Accrual basis accounting in the Brazilian public sector: empirical research on the usefulness of accounting information

Abstract

This study examined the perceptions of internal and external users and preparers of accounting information in the Brazilian public sector regarding a change to an accrual based accounting system and the potential for such a system to provide informational benefits to decision-makers and managers of public entities. An exploratory survey was conducted using the methodology proposed by Kober, Lee, and Ng (2010), and the data were statistically analyzed using Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney tests. The results indicated that the survey respondents perceived accrual basis accounting as having the potential to provide informational benefits for decision-making within governmental agencies. This result suggests that the adoption of this new accounting system is not entirely driven by a mandatory requirement or pressure from international institutions. Differences in levels of perceived usefulness among different respondent groups suggest that actions taken by the managers of the Brazilian Accounting Standards Applied to the Public Sector (Normas Brasileiras de Contabilidade Aplicadas ao Setor Público - NBCASP) to improve dissemination of information and implement training programs may be paying off because internal and external users were more likely than other respondents to perceive accrual basis accounting as having high potential for generating information for decision-making. Additionally, these results indicate the need for NBCASP managers to focus the implementation process on the activities of other stakeholders (internal and external users) to generate an environment that is receptive to this new paradigm.