Abstract
This study reviews research on the quality of financial reports. It highlights the influencing factors of financial reporting quality, provides more information for measuring and improving financial reporting quality, and offers suggestions for future research. By the method proposed by Tranfield et al. (2003), this paper conducted a literature review on the quality of financial reports and their related terms, influencing factors and measurement methods. When conducting the literature search, Scopus and Google Scholar search engines were used to screen top-ranked journals, such as Science Direct and Emerald, to find high-quality papers. The selected online publishing materials cover the period from 2020 to 2023. This review found that previous research discussed the quality of financial reporting using different metrics and various theories. In addition, this study also revealed the factors that influence the improvement of financial reporting quality in emerging countries. This article contends that due to the lack of empirical research on the quality of financial reports from the perspective of other stakeholders, future research needs to focus on the impact of corporate stakeholders on financial report quality, especially in emerging countries.
Keywords
References
- Al-Begali, S. A. A., & Phua, L. K. (2023). Accruals, real earnings management, and CEO demographic attributes in emerging markets: Does concentration of family ownership count? Cogent Business and Management, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2023.2239979
- AL-Duais, S. D., Malek, M., Abdul Hamid, M. A., & Almasawa, A. M. (2022). Ownership structure and real earnings management: evidence from an emerging market. Journal of Accounting in Emerging Economies, 12(2), 380–404. https://doi.org/10.1108/JAEE-01-2021-0008
- Al-Enzy, N. S. Kh, Monem, R., & Nahar, S. (2023). IFRS experience and earnings quality in the GCC region. International Journal of Managerial Finance, 19(3), 670–690. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMF-09-2021-0410
- Alhadab, M., Abdullatif, M., & Mansour, I. (2020). Related party transactions and earnings management in Jordan: the role of ownership structure. Journal of Financial Reporting and Accounting, 18(3), 505–531. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFRA-01-2019-0014
- Alhaddad, L. M., Whittington, M., & Gerged, A. M. (2022). Abnormal real activities, meeting earnings targets, and firms’ future operating performance: evidence from an emerging economy. Journal of Accounting in Emerging Economies, 12(2), 213–237. https://doi.org/10.1108/JAEE-07-2020-0161
- Alkebsee, R., Alhebry, A. A., & Tian, G. (2022). Whose cash compensation has more influence on real earnings management, CEOs or CFOs? Journal of Accounting in Emerging Economies, 12(1), 187–210. https://doi.org/10.1108/JAEE-12-2020-0336
- Alkebsee, R. H., & Habib, A. (2021). Media coverage and financial restatements: evidence from China. Asian Review of Accounting, 29(4), 505–524. https://doi.org/10.1108/ARA-05-2021-0092
- Alsultan, A., & Hussainey, K. (2023). The moderating effect of corporate liquidity on the relationship between financial reporting quality and dividend policy: evidence from Saudi Arabia. Journal of Financial Reporting and Accounting. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFRA-05-2023-0247
- Arianpoor, A., & Sahoor, Z. (2023). The impact of business strategy and annual report readability on financial reporting quality. Journal of Asia Business Studies, 17(3), 598–616. https://doi.org/10.1108/JABS-10-2021-0439
- Baatwah, S. R., Aljaaidi, K. S., Almoataz, E. S., & Salleh, Z. (2023). Culture and financial reporting quality in GCC countries: what do we know about tribal culture? International Journal of Emerging Markets, 18(4), 788–821. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOEM-04-2020-0439
- Bansal, M., & Garg, A. (2021). Do high-quality standards ensure higher accounting quality? A study in India. Accounting Research Journal, 34(6), 597–613. https://doi.org/10.1108/ARJ-06-2020-0162
- Bhatti, K. I., Husnain, M. I. U., Saeed, A., Naz, I., & Hashmi, S. D. (2022). Are top executives important for earnings management and firm risk? Empirical evidence from selected Chinese firms. International Journal of Emerging Markets, 17(9), 2239–2257. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOEM-09-2019-0734
- Can, G. (2020). Do Life-Cycles Affect Financial Reporting Quality? Evidence from Emerging Markets. Cogent Business and Management, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2020.1854147
- Can, G. (2021). Does Sharia compliance affect financial reporting quality? Evidence from Muslim majority countries. International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management, 14(1), 16–33. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMEFM-04-2019-0149
- Dalwai, T., Mohammadi, S. S., Chugh, G., & Salehi, M. (2023). Does intellectual capital and corporate governance have an impact on annual report readability? Evidence from an emerging market. International Journal of Emerging Markets, 18(9), 2402–2437. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOEM-08-2020-0965
- El-Dyasty, M. M., & Elamer, A. A. (2023). Female leadership and financial reporting quality in Egypt. Journal of Applied Accounting Research, 24(3), 583–605. https://doi.org/10.1108/JAAR-11-2021-0315
- Golmohammadi Shuraki, M., Pourheidari, O., & Azizkhani, M. (2020). Accounting comparability, financial reporting quality, and audit opinions: evidence from Iran. Asian Review of Accounting, 29(1), 42–60. https://doi.org/10.1108/ARA-06-2020-0087
- Graf-Vlachy, L., Oliver, A. G., Banfield, R., König, A., & Bundy, J. (2020). Media Coverage of Firms: Background, Integration, and Directions for Future Research. Journal of Management, 46(1), 36–69. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206319864155
- Gull, A. A., Atif, M., Issa, A., Usman, M., & Siddique, M. A. (2021). Female CEO succession and audit fees: evidence from China. Managerial Auditing Journal, 36(3), 485–509. https://doi.org/10.1108/MAJ-09-2020-2824
- Habib, A., & Hasan, M. M. (2020). Business strategies and annual report readability. Accounting & Finance, 60(3), 2513–2547. https://doi.org/10.1111/acfi.12380
- Harymawan, I., Nasih, M., Rahayu, N. K., Kamarudin, K. A., & Wan Ismail, W. A. (2022). Busy CEOs and financial reporting quality: evidence from Indonesia. Asian Review of Accounting, 30(3), 314–337. https://doi.org/10.1108/ARA-11-2021-0203
- Herath, S. & Albarqi, N. (2017). Financial Reporting Quality: A Literature Review. In International Journal of Business Management and Commerce, 2(2). www.ijbmcnet.com
- Houcine, A. (2017). The effect of financial reporting quality on corporate investment efficiency: Evidence from the Tunisian stock market. Research in International Business and Finance, 42, 321–337. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ribaf.2017.07.066
- Jiang, F., & Kim, K. A. (2020). Corporate Governance in China: A Survey. Review of Finance, 24(4), 733–772. https://doi.org/10.1093/rof/rfaa012
- Kaawaase, T. K., Nairuba, C., Akankunda, B., & Bananuka, J. (2021). Corporate governance, internal audit quality, and financial reporting quality of financial institutions. Asian Journal of Accounting Research, 6(3), 348–366. https://doi.org/10.1108/AJAR-11-2020-0117
- Klish, A. A., Shubita, M. F. S., & Wu, J. (2022). IFRS adoption and financial reporting quality in the MENA region. Journal of Applied Accounting Research, 23(3), 570–603. https://doi.org/10.1108/JAAR-08-2020-0155
- Kontesa, M., Lako, A., & Wendy, W. (2020). Board capital and earnings quality with different controlling shareholders. Accounting Research Journal, 33(4–5), 593–613. https://doi.org/10.1108/ARJ-01-2020-0017
- Kothari, S. P., Leone, A. J., & Wasley, C. E. (2005). Performance matched discretionary accrual measures. Journal of Accounting and Economics, 39(1), 163–197. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacceco.2004.11.002
- Kutan, A., Laique, U., Qureshi, F., Rehman, I. U., & Shahzad, F. (2021). A survey on national culture and corporate financial decisions: current status and future research. International Journal of Emerging Markets, 16(7), 1234–1258. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOEM-12-2019-1050
- Larcker, D. F., & Richardson, S. A. (2004). Fees Paid to Audit Firms, Accrual Choices, and Corporate Governance. Journal of Accounting Research, 42(3), 625–658. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-679X.2004.t01-1-00143.x
- Lu, H., Shin, J. E., & Zhang, M. (2023). Financial reporting and disclosure practices in China. Journal of Accounting and Economics, 76(1). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacceco.2023.101598
- Luo, S., & Song, F. (2022). Principles-based versus rules-based: accounting standards precision and financial restatements in China. Asian Review of Accounting, 30(4), 581–615. https://doi.org/10.1108/ARA-09-2021-0177
- Madawaki, A., Ahmi, A., & Ahmad, H. N. (2022). Internal audit functions, financial reporting quality, and the moderating effect of senior management support. Meditari Accountancy Research, 30(2), 342–372. https://doi.org/10.1108/MEDAR-04-2020-0852
- Mahdi Sahi, A., Sahi, A. M., Abbas, A. F., & F. A. Khatib, S. (2022). Financial reporting quality of financial institutions: Literature review. In Cogent Business and Management, 9(1). Cogent OA. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2022.2135210
- Makhlouf, M. H. (2024). Audit committee and impression management in financial annual reports: evidence from Jordan. EuroMed Journal of Business, 19(3), 462–485. https://doi.org/10.1108/EMJB-01-2022-0009
- Mardessi, S. (2022). Audit committee and financial reporting quality: the moderating effect of audit quality. Journal of Financial Crime, 29(1), 368–388. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFC-01-2021-0010
- Marzuki, H., Hasnan, S., & Ali, M. M. (2022). CONTEMPORARY REVIEW OF CORRUPTION RISK STUDIES. In Corporate Governance and Organizational Behavior Review, 6(2), 255–267. Virtus Interpress. https://doi.org/10.22495/cgobrv6i2sip10
- Musa, A., Abdul Latif, R., & Abdul Majid, J. (2023). CEO attributes, board independence, and real earnings management: Evidence from Nigeria. Cogent Business and Management, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2023.2194464
- Naz, A., Krošláková, M. N., Farheen, I., ?virik, M., & Michálková, A. (2023). Nexus between corporate governance and earnings management in family and non-family firms. E a M: Ekonomie a Management, 26(2), 42–57. https://doi.org/10.15240/tul/001/2023-2-003
- Nguyen, T. H. H., Ntim, C. G., & Malagila, J. K. (2020). Women on corporate boards and corporate financial and non-financial performance: A systematic literature review and future research agenda. International Review of Financial Analysis, 71, 101554. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.irfa.2020.101554
- Ogaluzor, O. I., & Ohaka, J. (2019). Effect of Audit Committee Characteristics on Financial Reporting Quality. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/338458166
- Oradi, J., & Izadi, J. (2020). Audit committee gender diversity and financial reporting: evidence from restatements. Managerial Auditing Journal, 35(1), 67–92. https://doi.org/10.1108/MAJ-10-2018-2048
- Orazalin, N. (2020). Board gender diversity, corporate governance, and earnings management: Evidence from an emerging market. Gender in Management, 35(1), 37–60. https://doi.org/10.1108/GM-03-2018-0027
- Patricia, M. D., Richard, G. S. & Amy, P. S. (1995). Detecting Earnings Management. The Accounting Review, 70(2), 193–225. http://www.jstor.org/stable/248303
- Rajeevan, S., & Ajward, R. (2020). Board characteristics and earnings management in Sri Lanka. Journal of Asian Business and Economic Studies, 27(1), 2–18. https://doi.org/10.1108/JABES-03-2019-0027
- Rajpurohit, P. D., & Rijwani, P. R. (2022). Corporate Governance and Quality of Financial Reporting in Emerging Markets: A Structured Literature Review. Indian Journal of Corporate Governance, 15(1), 89–134. https://doi.org/10.1177/09746862221089060
- Rashid, Md. M. (2020). Financial reporting quality and share price movement-evidence from listed companies in Bangladesh. Journal of Financial Reporting and Accounting, 18(3), 425–458. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFRA-01-2019-0019
- Rezaei Pitenoei, Y., Safari Gerayli, M., & Abdollahi, A. (2020). Financial reporting quality and firms’ information environment: a case of Iranian firms. International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management, 14(3), 541–560. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMEFM-04-2019-0146
- Watts, L. R. & Zimmerman, L. J. (1986). Positive accounting theory.
- Safari Gerayli, M., Rezaei Pitenoei, Y., & Abdollahi, A. (2021). Do audit committee characteristics improve financial reporting quality in emerging markets? Evidence from Iran. Asian Review of Accounting, 29(2), 251–267. https://doi.org/10.1108/ARA-10-2020-0155
- Saji, T. G. (2022). Asymmetric financial reporting quality and firm size: conditional evidence from an emerging market. Journal of Applied Accounting Research, 23(5), 977–1004. https://doi.org/10.1108/JAAR-10-2021-0264
- Sani, A. A., Abdul Latif, R., & Al-Dhamari, R. A. (2020). CEO discretion, political connection, and real earnings management in Nigeria. Management Research Review, 43(8), 909–929. https://doi.org/10.1108/MRR-12-2018-0460
- Sassi, N., & Damak-Ayadi, S. (2023). IFRS for SMEs adoption, corporate governance, and quality of financial statements: evidence from Dominican Republic and El Salvador. Journal of Accounting in Emerging Economies, 13(5), 922–946. https://doi.org/10.1108/JAEE-10-2021-0348
- Snyder, H. (2019). Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines. Journal of Business Research, 104, 333–339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.07.039
- Soroushyar, A. (2023). Auditor characteristics and the financial reporting quality: the moderating role of the client business strategy. Asian Journal of Accounting Research, 8(1), 27–40. https://doi.org/10.1108/AJAR-01-2022-0020
- Tarighi, H., Hosseiny, Z. N., Abbaszadeh, M. R., Zimon, G., & Haghighat, D. (2022). How Do Financial Distress Risk and Related Party Transactions Affect Financial Reporting Quality? Empirical Evidence from Iran. Risks, 10(3). https://doi.org/10.3390/risks10030046
- Tran, L. T. H. (2022). Reporting quality and financial leverage: Are qualitative characteristics or earnings quality more important? Evidence from an emerging bank-based economy. Research in International Business and Finance, 60, 101578. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ribaf.2021.101578
- Tran, Y. T., Nguyen, N. P., & Hoang, T. C. (2021). Effects of leadership and accounting capacity on accountability through the quality of financial reporting by public organizations in Vietnam. Journal of Asia Business Studies, 15(3), 484–502. https://doi.org/10.1108/JABS-02-2020-0077
- Tranfield, D., Denyer, D., & Smart, P. (2003). Towards a Methodology for Developing Evidence?Informed Management Knowledge using Systematic Review. British Journal of Management, 14(3), 207–222. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8551.00375
- Tsileponis, N., Stathopoulos, K., & Walker, M. (2020). The monitoring role of the financial press around corporate announcements. Accounting and Business Research, 50(6), 539–573. https://doi.org/10.1080/00014788.2020.1735290
- Wan Mohammad, W. M., & Wasiuzzaman, S. (2019). Effect of audit committee independence, board ethnicity, and family ownership on earnings management in Malaysia. Journal of Accounting in Emerging Economies, 10(1), 74–99. https://doi.org/10.1108/JAEE-01-2019-0001
- Wong, T. J. (2020). Bridging relational networks and markets: corporate governance, accounting information and relational contracts.
- Xie, X., Chang, Y.-S., & Shiue, M.-J. (2022). Corporate life cycle, family firms, and earnings management: Evidence from Taiwan. Advances in Accounting, 56, 100579. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adiac.2021.100579
- Yu, W., Zhu, K., Huang, H., & Teklay, B. (2021). Does Confucianism influence corporate earnings management? Research in International Business and Finance, 56, 101390. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ribaf.2021.101390
- Zamil, I. A., Ramakrishnan, S., Jamal, N. M., Hatif, M. A., & Khatib, S. F. A. (2023). Drivers of corporate voluntary disclosure: a systematic review. Journal of Financial Reporting and Accounting, 21(2), 232–267. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFRA-04-2021-011
- Zhang, H., & Zhao, J. (2023). Stock market liberalization and financial reporting quality. China Journal of Accounting Research, 16(4), 100328. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cjar.2023.100328
Downloads
No downloads have been recorded for this article yet. Figures appear here once readers begin downloading the full text.
How to Cite
Share this article
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Pan Xi, Suhaily Hasnan, Intan Waheedah Othman (Author)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Author (s) should affirm that the material has not been published previously. It has not been submitted and it is not under consideration by any other journal. At the same time author (s) need to execute a publication permission agreement to assume the responsibility of the submitted content and any omissions and errors therein. After submission of revised paper in the light of suggestions of the reviewers, the editorial team edits and formats manuscripts to bring uniformity and standardization in published material.
This work will be licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) and under condition of the license, users are free to read, copy, remix, transform, redistribute, download, print, search or link to the full texts of articles and even build upon their work as long as they credit the author for the original work. Moreover, as per journal policy author (s) hold and retain copyrights without any restrictions.
Keywords
Section
Published in
Vol. 17 No. 2(I) (2025)
Digital Economy, Workforce Transitions & Public Health
View issue contents
Published
Submissions
Have research to publish? Information Management and Business Review welcomes submissions.
Make a Submission