THE EFFECT OF ACCOUNTING ETHICS ON THE QUALITY OF FINANCIAL REPORTS OF NIGERIA FIRMS

This project examined the effect of accounting ethics on the quality of financial reports of Nigerian firms. Specifically, the study focused on the effect of accounting ethics on relevance and faithful representation of financial information of Nigerian firms. Descriptive survey design was utilized to conduct the study. The target population for this study was over 300 accounting practitioners distributed over deposit money banks, Audit firms, educational tertiary institutions and small and medium scale industries in Ibadan, Oyo state. Slovin’s formula was used to determine the sample size, while stratified and convenience sampling techniques was employed to select 75 respondents that participated in the study. Primary data was used for the study. Questionnaires were used as data collection tools.. The study concluded that high ethical standard is fundamental in achieving an objective, reliable and transparent financial report. The study recommends that firms in Nigeria should put in place ethics and compliance department to direct and monitor ethics implementation in their day-to-day operations and that firms reporting structure should adhere strictly to the financial reporting framework issued by the International Financial Reporting Standards for better and more acceptable financial reports.