Digital Repository for Accounting Department

Purpose - This paper aims to examine the role and significance of accounting and auditing in developing countries - Arab countries in creating transparency and drive for the national economy. It provides contextual background information on the state of Accounting in Arab countries. This paper attempts to show how effective accounting and auditing help in promoting and supporting national competitiveness in today’s globalised and complex world. The paper seeks to critically assess the effectiveness and performance accounting and auditing in Arab countries. It will highlight the factors affecting the role and function of accounting and auditing. Methodology / Approach - The paper is based on data collected from various documents including those published by the authors (such as articles at journals and books), as well as information from business laws that organized accounting in Arab countries. Findings – we found that accounting systems and auditing procedures in most Arab countries were designed to cater for the needs of centrally planned economy and they are currently struggling to keep pace with the developed world. The accounting and auditing systems in developing and Arab countries set clear objectives mainly to provide accounting information, including: (i) financial information; (ii) tax information; and (iii) statistical information. They lack standardization and uniformity as they seem to be applied differently across sectors and industries. Originality: This is the first study (in researcher knowledge) that describes and explains the accounting and auditing in most Arab countries. The paper contributes to the literature by providing a broader picture about the obstacles and problems that effect on developing accounting in Arab countries. Keywords – Accounting, Auditing, Arab Countries, and Education arabic 9 English 55
Mohamed Abulgasem Zakari(2-2013)

This study investigates the challenges that face implementing of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) by Libyan firms. In particular, this paper analyses the effect of legal, economic, accounting education and culture structures on adopting of IFRS in the Libyan context. A questionnaire was used to collect data regarding the effect of some selected challenges on IFRS adoption in Libya. The results of the study indicate that IFRS adoption by Libyan companies has faced some obstacles such as accounting education and economic issues. This research extends accounting literature by studying the challenges of IFRS in Libya (a developing country), focusing on the impact of legal, accounting education, economic and culture in IFRS implementation. arabic 11 English 71
Mohamed Zakari(11-2014)

This paper aims to investigate the extent to which board of directors’ mechanism is implemented in Libyan listed companies. This includes a consideration of composition, duties and responsibilities of the board directors. This study employed a questionnaire survey to collect required data from four key stakeholder groups: Boards of Directors (BD), Executive Managers (EM), Regulators and External Auditors (RE) and Other Stakeholders (OS). The results of this study provided evidence that Libyan listed companies generally comply with the Libyan Corporate Governance Code (LCGC) requirements regarding the board composition: the findings assert that most boards have between three and eleven members, the majority of whom are non-executives and at least two or one-third of whom (whichever is greater) are independent. Moreover, the results indicate that general assemblies in Libyan listed companies are practically committed to the LCGC’s requirements regarding the appointment of board members and their length of tenure. The findings provide evidence that boards in Libyan listed companies are carrying out their duties and responsibilities in accordance with internal regulations and laws, as well as the stipulations of the LCGC (2007). Furthermore, the stakeholder groups were broadly satisfied that board members are devoting sufficient time and effort to discharge these duties and responsibilities properly. This study helps to enrich our understanding and knowledge of the current practice of corporate boards as a significant mechanism of corporate governance (CG) by being the first to address the board of directors’ mechanism in Libyan listed companies. arabic 24 English 97
Mohamed Zakari, Jill Atkins, Ismail Elshahoubi(1-2018)