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Purpose This paper aims to examine the mediating role of big data adoption (BDA) on the association between board governance (BG) and audit report lag (ARL). Design/methodology/approach This study uses data extracted from financial reports for a sample from EGX100 over the period from 2015 to 2019. This study applies content analysis approach to measure the level of BDA. This study uses ordinary least squares, structure equation modelling and principal component analysis to investigate the relationship between BG, BDA and ARL. Findings The findings indicate that BDA can be used as a predictor of ARL for companies listed on the Egyptian stock exchange. The results show that board diversity has a significant effect on ARL when BDA is used as a mediator. Research limitations/implications This study only includes technology, telecommunications and health-care industries in the sample. Practical implications This paper raises investor and stakeholder awareness for the importance of BDA and corporate governance (CG) procedures in reducing audit report delays in developing countries such as Egypt. This study can assist regulators in developing audit report requirements and enforcing regulations to guarantee timely audit report publication. Originality/value This paper provides a shred of unique evidence on the role of BDA in mediating the relationship between BG and ARL in a developing country.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to construct an investment account holders' transparency and disclosure (IAH-T&D) index based on the new and revised accounting standard for investment accounts of the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions Standards (AAOIFI) (2020). It also aims to measure and compare the compliance level with IAH-T&D over years and between countries. Design/methodology/approach This study uses the content analysis method to analyze the content of 270 annual reports across 30 Islamic banks (IBs) in 10 Middle East and North Africa countries during the period from 2010 to 2019. Findings This study introduces a new IAH-T&D index which consists of 27 items representing four categories: investment accounts disclosure (11 items), incentive earnings disclosure (1 item), allocations and reserve disclosure (4 items) and general requirements for disclosure (11 items). The analysis shows that the level of IAH-T&D is 51%. The level of compliance varies over the years and across countries. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that offers an original self-constructed-T&D index that could enhance future research related to determinants and consequences of IAH-T&D practice in IBs.

This study seeks to measure the microeconomic consequences of the adoption of the Accounting and Auditing Organisation for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) standards on the conservatism, financial performance (FP), and earnings management (EM) of Islamic banks (IBs). The study draws on data from 122 IBs across 22 countries over a period of eight years (2014–2021), using the generalised method of moments (GMM). The results indicate a positive impact of AAOIFI adoption on financial performance and conservatism compared to non-adopters. Our results further show that IBs that adopt AAOIFI are less involved in EM. After applying robustness checks (corporate governance, inflation, and mandatory adoption of AAOIFI in some countries), our results remain the same. The implications of the study are potentially valuable for those setting accounting standards (such as AAOIFI and International Accounting Standards Board (IASB)), central banks, financial market regulators, investors, governments, and any adopting or non-adopting Islamic financial institutions (IFIs) through identification of the effects of AAOIFI adoption.

Purpose – This paper firstly measure the impact of Board of Directors (BOD); audit committee (AC) and Sharia Supervisory Board (SSB) composition (gender diversity) on earningsquality (EQ) in the Islamic banks (IBs). Secondly, we measure to what extent adoption of IFRS and national culture, which is proxies by Femininity can, moderates the relationship between diversity and EQ. Design/methodology/approach – Hypotheses are tested using pooled OLS-regression models. Our sample comprises 122 IBs across 21 different countries from 2010 to 2017. Our sample include 46 IBs adopter of IFRS and 76 IBs that non-adopter of IFRS as local or Islamic standards. Findings – Evidence reveals that gender diversity in BOD, AC, and SSB is positively associated with EQ activities. Further, adoption IFRS standards by IBs significantly moderate the positive link between board diversity and EQ while shows significantly moderate the negative association between board diversity and EQ for banks that are non-adopter of IFRS. Concerned with the impact of culture; we find that culture dimension of femininity serve as informal institutional forces that influence the association between diversity and EQ. Some results hold and others altered after a number of robustness checks. Originality/value – This study is unique in providing IBs evidence for the moderating effect of accounting standards' adoption and culture on the link between the demographic features of BOD, AC and SSB members and firm outcome. The present study provides a new and far-reaching contribution into the debate about EQ in the context of ethical institutions as IBs as well as contribution into the debate about role of women in board in the context on countries characterized by masculinity community as MENA region or across Muslim countries. Practical implications – The findings have important implications for policymakers, regulators, and investors in their attempts to enhance EQ practices and improve financial reporting quality for IBs.

Purpose– This study seeks to examine whether macro-economic factors influence on the corporate financial development that measured by banks’ Financial Performance (FP), Dividends and Financial Stability (FS) Design/methodology/approach- The balanced panel data regression model has been adopted. The research data includes 220 banks (150 Islamic banks and 70 conventional banks) across 25 countries for 8 years (2012-2019). The macro-economic factors include unemployment and domestic credit to private sector by banks (percentage of GDP). The Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) includes secure Internet servers and individuals using the Internet and finally Innovation Capability. Findings–The results for the impact of innovation support the negative consequence over FP with insignificant effect on dividends and FS. Similarly, the analysis support the negative impact for secure Internet servers on the FP and no significant for other two dependent variables. Related to the impact of Individuals using Internet, we also just find a positive effect on FS. For the influence of the unemployment, the analysis shows positive effect on the FS while shows negative effect on the dividends as well as shows insignificant consequence over the FP. Finally, the analysis supports the positive consequence for the domestic credits on the three corporate indicators (FP, FS, and dividends). After applying robustness tests, the regression analysis shows identical results. Originality/value–The paper supports to what extent the country factors have a good economic consequences over the banks, which may motivate the government and policymakers to ask for more considering of factors as internet and innovation to develop and enhance the level of performance, stability and dividends.

Purpose This paper aims to systematically review the existing studies for Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) standards which include different tracks of researches and then identify the gaps to propose opportunities for future research. Design/methodology/approach By adopting a systematic literature review approach, 46 papers that were published between 2000 and 2020 from 23 journals concerned with AAOIFI were selected for review and analysis. Findings The authors combine electronic searches to identify relevant studies using keywords such as “AAOIFI” or and “Islamic standards.” In light of the existing studies’ limitations, this paper derives and summarizes five leading future research tracks: identifies the research gaps in AAOIFI and then suggests that AAOIFI still requires more empirical analyses; identifies the alternative analytical methods as meta-analysis; identifies additional measurements for macro and microeconomics factors; identifies recent tracks as corresponding to Covid-19 pandemic; and future studies should consider the role of central banks and positive criticism for AAOIFI. Practical implications This analysis address the literature gaps on measuring compliance, determinants and consequences of AAOIFI adoption as this study serves as a guide for the researchers, regulators and Islamic financial institutions in research associated with this area. The findings would support AAOIFI, regulators and related authorities across jurisdictions with suggestions on improving the current AAOIFI practices. Originality/value This literature review is a historical record and guidance for researchers who seek to examine and explore several questions about AAOIFI. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper that applies systematic literature review over AAOIFI research field.

This study examines the interrelationship between cash holdings and financial performance by firstly investigating whether the existence of an optimal cash level maximizes financial performance and secondly measuring the impacts of financial performance over the optimal level of cash holdings. This study uses a sample of 400 financial institutions in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region across 18 different countries over 15 years (2003–2017). The results support the hypothesis about the positive impact of cash holdings over the financial performance as well a positive influence for financial performance over the existence of an optimum level of cash holding. The analysis supports this association through a robustness test by controlling the culture variables based on Hofstede's model as well as through using different alternative measures for cash holdings. This study is one of the original empirical studies that measure the interrelationship between holding cash and the level of financial performance through the banking sector in the MENA context.

Purpose The economic consequence for adopting accounting standards is one of the growing and valuable topics in accounting research. The purpose of this paper is to address the question whether the adoption of Islamic standards that are issued by Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFIs) has a positive effect on the level of earnings management (EM) in the Islamic banks (IBs) setting. The authors measure, in general, the impact of AAOIFI for adopter and non-adopter banks. This paper furthermore investigates whether IBs adopting AAOIFI as compulsory or as voluntary adopters, in general, are being less engaged in earnings manipulation. Design/methodology/approach Using empirical data from 143 IBs across 26 different countries from 2014 to 2018, the paper uses a linear regression model and probit regression analysis that group the banks investigated in this paper into adopters and non-adopters. Additional probit regressions were performed to test to what extent the status of AAOIFI adoption (compulsory or voluntary adopters) has an impact of EM. Findings The adoption of AAOIFI generally is associated with a reduction in the EM level. Furthermore, adopter IBs for AAOIFI is least involved in EM as compared to non-adopter IBs. In addition, the findings of this paper indicate that IBs across countries that mandate AAOIFI standards are less engaged in earnings manipulation as compared to other IBs in countries that adopt AAOIFI as voluntary standards. Research limitations/implications The results reported in this paper provide insights to central banks and regulators regarding the prominence of mandates of AAOIFI standards for IBs to enhance the trust level of stakeholders by reducing the unethical behavior (EM). In addition, this paper supports the applicability of AAOIFI standards for IBs rather than the conventional standards such as IFRS or local GAAP. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the findings are unique at two levels. First, the paper provides evidence on the economic consequences of using AAOIFI in the context of IBs which was not explored by previous research. Second, the paper extends the investigation of the impact of AAOIFI adoption for adopters verses non-adopters, as well as for mandatory verses voluntary adoption of AAOIFI.

This paper investigates to what extent cultural dimensions, based on Hofstede’s model, can clarify differences in cash holding levels. The sample includes 395 banks across 19 countries in the Middle East and North Africa region over a period of 16 years (1999–2014). The findings indicate that when uncertainty avoidance and masculinity decrease, cash holdings increase, whereas when power distance, long-term orientation, and individualism increase, the cash holdings increase correspondingly. Based on robustness analysis, the results remain unaffected even after controlling corporate and macroeconomic characteristics related to inflation, corruption, and the exchange rate system. Further analysis shows insignificant differences between Islamic and non-Islamic banks regarding the influence of culture over cash holdings. This study contributes to the literature regarding the impact of culture on corporate cash holdings based on a unique and different context, through examining this relationship in financial institutions located in the Middle East and North Africa region.

The uniqueness of Islamic banks (IBs) is shown through compliance with Islamic law (Sharia) which is approved through Sharia Supervisory Board (SSB) and presented for stakeholders by Sharia Supervisory Board Report (SSBR). This study seeks to achieve three main objectives as follows: (1) it identifies the degree of IBs’ transparency in compliance with Sharia and their commitment with the governance standards that issued by Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI); (2) it aims to measure the impact of adoption AAOIFI on the degree of Sharia disclosure; and (3) it seeks to test the economic consequences of Sharia disclosure based on its impact on financial performance. We analyse content of annual reports and websites of 120 IBs across 20 different countries for year 2016. Regression analysis shows compliance level for Sharia disclosure based on our index for SSBR is 53% with higher level compliance for IBs that apply AAOIFI standards comparing with banks that adopting International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Therefore, adopting AAOIFI has a positive effect on enhancing the degree of Sharia disclosure. Moreover, Sharia compliance has a positive influence on financial performance based on both Returns on Assets (ROA) and Tobin’s Q as a robustness test. This study adds value to Islamic accounting literature by being a primary study. There is a lack of research on the topic and this paper measures the consequences of Sharia disclosure over the financial performance of IBs as well as the role of Islamic standards (AAOIFI) in enhancing the image of Islamic banks through supporting their compliance with Sharia.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of sharia, social and financial disclosure on stakeholders’ loyalty towards Islamic banks (IBs). The paper also aims to examine the extent to which trust and satisfaction mediate this effect.Design/methodology/approachIt uses data collected from 600 respondents to survey questionnaires disseminated to stakeholders from 15 countries dealing with IBs. Structural equation modelling is adopted with a partial least square approach.FindingsThe results indicate that there is a significant impact of disclosure on stakeholders’ trust, satisfaction, and loyalty. The results also indicate that there is a partial mediating effect of trust and satisfaction in the relationship between disclosure and loyalty. This paper is one of the first studies examining the effect of disclosure on stakeholders’ loyalty. The authors provide novel findings, which have theoretical and practical implications for disclosure in IBs and their relationship with stakeholders.Originality/valueThe analysis offers a novel contribution to the Islamic banking literature by offering the first evidence on the impact of disclosure on stakeholders’ trust, satisfaction, and loyalty.

The previous literature has drawn attention to the relationship between the financial reporting quality which measured by earnings management (EM) practices and commitment to social accountability or corporate social responsibility (CSR). As far as we know- no evidence about this association regarding to Islamic banking context which characterised by ethical; moral commitment and social accountability. Empirical evidence, however, provides inconclusive results regarding the direction of this association. Using simultaneous equations and longitudinal panel data analysis, we examine the bi-directional EM–CSRD relationship for 29 Islamic banks across Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region during 5 years (2012-2016). We demonstrate that, bi-directional EM–CSRD association is not significant. The insignificant findings between EM and CSRD suggest that social reporting for Islamic banks is not being manipulated to cover their EM practices. We provide implications for investors, analysts and regulators

This paper investigates the main factors determining the dividend payout policy and the capital structure decision in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The sample includes 91 non-financial firms listed on the KSA stock market (Tadawal Stock Exchange) for the period between 2012 and 2016. Two models are used mainly the Ordinary Least Square (OLS) for the capital structure decision and Logistic Regression (LR) for the dividend policy decision. OLS results show that the capital structure is positively affected by the firm size, but negatively affected by liquidity, tangible assets, and lagged dividends. However, other variables such as profitability, the current dividend payout ratio, growth opportunities, and life cycle are found to have no impact on the capital structure decision. Furthermore, LR results show that the significant determinants of dividend payout decision are profitability, growth opportunity, and lagged dividends. These results show that the capital structure and the dividend payout decisions are determined differently.

Purpose This paper aims to examine the extent to which financial performance (FP) represents one of the main determinants for tone disclosure (TD) in Egyptian annual reports. The authors also measure the bidirectional relationship between TD and FP. Design/methodology/approach The manual content analysis is used to measure the levels of TD in annual reports for a sample of 105 firms listed on the Egyptian stock market. The sample covers a three-year period (2011-2013). Findings The descriptive analysis in this paper shows that Egyptian firms disclose more good news than bad news. Therefore, the net news disclosure, or net variances, between good/bad is positive. The empirical analysis shows a positive association between the narrative disclosure of good/bad news and FP based on return on assets. The authors also find a highly significant association between the auditor, profitability, leverage, firm growth and financial reporting of good/bad news information. Finally, the results of the ordinary least squares regression show that the causality between the two endogenous variables runs from FP to TD. Thus, TD is determined by FP. Originality/value This study offers a novel contribution to disclosure studies by being the first study to examine TD in one of the developing countries.

This chapter assesses the effects of corporate governance (CG) variables on the level of Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure (CSRD), Shari'ah Supervisory Board Disclosure (SSBD), and Financial Disclosure (FD) for Islamic banks. This study, based on a sample of 95 Islamic banks, assessed this in 2013. The findings suggest that CG mechanisms, firm's age, auditor and shari'ah auditing department are effective in influencing SSBD, CSRD, and FD practices in Islamic banks. This chapter encourages regulators to improve CG mechanisms in their Islamic banking systems through the optimization of ownership structure (dispersed ownership) and the board's characteristics in order to promote transparency and disclosure. Moreover, the findings support theoretical arguments that firms disclose CG information in order to mitigate information asymmetry and agency costs and to improve investor confidence in the reported financial statements. The empirical evidence of this study enhances the understanding of the CG disclosure environment in Islamic banks as a promoting new financial system.

We explored the early Muslim scholars’ contributions to the originality of the Bookkeeping system by comparing the contributions of Western academics with those of Muslim scholars. We investigated, also, the knowledge transfer between East and West and how the early Muslims scholars’ contributions were part of the fundamentals of the Bookkeeping System. A surveying most of essays that concentrating on developments in the historical bookkeeping literature as well as reviewing historical literature about transfer knowledge between East and West. We found that Muslim scholars’ contributions to the originality of the Bookkeeping system could be divided into three stages. Firstly, it began with the foundation of Islam in 610; this sets up the basics of the Bookkeeping System. Secondly, Al-Khwarizmi sets up a comprehensive Bookkeeping System in 976. Thirdly, during the period 1332 to 1418, Al-Nuwayri and Al-Qalqashandi completed the structure of the Bookkeeping System. We found, also, that, from the 8th to the 15th centuries, Muslim scholars represented a knowledge bridge for the West suggesting that Luca Pacioli’s work was the outcomes of the Muslim scholars’ contributions. It is the first study that links the originality of Bookkeeping system with transfer knowledge between East and West. It is the first research that compare between East and West’ contributions towards Bookkeeping’ pyramid

The core objective for this study is introduce the holistic model for Islamic accountants through exploring the perspectives of Muslim scholars; Islamic sharia and AAOIFI ethical standards. The study also contributes to existing literature by exploring the main added value of Muslim accountant towards stakeholders through investigates the main roles of an Islamic accountants. Design/methodology/approach – The paper critically reviews historical debates about Islamic accounting and the characteristics and roles of Islamic accountants. The paper also explores AAOIFI ethics standards to build a holistic model for Islamic accountants. Findings – The main novel findings for the study is that, the characteristics of accountant from the Islamic view should contains personal, ethical, religion and professional qualifications which indicates the holistic approach for Islamic sharia related to Islamic accountants. There is a role for accountant towards investor’s thorough good disclosure in the annual reports and guaranty the compliance of IFI’s working with sharia. These characteristics and roles support the significance of Islamic accountant’s position in the IFI. Originality/value – The paper develops the existing research that linking the Islamic banking with Islamic accountants. The paper novel to contribute by introducing benchmark for Islamic accountants which depends on Islamic holistic model through exploring the Islamic Accountant’s characteristics, we enable academics and researchers to consider the impact of these appointment qualifications on teaching and researching international accounting issues and explore for what extent the Islamic professional’s certificates as CIPA comply with this benchmark

This study is the first to use both Gray and Hofstede models in the context of IBs around the world. It also the first to explore the impact of culture on three different disclosure levels for IBs.

Purpose The authors explore the level and determinants of compliance with Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institution’s (AAOIFI) financial and governance standards by Islamic banks (IBs). Design/methodology/approach The sample consists of 43 IBs across eight countries. The authors use ordinary least squares regression analyses to examine the impact of bank-specific characteristics and corporate governance (CG) mechanisms concerned with Board of Directors (BOD) and Sharia Supervisory Board (SSB) on the levels of compliance with AAOIFI standards. Findings The paper finds that the average compliance level based on AAOIFI standards concerning the SSB is 68 per cent; corporate social responsibility (CSR) is 27 per cent; and presentation of financial statements (FSs) is 73 per cent. The aggregate disclosure based on the three indices is 56 per cent. The analysis also shows that size, existing Sharia-auditing department, age and CG of SSB are the main determinants of compliance levels. Originality/value The determinants of compliance with AAOIFI standards for IBs around the world have not been explored before, and therefore, this paper is the first of its kind to this issue.