Accounting Theory and Accountability: Corporate Performance Impact

This report delves into the realm of accounting theory and accountability, specifically examining the impact of corporate governance mechanisms on corporate performance. The study identifies the area of research as corporate governance issues in Australia and their effect on firm value and market behavior. It poses the research question: "What is the impact of the system of corporate governance on corporate performance?" The report analyzes several academic journals, including works by Wu et al., Raut, Dignam and Galanis, Yermack, Christie et al., Banker et al., and Matolcsy and Wright, to explore the influence of board structure, CEO compensation, shareholder rights, and information disclosure on corporate outcomes. The findings suggest that good governance practices, including effective board structure, transparent reporting, and fair compensation, are crucial for enhancing firm performance. The report concludes that issues such as power asymmetry and conflicting shareholder interests can negatively impact operational efficiency. The analysis underscores the importance of robust corporate governance frameworks in fostering sustainable business practices and maximizing shareholder value.

Running head: ACCOUNTING THEORY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Accounting Theory and Accountability
University Name
Student Name
Authors’ Note

2
ACCOUNTING THEORY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Abstract
Corporate governance can be considered as a system of regulations, practices as well as procedures by
which a business concern is directed and simultaneously controlled. The current study intends to
analyse the impact of mechanisms of corporate governance as well as issues associated to corporate
governance on corporate performance.

3
ACCOUNTING THEORY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Table of Contents
Introduction..............................................................................................................................................3
Identification of an area of research........................................................................................................3
Research Question...................................................................................................................................4
Reference to academic journals...............................................................................................................4
Discussion of the findings........................................................................................................................8
Conclusion...............................................................................................................................................8
References..............................................................................................................................................10

4
ACCOUNTING THEORY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Introduction
Corporate governance can be considered as a procedure that intends to allocate various corporate
resources in a way that can maximize shareholder’s value. The current study intends to critically
analyse the influence of different mechanisms of corporate governance and the issues related to
corporate governance on corporate performance. In a way, this study aims to analyse various issues
associated to corporate governance that involves analysing diverse roles of the board as well as
management, composition of board and mix of different executives, disclosures, rights and treatment
of shareholders and transparency of disclosures.
Identification of an area of research
Corporate governance issues in Australia and its impact on corporate performance are the area of
research selected for the current study. This specific area of corporate governance can be considered
to very important as this can help in describing the overall state of corporate governance system in
Australia and their likely impact on value of firm as well as stock market behaviour. In essence the
state of particularly corporate governance in Australia has acquired much media attention as well as
policy attention since the social along with the financial insinuations of corporate collapses came to
light (Ammann et al. 2013). Some of the most important in the regional financial press of Australia
have been the enquiry of governance irregularities that involves unlawful behaviour of the
management in firms such as HIH and One Tel that eventually led to their liquidification. Thus, this
study can be considered to be of importance and interest as this can help in understanding the entire
procedure that aims to allocate different corporate resource, set of procedures, policies, regulations
and institutions exerting influence on the way a corporation runs and performs (Lins et al. 2017).
Research Question
The research question that can be framed based on the objective of the study is as presented below:-
- What is the impact of system of corporate governance on corporate performance?

5
ACCOUNTING THEORY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Reference to academic journals
Analysis of the journal: “Effect of corporate governance on firm performance” by Ming-Cheng
Wu, Hsin-Chiang Lin and I-Cheng Lin
As correctly put forward by Christensen et al. (2015), world bank during the year 1999 mentions that
corporate governance mainly comprises of two different mechanisms that includes internal as well as
external corporate governance. In essence, internal corporate governance delivers priority to the
interests of the shareholders and functions on the board to supervise top management of the firms.
Conversely, external corporate governance monitors and simultaneously controls behaviours of
managers by means of external regulations. As regards structure of the board, Christensen et al.
(2015) asserts that the board acts as a bridge between owners as well as managers and protects the
interests of the shareholders. Taking liability for handling and monitoring, the board need to monitor
behaviours of managers for the sake of the interest of the shareholders, frame vital decisions, and
employ dedicated team of management as well as superintended corporations to obey the regulations.
Grossi et al. (2015) stress light on a corporate governance issue that centres around size of the board
of a firm. () find that directors operating in a large board have different viewpoints and therefore it
becomes very difficult to reach a consensus. Eventually, this leads to lower level of efficiency in
board operations and lead to deterioration of situations. Chen et al. (2016) unveils that size of the
board is negatively associated to the performance of firms. However, Chen et al. (2016) asserts a
different opinion that emphasizes the fact those large sized boards refers to members with different
backgrounds as well as viewpoints that in turn can prove to be helpful for the overall quality of
decisions. Moreover, a wide range of interests might help in neutralizing various decisions of the
board. Tricker and Tricker (2015) investigates the nature of association between composition of board
and diverse financial scams, disclosing that the specific ratio of independent directors in the
corporations having no scandals is said to be higher than the corporations found manipulating
financial assertions.
Yermack (2011) states that function of a board might get weakened and eventually exert adverse
effects on the performance of the firm at the time when chairman of a company assumes the role of a

6
ACCOUNTING THEORY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
chief executive officer and functions both as a decision maker and simultaneously as a supervisor.
Empirical evidences substantiates the fact that duality of the CEO can adversely affect the overall
corporate performance of firms. Nonetheless, in line with the stewardship theory, accountabilities of
firm’s executives might neutralize different self-interest behaviours that are necessarily derived from
the duality of CEO and exert positive influence on the performance of firms.
Analysis of the journal: “Corporate Governance- Concepts and Issues” by Sreeti Raut
Thorough analysis of the academic literature reveals the fact that there are several compliance issues
associated to corporate governance that eventually affects the overall efficiency of operations and
corporate performance. Governance, risk management and compliance or else simply referred to as
GRC mainly encompasses certain activities that includes corporate governance of firms, enterprise
risk management as well as corporate compliance with specific regulations. These activities are
primarily carried out to avert conflicts, inefficient conflicts as well as gaps (Christie et al. 2013).
Analysis of the literature reveals that the main issues involved in the corporate governance of firms
include asymmetry in power and information, diverse interests of shareholders as residual holders,
role of specific management, and particular theories of parting of theories, division of corporate pie
among the involved shareholders.
Analysis of the journal: “Australia Inside-Out: The Corporate Governance System Of The
Australian Listed Market” penned by Alan Dignam and Michael Galanis
Evaluation of the present article helps in understanding financial system as well as governance results,
patterns of ownership in different publicly listed firms of Australia, control of various block holders
and information flow. As per theory, no accountability issues is said to arise either within the system
of corporate governance. In case when there exists an insider system, the divergence between diverse
interests of the shareholders as well as managers of the corporations can help in the process of
resolving any kind of agency problem of the firm (Banker et al. 2013). However, in case of an
outsider system, accountability issues do not occur in case if the share markets are efficient enough
and prices of shares reflect with the comparative accuracy the overall value of diverse corporate

7
ACCOUNTING THEORY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
functions. Supposing market efficiency, restraints from the market for the purpose of corporate
control or else for discipline delivered by the requirement to return to the capital market for financing
can prove to be adequate to hold back management decisions (Matolcsy et al. 2012).
Analysis of the journal: “Higher market valuation companies with a small board of directors”,
Journal of Financial Economics” by Yermack
Critical analysis of the current article reveals the evidences that are consistent with diverse theories
substantiating the fact that small sized boards are more effectual. Matolcsy and Wright (2011) asserts
that value of a firm essentially relies on the overall quality of monitoring as well as process of
decision making of board of directors. Thus, by using a straight forward model of the association
between value of firm and size of the board and regression of a set of different explanatory variables
as measured against an approximation of Tobin’s Q, the study reveals the nature of relationship
between size of board and firm value.
Analysis of the journal: “Do Board Characteristics influence the Shareholders’ Assessment of
Risk for Small and Large Firms?” penned by Christie, Wyatt, Matolcsy and Wright helps in
understanding various systemic issues of corporate governance. These issues can eventually affect the
overall performance of the firm in the upcoming period. Essentially, in a bid to influence different
directors, firm’s shareholders need to unite with other members to develop a voting group that in turn
can pose a threat of carrying declarations or else appointing directors at general meeting. There
remains barrier to shareholders utilizing proper information can be considered as the cost of
processing the same, particularly to a small shareholder. There also exists problems in supply of
diverse accounting information, essentially imperfections in the manner of financial reporting
procedure might cause imperfections in the efficiency of corporate governance. Matolcsy et al.
(2012) pinpoints that financial reporting scam, counting non-disclosures as well as deliberate
falsification of specific values also contribute to information risk of different users. In order to lessen
the risks and to augment the perceived integrity of diverse financial reports, firms can carry out audit
pecuniary reports by independent external assessors. Thorough investigation on the association

8
ACCOUNTING THEORY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
between performance of corporations and compensation of executive does not detect consistent as
well as important relations between remuneration of executives and corporate performance.
Analysis of the journal “The Relation between CEO Compensation and Post Performance” by
Banker, Darrough, Huang and Dujowich reflects the fact that performance incentives of CEO arise
from possession of shares of firms, whilst other associates discovered that the association between
share ownership and corporate performance was reliant on ownership level. However, the outcomes
recommend that enhancement in ownership over and above 20% direct management to be rooted, and
less concerned about shareholders’ welfare. () argue that corporate performance is positively related
to different share option tactics and that these tactics direct energies of the managers and extend
decision horizons toward long-term performance instead of short-term performance of the corporation
(Banker et al. 2013).
Analysis of the journal: “‘CEO compensation structure and firm performance’, Accounting and
Finance,” penned by Matolcswy and Wright shows important financial insinuations of the CEO
compensation on corporate performance. The observations of the study reflects the fact that
corporations whose CEOs accept compensation that essentially is inconsistent with characteristics of
corporations reflect a low performance as compared to corporations in which compensations of CEOs
are consistent with the characteristics of the firm (Matolcsy and Wright 2011).
Analysis of the journal: “The Timing of Changes in CEO Compensation from Cash Bonus to
Equity-based Compensation: Determinants and Performance Consequences." Journal of
Contemporary Accounting & Economics by Matolcsy, Shan and Seethamraju helps in
understanding the fact that a specific combination of different accounting alterations as well as issues
of governance directed options to eventually become less popular means of compensation. In addition
to this,
Matolcsy et al. (2012) asserted that there exist different alternative applications of buybacks surfaced
to defy the dominance of particularly cash buybacks in the open market as the favoured way of
applying a share repurchase plan.

9
ACCOUNTING THEORY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Discussion of the findings
Based on the observations and findings of the prior academic literature it can be hereby mentioned
that good governance can help in encouraging and guiding firms to adopt diverse superior practices.
These practices help in laying solid foundations for management, addition of value through effective
board structure, safeguarding integrity in corporate reporting. In addition to this, results of the study
also reflect implementation of timely and balanced disclosures, respecting authority of diverse
security holders and remunerating fairly. Certain issues of corporate governance such as asymmetry in
power as well as information, different interests of shareholders as residual holders, function of
specific management, and particular theories of parting affects the overall efficiency of operations and
corporate performance.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it can be said that board structure as well as board size is notably and negatively
associated to performance of firm, reflecting that, in a large board, diversity of opinion of different
insiders’ has a negative influence on arriving at decisions, that is again detrimental to performance of
firm. Again, CEO duality is unhelpfully and negatively associated to corporate performance. In
addition, the current study also helps in gaining comprehensive understanding regarding the fact that
insider ownership has a positive as well as important relation with corporate performance.

10
ACCOUNTING THEORY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
References
Ammann, M., Oesch, D. and Schmid, M.M., 2013. Product market competition, corporate
governance, and firm value: Evidence from the EU area. European Financial
Management, 19(3), pp.452-469.
Banker, R.D, M.N Darrough, R.Huang and J.M Plehn-Dujowich, 2013, “The Relation
between CEO Compensation and Post Performance, The Accounting Review, 88-1, pp. 1-3
Chen, V., Ramsay, I. and Welsh, M.A., 2016. Corporate law reform in Australia: An analysis
of the influence of ownership structures and corporate failure.
Christensen, J., Kent, P., Routledge, J. and Stewart, J., 2015. Do corporate governance
recommendations improve the performance and accountability of small listed
companies?. Accounting & Finance, 55(1), pp.133-164.
Christie, J.A, Matolcsy, Z.P, Wright, A and Wyatt, A, 2013 “Do Board Characteristics
influence the Shareholders’ Assessment of Risk for Small and Large Firms?” Abacus Vol.
42, No.2, pp. 161-196.
Grossi, G., Papenfuß, U. and Tremblay, M.S., 2015. Corporate governance and accountability
of state-owned enterprises: relevance for science and society and interdisciplinary research
perspectives. International Journal of Public Sector Management, 28(4/5), pp.274-285.
Lins, K.V., Servaes, H. and Tamayo, A., 2017. Social capital, trust, and firm performance:
The value of corporate social responsibility during the financial crisis. The Journal of
Finance.
Matolcsy, Z, Shan, Y, and Seethamraju V, V., 2012, "The Timing of Changes in CEO
Compensation from Cash Bonus to Equity-based Compensation: Determinants and

11
ACCOUNTING THEORY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Performance Consequences." Journal of Contemporary Accounting & Economics, Vol.8,
pp.78-91.
Matolcsy, Z.P and Wright, A, 2011, ‘CEO compensation structure and firm performance’,
Accounting and Finance, Vol.51, pp.745-763.
Schultz, E., Tian, G.Y. and Twite, G., 2013. Corporate governance and the CEO pay–
performance link: Australian evidence. International Review of Finance, 13(4), pp.447-472.
Tricker, R.B. and Tricker, R.I., 2015. Corporate governance: Principles, policies, and
practices. Oxford University Press, USA.
Yermack, D, 2011, “Higher market valuation companies with a small board of directors”,
Journal of Financial Economics, Vol. 40, pp 185-211.