M.Com. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Comm. (Accounting) / Please refer to full text to view abstract.

M.Com. (Financial Management) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Com. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Text in Afrikaans / Hierdie studie is onderneem om aan te dui of wetsvoorskriftelikheid as 'n omgewingsfaktor van finansiele verslagdoening in staat is om te verseker dat f inansiele inligting sinvol vir beleggingsbeslui tneming aan gebruikers geopenbaar word. Die volgende fasette is bespreek: (1) 'n Teoretiese verwysingsraamwerk vir finansiele verslagdoening waarin wetsvoorskriftelikheid beklemtoon is. (2) 'n Oorsig van die historiese en huidige uitwerking van wetsvoorskriftelikheid op finansiele verslagdoening. (3) Wetsvoorskriftelikheid as.'n omgewingsfaktor van finansiele verslagdoening in Suid-Afrika. Soos in die Verenigde Koninkryk, die VSA en Australie, het wetsvoorskrif telikheid in Suid-Af rika die bruikbaarheid van f inansiele state aansienlik verbeter maar daar bestaan tekortkominge in Suid-Afrika, wat aangespreek moet word. Om onafhanklike en volgehoue navorsing te verseker, behoort 'n taakmag aangestel te word sodat wetsvoorskriftelike openbaarmaking voortdurend aan die nuutste omgewingsontwikkelinge kan voldoen. Terselfdertyd behoort wetgewing maatskappye te verplig om basiese ontledingsverhoudings te openbaar vir sinvolle belegg ingsbesluitneming. / This research was undertaken to show whether regulation as an environmental factor of financial reporting can provide useful information for making decisions. The following aspects were discussed: (1) A theoretical framework for financial reporting emphasizing accounting regulation. (2) A review of the historical and current influence of regulation on financial reporting. (3) Regulation as an environmental factor of financial reporting in South Africa. As in the United Kingdom, the USA and Australia, regulation of accounting in South Africa has improved the usefulness of financial reporting to a great extent, but there are still shortcomings in South Africa that require attention. To ensure independent and continuous research, it is recommended that a task force be appointed to enable financial disclosure to cope with the latest environmental developments. The South African law should also force companies to disclose basic analytical ratios for meaningful decision-making. / Management Accounting / M.Com. (Accounting)

M.Com. (Economics) / The aim of this study is to determine whether the different methods of translation are conceptually accounted for. The disclosure practices currently being used in South Africa were evaluated to determine to what extent financial statements comply with the relevant standard of accounting practice. The objective of translation used as basis for the problem of foreign currency translation is compatible with the concept of economic decision-making usefulness. The acceptance of an objective of translation is a prerequisite for a specific methcx1 of translation. The temporal method and the closing rate method are both, depending on the specific circumstances, conceptually accounted for. There are material differences between the approach suggested by Jean Miller and current international practice. All translation differences are, according to this approach, accounted for in the inccme statement. Miller's approach has certain advantages and should be supplied to the business sector for commentary. There are no material differences between the standards of the Accounting Practice Board, the Financial Accounting standards Board, the International Accounting standards Camzi.ttee and the Accounting standards Camzi.ttee when it comes to the translation of the financial statements of foreign operations. Against this backgrexmd, the financial statements of selected ccmpani.es were evaluated for ccmpliance wi th statement RE 112 and exposure draft 83. The evaluation indicated that the closing rate method 1 is being used by the majority of companies. Translation differences are directly accounted for against non-distributable reserves. The assumption is that the business sector would not support: Miller's approach, due to the fact that all translation differences are exempted for in the income statement.

A research report submitted in partial fulfilment of the Degree: Master of Commerce School of Accountancy 2015 / This thesis examines the functioning of the Financial Investigations Panel (FRIP) as a mechanism of accountability in the South African financial reporting environment. Detailed interviews with a sample of technical experts are used to reveal the significant source of coercive, normative and mimetic isomorphic pressure the FRIP is able to exert, acting on the organisations themselves, as well as on the individual preparers and their auditors. This thesis provides the first account of how the FRIP is capable of exerting institutional isomorphic pressure on organisations, those charged with governance, individual preparers and external auditors. In doing so the research contributes to the limited body of interpretive corporate governance research in South Africa, offers evidence in support of the JSE’s decision to establish a proactive monitoring review and, finally, offers support to the fact that South African corporate reporting requirements can be enforced and are not just symbolic. / MT2017

A research report submitted by in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Commerce University of the Witwatersrand September 2017 / The World Wide Web has developed rapidly over the past few years. It has provided a user-friendly platform for companies to disclose their financial information. However, as this disclosure is largely voluntary, the question arises as to what drives companies to disclose their information on their websites voluntarily. Prior research in developed countries tests the influence of certain company characteristics on internet financial reporting. This research report tries to shed light on the determinants of internet financial reporting in the South African context. 80 companies which are listed on the JSE were selected, and the characteristics of each company’s website was thoroughly inspected against an internet financial reporting checklist. Based on the results of the checklist, each company`s website was given a score. This internet financial reporting score was considered as the dependent variable. Six company characteristics were used as independent variables to explain the internet financial reporting score. These were: company size, profitability, block ownership, systematic risk, dual-listing and SRI rating. It was found that company size, dual-listing and SRI rating has a correlation with a company’s likelihood of reporting their financial results online. On the other hand, no correlation was found between profitability, block ownership or systematic risk and a company’s internet financial reporting score. This research was limited to 80 companies listed on the JSE, and was based as a point in time study. Future research can be extended to a larger sample over various stock exchanges, and also over a period of time to consider the trends in disclosure. This study contributes to international literature on the topic and also initiates this field of research in South Africa. This research is intended to assist companies in their voluntary disclosure practices and at the same time assists regulators in considering the need for regulating internet reporting practices. / MT 2018

Text in Afrikaans / Hierdie studie is onderneem om aan te dui of wetsvoorskriftelikheid as 'n omgewingsfaktor van finansiele verslagdoening in staat is om te verseker dat f inansiele inligting sinvol vir beleggingsbeslui tneming aan gebruikers geopenbaar word. Die volgende fasette is bespreek: (1) 'n Teoretiese verwysingsraamwerk vir finansiele verslagdoening waarin wetsvoorskriftelikheid beklemtoon is. (2) 'n Oorsig van die historiese en huidige uitwerking van wetsvoorskriftelikheid op finansiele verslagdoening. (3) Wetsvoorskriftelikheid as.'n omgewingsfaktor van finansiele verslagdoening in Suid-Afrika. Soos in die Verenigde Koninkryk, die VSA en Australie, het wetsvoorskrif telikheid in Suid-Af rika die bruikbaarheid van f inansiele state aansienlik verbeter maar daar bestaan tekortkominge in Suid-Afrika, wat aangespreek moet word. Om onafhanklike en volgehoue navorsing te verseker, behoort 'n taakmag aangestel te word sodat wetsvoorskriftelike openbaarmaking voortdurend aan die nuutste omgewingsontwikkelinge kan voldoen. Terselfdertyd behoort wetgewing maatskappye te verplig om basiese ontledingsverhoudings te openbaar vir sinvolle belegg ingsbesluitneming. / This research was undertaken to show whether regulation as an environmental factor of financial reporting can provide useful information for making decisions. The following aspects were discussed: (1) A theoretical framework for financial reporting emphasizing accounting regulation. (2) A review of the historical and current influence of regulation on financial reporting. (3) Regulation as an environmental factor of financial reporting in South Africa. As in the United Kingdom, the USA and Australia, regulation of accounting in South Africa has improved the usefulness of financial reporting to a great extent, but there are still shortcomings in South Africa that require attention. To ensure independent and continuous research, it is recommended that a task force be appointed to enable financial disclosure to cope with the latest environmental developments. The South African law should also force companies to disclose basic analytical ratios for meaningful decision-making. / Management Accounting / M.Com. (Accounting)

M.Com. (Business Management) / Please refer to full text to view abstract