DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTING

This study investigates the relationship between capital structure components and corporate financial performance in Nigerian firms, focusing on the consumer goods sector listed on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX). Specifically, it examines the influence of equity capital, short-term debt, long-term debt, and working capital on financial performance, using Return on Assets (ROA) as a key performance indicator. The study adopts a descriptive research design, utilizing secondary data from audited annual reports of 13 consumer goods firms over a five-year period (2019-2023). Findings indicate that equity capital and short-term debt have a significant positive impact on firm profitability, suggesting that a strong equity base and effective short-term debt management are crucial for financial stability and growth. However, long-term debt showed a negative but statistically insignificant relationship with performance, while working capital had a positive but insignificant effect. The study recommends that firms strengthen equity financing, optimize short-term debt, and reduce excessive long-term debt reliance. It also calls for improved working capital management and government policies to reduce borrowing costs for SMEs. The study contributes to capital structure theory in emerging markets, offering insights for financial managers, policymakers, and investors in Nigeria

The adoption of Financial Technology (FinTech) has significantly transformed financial reporting, enhancing accuracy, transparency, efficiency, and compliance. This study examines the impact of FinTech innovations, digital payment systems, blockchain technology, and automated accounting software on financial reporting quality in
Nigerian businesses. A descriptive survey research design was employed, targeting financial professionals, auditors, and business owners within Nigeria. A sample of 363 respondents was determined using Taro Yamane’s formula and selected through a simple random sampling technique. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analysed using multiple linear regression to assess the relationship between FinTech adoption and financial reporting quality. The findings reveal that digital payment systems improve the timeliness of financial reporting by streamlining transaction processing and integration into reporting frameworks. Blockchain technology enhances transparency and security by ensuring immutable and verifiable financial records. Automated accounting software contributes to reporting efficiency and compliance by minimizing human errors
and automating regulatory adherence. The regression analysis (R² = 0.441) confirms that FinTech adoption significantly influences financial reporting quality, explaining 44.1% of the variation in reporting outcomes. The study recommends stronger regulatory frameworks, increased cybersecurity investments, and enhanced digital literacy for financial professionals to maximize the benefits of FinTech in financial reporting. Future research should explore the role of artificial intelligence in financial fraud detection and conduct comparative studies on FinTech adoption across different business sizes.

This study examined the impact of forensic accounting on the growth and development of the Nigerian economy, with specific focus on fraud investigation, litigation support, expert witness services, and financial reporting quality enhancement. The study adopted a survey research design, targeting 110 respondents comprising accountants, auditors, forensic practitioners, and finance officers in selected public sector institutions and professional accounting firms in Edo State. Out of the distributed questionnaires, 110 were duly completed and analyzed using E- Views 10 and SPSS 22. Descriptive statistics and regression analysis were employed to evaluate the data and test the research hypotheses at the 5% significance level. The findings revealed that fraud investigation, expert witness services, and financial reporting quality enhancement significantly influence economic growth and development, with expert witness services exerting the strongest effect. Conversely, litigation support was found to have no significant impact, suggesting institutional and systemic limitations in its application. The study recommends strengthening fraud investigation frameworks, improving expert witness training, embedding forensic oversight in financial reporting, and reforming the judicial system to maximize the developmental potential of forensic accounting practices.

This study examines the determinants of tax effort in Nigeria, focusing on the effect of economic development, economic structure, natural resource dependence, and institutional quality on the country's ability to mobilize domestic revenue. The research
investigates how these factors collectively influence tax performance within the framework of the Fiscal Capacity Theory, which posits that both economic fundamentals and institutional strength determine a government's revenue-generating potential. The
study adopts a survey research design. Primary data were collected from 384 respondents drawn from key fiscal and regulatory institutions, including the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the Ministry of Finance, the Budget Office of the Federation, and the National Planning Commission. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, reliability tests, and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression to determine the direction and significance of the relationships between the variables. The empirical findings reveal that economic development, economic structure, and institutional quality exert positive and significant effects on tax effort, indicating that higher growth, diversification, and governance quality improve revenue mobilization and compliance. Conversely, natural resource dependence has a negative and significant influence on tax effort, suggesting that overreliance on oil revenue undermines fiscal sustainability. The model recorded an R 2 ofO. 782, showing that the explanatory variables jointly account for 78.2% of the variations in tax effort. Based on these results, the study recommends that policymakers promote economic diversification, strengthen institutional quality, and reduce dependence on natural resources to enhance Nigeria's tax effort. Furthermore, reforms should prioritize transparency, accountability, and digitalization of tax administration to improve efficiency and public trust.

This study investigates the relationship between audit committee characteristics and
financial reporting quality in Nigeria’s consumer goods manufacturing sector. The
motivation for the research stems from persistent concerns about corporate governance effectiveness and the reliability of financial statements in emerging economies.
Specifically, the study examines the impact of audit committee meeting frequency,
independence, financial expertise, and size on financial reporting quality, with
discretionary accruals serving as a proxy for earnings management. The study adopts an ex-post facto research design and utilizes secondary data from listed consumer goods firms covering the period 2011–2020. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and panel regression techniques were employed in analyzing the data. The results reveal that audit committee independence, financial expertise, and meeting frequency significantly reduce discretionary accruals, thereby enhancing financial reporting quality. Conversely, audit committee size does not exhibit a significant effect, indicating that effectiveness is influenced more by the quality and competence of members than by their number. The findings align with agency theory and prior empirical studies that emphasize the critical role of independent and knowledgeable audit committees in constraining earnings management. The study contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence from Nigeria, an under-researched context, and offers practical implications for regulators and boards to strengthen audit committee structures. It recommends that emphasis should be placed on ensuring the independence, expertise, and active engagement of audit committees rather than merely meeting statutory requirements for committee size.

Although global emphasis on sustainability responsibility seems to rise, studies in developing climes are yet to match the tide as more existing write ups focused on single clime while few focused on more climes at a glance. Hence, this study examined the influence of corporate characteristics on sustainability reporting among listed non-financial firms in Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya. Guided by stakeholder theory, this study specifically explored the effect of profitability, firm size, firm age, firm leverage, and human resources development on sustainability reporting, as measured by the Sustainability Reporting Index. Turnover growth was included as a control variable. The study employed ex-post facto research design. The population was 374 listed non-financial firms. Census sampling technique was used and through filtration, 312 firms were sampled from 2012 to 2023. Secondary data was obtained from the firms’ annual reports and standalone reports. Preliminary analysis (descriptive statistics, normality and correlation matrix) and inferential analysis (from panel ordinary least square to robust regression) were conducted in order to demonstrate the statistical relationship between the variables. Post diagnostic tests (heteroskedasticity and multicollinearity) were also conducted to ensure the reliability of the model. The findings revealed that human resource development has statistical significant effect on sustainability reporting across all countries and in the pooled (combined) model. Firm age also demonstrated a generally positive influence, reflecting the importance of institutional maturity in driving disclosure behavior. Firm size indicated statistical significance in Nigeria and South Africa at varying direction while firm leverage showed statistical significance in South Africa only. Profitability, however, was found to have no significant effect on sustainability reporting across all models, highlighting that financial performance does not necessarily translate into greater non-financial disclosure. The study concluded that corporate characteristics wield influence on sustainability reporting more on account of institutional and organizational maturity as well as human resources development than on the ground of financial performance. The study recommended that firms prioritize investments in employee training, welfare, and professional development to enhance their capacity for sustainability reporting. Furthermore, capacity-building initiatives targeting younger and smaller firms should be implemented to improve awareness and reporting competence. Sustainability reporting should be embedded as a strategic objective, independent of profitability, to foster long-term organizational transparency and accountability

This study examined the effect of accounting technology on fraud prevention and detection in organizations. Specifically, it investigated the relationship between accounting software, cybersecurity measures, automated internal controls, and ICT training on the prevention and detection of accounting fraud. The study adopted an ex-post facto research design, and data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to accounting and audit professionals across various sectors, including banking, insurance, and oil and gas industries in Nigeria. A total of 360 valid responses were analyzed using multiple linear regression with the aid of EViews 13 statistical software. The findings revealed that accounting software has a significant positive effect on fraud prevention and detection, indicating that the use of modern accounting tools such as automated reconciliations and audit trails enhances transparency and accountability in financial reporting. Cybersecurity measures, including encryption and multi-factor authentication, were also found to significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access and fraudulent manipulation of accounting data. Similarly, automated internal controls significantly improved the detection of irregular transactions and reduced the incidence of fraudulent activities. Moreover, ICT training among employees was shown to significantly strengthen organizational capacity to identify, prevent, and respond effectively to potential accounting fraud. The study concludes that the adoption of accounting technologies and continuous ICT skill development are crucial to enhancing fraud prevention and detection mechanisms in organizations. It recommends that organizations should invest more in modern accounting software, implement robust cybersecurity frameworks, and conduct regular ICT-based fraud awareness training for employees. This will not only improve financial integrity but also strengthen the overall internal control environment for sustainable organizational performance.

This study examined the influence of audit characteristics on the financial reporting quality of deposit money banks listed on the Nigerian Exchange. The main objective was to assess the effects of audit firm tenure, audit firm size, and non-audit services on the credibility and transparency of financial reports. The study adopted an ex-post facto research design and utilized secondary data collected from annual reports of twelve listed banks covering the period 2016 to 2023. The data were analysed using panel regression analysis with robust standard errors to account for heteroskedasticity. The study finds that audit firm tenure has no significant impact on financial reporting quality, indicating that the duration of auditor-client relationships does not independently determine reporting outcomes in the Nigerian banking sector. However, audit firm size showed a significant positive relationship with financial reporting quality, suggesting that larger audit firms contribute to higher transparency and reliability due to their extensive expertise and stronger regulatory oversight. Additionally, non-audit services exhibited a significant positive effect on financial reporting quality, implying that when properly managed, these services can enhance auditors’ operational understanding and improve audit effectiveness rather than compromise independence. The study concludes that audit firm size and non-audit services are critical determinants of financial reporting quality among Nigerian deposit money banks, while audit firm tenure plays a limited role. The study recommends that regulators encourage the use of reputable large audit firms and implement guidelines to manage non-audit services effectively to strengthen overall audit quality and financial transparency in the sector

The financial performance of firms, especially Deposit Money Banks (DMBs), plays a pivotal role in determining economic stability, investor confidence, and overall national development. At the core of this performance lies corporate governance, with the board of directors serving as a critical determinant of governance effectiveness. Acting as the bridge between shareholders and management, the board of directors is tasked with ensuring that the organization operates in alignment with stakeholder interests. Through its strategic oversight and decision-making roles, the board has a profound impact on a firm's financial outcomes, sustainability, and competitive positioning (Fama & Jensen, 1983). These studies, while insightful, leave notable gaps in understanding. Most of the existing literature has been conducted in developed countries, where governance frameworks, market dynamics, and cultural factors differ significantly from those in Nigeria. Moreover, few studies have examined the combined influence of board size, gender diversity, and board independence on financial outcomes in Nigeria’s banking sector. The inconclusive findings on gender diversity and the context-dependent effects of board independence further emphasize the need for research tailored to Nigeria’s financial and regulatory landscape.

The study investigated the impacts of selected corporate governance mechanisms on the timeliness of financial reporting for Nigerian-listed companies. It specifically focused on ascertaining the effects of board independence, board size, board meetings, and audit committee size on the timeliness of financial reporting as the dependent variable. The study used secondary data on the four selected independent variables for sixty-three non-financial companies listed on the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) from 2018 to 2022. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics, a correlation matrix, and panel regression techniques. The result showed that only the variables of board independence and board meetings significantly affect the timeliness of financial reporting, while board size and audit committee size did not significantly influence the financial reporting lag in the periods captured by the study. The study recommends, among others, that the management of Nigerian listed companies should maintain the current proportion of non-executive directors and also ensure that board members with accounting Knowledge are in the majority, while also increasing the number of shareholders in the audit committees for more effective monitoring