The Challenges and Prospects of IFRS Adoption in Ethiopian Commercial Banks

Thesis (M.A.) from the year 2018 in the subject Business economics - Accounting and Taxes, grade: 2, Addis Ababa University, course: MBA in Finance, language: English, abstract: The study aims to examine the challenges and prospects of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) adoption in Ethiopian Commercial Banks. To answer the research question and to achieve the objective of the study this paper adopted the mixed research approach. The questionnaire data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and data from interview and document review were interpreted qualitatively. The results show that IFRS adoption in Ethiopian Commercial Banks will result in a number of important benefits to a wide range of stakeholders. The study also found out that with the exception of capital market the other five variables namely need of amending legal and regulatory requirement , volatility of financial position and financial performance , difficulty of obtaining source documents and data ,need of updating the existing accounting software, information system and information technology of the bank, shortage of skilled and competent man power , shortage of strong professional bodies are the key challenges of IFRS adoption in Ethiopian Commercial Banks. Finally the study recommended the relevant commercial code, tax proclamation and NBE directive should be amended by Government organs in consultation with strong professional bodies , establishment of strong professional bodies and capital market, allocation of sufficient financial and other resources by top management , introduction of IFRS in colleges and universities and future adopters should think ahead the required source documents and data as well as ensure the extent of changes needed to update the existing IT infrastructure to satisfy IFRS requirements.