Career Advancement of Female Accountants in Accounting Professional Practice in Nigeria

The purpose of this study is to examine the factors affecting career advancement of female accountants in accounting professional practice in Nigeria. The study also adopts a survey research design. Even though the study covers the population of accountants in professional practice in Nigeria, a sample of a hundred (Inn) qualified and non-qualified accountants including male and female was selected purposively from the big four accounting firms in Lagos State, Nigeria. The research instrument used is the questionnaire. The data collected was analyzed using chi-square. It was discovered that family responsibilities do not affect career advancement of male and female accountants. Also, the .findings revealed that gender does not influence the access of accountants to opportunities within the job. Finally, it was deduced that gender influences the choice of continuity of accountants in the professional practice of accounting. It is recommended that accounting firms should provide female accountants with more flexible work schedules

Accounting infrastructure and accountability in the management of public expenditure in developing countries: A focus on Nigeria

Accountability in the control and management of public funds is one of the most sensitive aspects of the activities of government in all democracies. Hence, the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria contains provisions relating to legislative powers and control over public funds. However, the required level of accountability in public expenditure has not been achieved in Nigeria. The situation has remained worrisome even though the country does not lack in the appropriate laws and regulation required to bring sanity into the system. Though there have been some bold steps and initiatives in the recent past by the government by strengthening existing institutions and creating new ones with responsibility for fraud and other controls, the issue of weak accounting infrastructure has not been addressed. The paper argues that accountability in public expenditure can more easily be realized within the context of a sound accounting infrastructure and a robust accounting profession and not in the multiplicity of laws and anti-corruption agencies; all of which are reactive in nature. Therefore, the paper reports on the current state of accounting infrastructure in Nigeria, and conclude with an assessment of the existing agencies and current reform initiatives in ensuring accountability in public expenditure in Nigeria

Financial Accounting Numbers and the Emerging Nigerian Stock Market

Using the sample of companies quoted on the Nigeria Stock Exchange, we investigate the extent to which financial accmmting nwnbers are reflectingin their stock price; indicating their value relevance. Accormting data is deemed value relevant if it is significantly connected with the stock price. The methods used for measuring information contents of various accmmting nwnbers were Random Effects Model (REM), Fixed Effects Model (FEM) and Ordinary Least Squared (OLS). The findings reveal that there is a major correlation between financial accmmting mnnbers and prices of the firms' stock compiled on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). Dividends, earnings and net book value are the most commonly used accormting information for making investment decisions in Nigeria. Dividends are more value relevant than earnings and net book value. The study therefore recommends that the quality of earnings of firms be enhanced as manipulated earnings (which have dividends as sub-sets) have large impact on prices of share. The study also has as its recommendation that all quoted companies on the Nigerian Stock Exchange publish Simplified Investor's Swnmary Accmmts (SISA) emphasizing on the accmmting information most widely used along the required obligatory thorough financial statements to fit Nigerian individuality

Gender gap: Enrolment and Career Choices of Accounting Students in Nigerian Universities

This study analysed the trend of gender enrolment and factors influencing the career choices of accounting students in universities in the six geo-political zones in Nigeria. It examined the enrolment pattern of accounting students in 36 universities from 2004/2005 to 2009/2010. It also examined the factors influencing the career choices of undergraduate accounting students using data collected from sampled universities through questionnaires and focus group discussions. The results revealed a gap in enrolment between male and female accounting students, with fewer femalestudents in the northern zones than in the southern zones. Factors influencing career choices of accounting students included job security, job availability and high salaries. It was also discovered that females perceived accounting to be rule-based, boring, stressful and narrow. The researchers recommended among others that the Nigerian Government formulate a comprehensive gender policy for tertiary education in favour of females in the northern part of Nigeria. It was also recommended that tertiary teaching staff should make accounting more interesting for students by using practical and case study method

MERGER AND ACQUISITION IN NIGERIA: ANALYSIS OF PERFORMANCE PRE-AND-POST CONSOLIDATION

Abstract The banking reform pronounced on the 6th of July, 2004 had been a major wave towards a diversified, strong and reliable banking sector in Nigeria. This paper examined the mega banks by evaluating their performance four years after the consolidation exercise in Nigeria. It examined the impact of consolidation on performance and considers if there had been considerable improvement on their profitability, liquidity and solvency. In this study, we analyzed the performance ratio of a sample of thirteen (13) mega banks. A descriptive analysis of these performance ratios was carried out. Correlation Analysis was used to test the impact of the consolidation on the performance measurement parameters. We found that, on average, bank consolidation resulted into improved performance. The paper therefore suggests that the bank management should embrace broad product strategies, which could help in generating more income for the banks. They should also embrace diversification and financial innovation in order to produce new products and services. Keywords: Consolidation, Bank reforms, Performance measures, Ratios JEL Classification: G21, G28, G3

Evaluation of the Role of Accounting Information on the Nigeria Stock Market Growth

This paper evaluates the role of accounting numbers in the Nigerian Stock market growth by analyzing changes in share prices of firms listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange to accounting earnings and net book value. The method of estimating the information content of accounting information is Ordinary Least Squared. The study finds that there is a significant relationship between accounting numbers and share prices of companies list on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. The paper advocates for more efficient accounting system that will bring about the required reliable accounting data and information which will in turn increase investors ' confidence in the Nigerian stock marke

Stock Market, Financial Reforms and Economic Growth in Nigeria: An Empirical Analysis

The paper investigates the relationship between stock market and economic growth. It also examines the contribution of the Nigerian Stock market to the real activity before and after the introduction of financial reforms. This paper empirically shows the link between stock market and economic growth. The study covers a period of 32years (1970-2001} using two different regressions. The first regression covers the period 1970- 1985: a period before Structural Adjustment Progrmme (SAP}/ and the second regression covers the period 1986-2001: a period after SAP. The SAP period corresponds with the period when the deregulation of the financial market was in vogue in the Nigerian economy. Ordinary Least Squares Estimation technique is used in analyzing the data. In our study we observe that stock market development significantly correlates with real gross domestic product. This finding suggests tha0 policy measures that improve efficiency of the Nigerian stock market would promote economic growth

EXTENT OF ADOPTION OF INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL REPORTING STANDARDS (IFRS) FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM SCALE ENTERPRISES (SMEs) IN NIGERIA

This study examines the extent of adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (/FRS) for SMEs by Nigerian Small and Medium Enterprises by Nigerian (SMEs), the level of awareness and the hindrances preventing the adoption of /FRS for SMEs in Nigeria. The survey research method was adopted in data collection while one sample t-test was used to test the hypotheses formulated for the research study. The analysis of responses from the administered questionnaires showed that although there was awareness of /FRS for SMEs by Nigerian SMEs, the extent of adoption was low, and there were impediments preventing the adoption of the standard by Nigerian SMEs such as complexity of the standard, lack of interest and inadequacy of accountants that were /FRS competent. The study recommends that more awareness of /FRS for SMEs should be created among owners, managers, accountants, auditors and stakeholders of SMEs, and they should a/so be encouraged to adopt the standard by emphasizing the incentives associated with /FRS adoption. Professional Accounting bodies such as /CAN and ANAN should a/so provide subsidized training through events such as seminars and workshops, and management teams of SMEs should show interest in the standard, and encourage their employees to do the same by sending them for trainings

International Financial Reporting Standards and Foreign Direct Investment in Nigeria

lmernational Financial Reporting Standards (I FRS) have been accepted in countries main~l ' because it is wide~v believed tlwt those standards enhance transparency in the preparation of financial statements. Consequent~v, increased transparency should lead to enhanced Foreign Direct Investments (FDI). The purpose of this paper was to ascertain the impact of /FRS on FDI as it affects the Nigerian econon~v. Using data from secondary and primary sources, the results from the regression ana~vsis showed that there is a positive but not significant relationship between FDI inflow and I FRS adoption. It was found that the longer a country uses I FRS, the higher the FDI. Furthermore, the perception of the business managers and preparers of financial statements towards FDI could signal their willingness to adopt I FRS. The stuc~v recommends that the financial reporting council of Nigeria (FRCN) should monitor compliance with the requirements of the reporting standards as tllis might help organizations in the long run to secure FD!s

Capital Market and Economic Development in Nigeria

This paper empirically shows the link between capital market and economic development. The study covers a period of 32 years (1970-?pgj) using two different regressions. The first regression covers the period 1970-1985: a period before Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP), and the second regression covers the period 1986-2001: a period after SAP. Ordinary Least Squares Estimation technique is used in analyzing the data. In our study we observe that stock market development significantly correlates with real gross domestic product. The paper therefore suggests that great effort is required to improve upon the efficiency of the Nigerian capital market to engender a speedy economic development