regulators, and ensuring effective coordination. Also, there is an urgent need for a system of independent oversight of the audit profession that will protect public interest. This report provides a wide range of policy recommendations focusing on building regulatory capacity, strengthening enforcement mechanisms, initiating legal reforms, undertaking awareness programs for shareholders and top management, urging compliance with guidelines of the International Federation of Accountant, improving education and training, introducing independent oversight of the audit profession, strengthening the professional association, publicizing more widely the enforcement actions against non-compliances, upgrading the licensing procedures for accountants and practicing auditors, and, disclosing audit and non-audit fees separately. These recommendations are expected to provide inputs for designing a country action plan that will further improve the accounting and auditing regime of Sri Lanka.Publication Republic of Tunisia : Accounting and Auditing(Washington, DC, 2006-10)This report provides an assessment of accounting, financial reporting, and auditing requirements and practices within the enterprise and financial sectors in Tunisia. The analysis of practices is based among others on the review of a sample of 16 financial statements prepared in accordance with Tunisian accounting standards, including 6 listed enterprise sector companies, 3 listed credit institutions and 3 insurance undertakings (of which 2 are listed). The assessment uses International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), International Standards on Auditing (ISA), and the relevant portions of European Union (EU) law (also known as the acquis communautaire) as benchmarks and draws on international experience and good practices in the field of accounting and audit regulation. As Tunisia deepens its partnership with the EU and becomes more integrated in the world market, the country monitors the development of the acquis communautaire and enacts legislation that draws upon it. This report recommends changes to law and regulations to align the statutory framework with evolving internationally accepted practices. As the new regulations come into force, priorities will then turn toward building the monitoring, supervisory, and disciplinary regimes necessary to ensure effective compliance.
Users also downloaded
Showing related downloaded files
Publication Global Economic Prospects, June 2024(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-06-11)After several years of negative shocks, global growth is expected to hold steady in 2024 and then edge up in the next couple of years, in part aided by cautious monetary policy easing as inflation gradually declines. However, economic prospects are envisaged to remain tepid, especially in the most vulnerable countries. Risks to the outlook, while more balanced, are still tilted to the downside, including the possibility of escalating geopolitical tensions, further trade fragmentation, and higher-for-longer interest rates. Natural disasters related to climate change could also hinder activity. Subdued growth prospects across many emerging market and developing economies and continued risks underscore the need for decisive policy action at the global and national levels. Global Economic Prospects is a World Bank Group Flagship Report that examines global economic developments and prospects, with a special focus on emerging market and developing economies, on a semiannual basis (in January and June). Each edition includes analytical pieces on topical policy challenges faced by these economies.Publication World Development Report 1994(New York: Oxford University Press, 1994)World Development Report 1994, the seventeenth in this annual series, examines the link between infrastructure and development and explores ways in which developing countries can improve both the provision and the quality of infrastructure services. In recent decades, developing countries have made substantial investments in infrastructure, achieving dramatic gains for households and producers by expanding their access to services such as safe water, sanitation, electric power, telecommunications, and transport. Even more infrastructure investment and expansion are needed in order to extend the reach of services - especially to people living in rural areas and to the poor. But as this report shows, the quantity of investment cannot be the exclusive focus of policy. Improving the quality of infrastructure service also is vital. Both quantity and quality improvements are essential to modernize and diversify production, help countries compete internationally, and accommodate rapid urbanization. The report identifies the basic cause of poor past performance as inadequate institutional incentives for improving the provision of infrastructure. To promote more efficient and responsive service delivery, incentives need to be changed through commercial management, competition, and user involvement. Several trends are helping to improve the performance of infrastructure. First, innovation in technology and in the regulatory management of markets makes more diversity possible in the supply of services. Second, an evaluation of the role of government is leading to a shift from direct government provision of services to increasing private sector provision and recent experience in many countries with public-private partnerships is highlighting new ways to increase efficiency and expand services. Third, increased concern about social and environmental sustainability has heightened public interest in infrastructure design and performance. This report includes the World Development Indicators, which offer selected social and economic statistics for 132 countries.Publication Supporting Youth at Risk(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2008)The World Bank has produced this policy Toolkit in response to a growing demand from our government clients and partners for advice on how to create and implement effective policies for at-risk youth. The author has highlighted 22 policies (six core policies, nine promising policies, and seven general policies) that have been effective in addressing the following five key risk areas for young people around the world: (i) youth unemployment, underemployment, and lack of formal sector employment; (ii) early school leaving; (iii) risky sexual behavior leading to early childbearing and HIV/AIDS; (iv) crime and violence; and (v) substance abuse. The objective of this Toolkit is to serve as a practical guide for policy makers in middle-income countries as well as professionals working within the area of youth development on how to develop and implement an effective policy portfolio to foster healthy and positive youth development.Publication World Development Report 2019(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2019)Work is constantly reshaped by technological progress. New ways of production are adopted, markets expand, and societies evolve. But some changes provoke more attention than others, in part due to the vast uncertainty involved in making predictions about the future. The 2019 World Development Report will study how the nature of work is changing as a result of advances in technology today. Technological progress disrupts existing systems. A new social contract is needed to smooth the transition and guard against rising inequality. Significant investments in human capital throughout a person’s lifecycle are vital to this effort. If workers are to stay competitive against machines they need to train or retool existing skills. A social protection system that includes a minimum basic level of protection for workers and citizens can complement new forms of employment. Improved private sector policies to encourage startup activity and competition can help countries compete in the digital age. Governments also need to ensure that firms pay their fair share of taxes, in part to fund this new social contract. The 2019 World Development Report presents an analysis of these issues based upon the available evidence.Publication Europe and Central Asia Economic Update, Fall 2024: Better Education for Stronger Growth(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-10-17)Economic growth in Europe and Central Asia (ECA) is likely to moderate from 3.5 percent in 2023 to 3.3 percent this year. This is significantly weaker than the 4.1 percent average growth in 2000-19. Growth this year is driven by expansionary fiscal policies and strong private consumption. External demand is less favorable because of weak economic expansion in major trading partners, like the European Union. Growth is likely to slow further in 2025, mostly because of the easing of expansion in the Russian Federation and Turkiye. This Europe and Central Asia Economic Update calls for a major overhaul of education systems across the region, particularly higher education, to unleash the talent needed to reinvigorate growth and boost convergence with high-income countries. Universities in the region suffer from poor management, outdated curricula, and inadequate funding and infrastructure. A mismatch between graduates' skills and the skills employers are seeking leads to wasted potential and contributes to the region's brain drain. Reversing the decline in the quality of education will require prioritizing improvements in teacher training, updated curricula, and investment in educational infrastructure. In higher education, reforms are needed to consolidate university systems, integrate them with research centers, and provide reskilling opportunities for adult workers.