Academic Bibliography

 Search 200 years of publications by Ghent University researchers.
Advanced search
1 file | 382.39 KB
Add to list
  1. Search results
  2. The importance of mutual understandin...

The importance of mutual understanding between external accountants and owner-managers of SMEs

Stefanie De Bruyckere, Frederik Verplancke, Patricia Everaert (UGent) , Gerrit Sarens (UGent) and Carine Coppens (UGent)
(2020) AUSTRALIAN ACCOUNTING REVIEW. 30(1). p.4-21
Author
Organization
Abstract
This study investigates the perspective of the owner–manager of a small or medium‐sized enterprise (SME) on the importance of mutual understanding with an external accountant. Mutual understanding means that the owner–manager understands what the accountant is saying and feels understood by the accountant. The results, based on 310 completed surveys of Belgian owner–managers, show that owner–managers who have a high level of mutual understanding use the advice of their external accountant more extensively. This is in turn positively linked to the financial health of an SME. Furthermore, several drivers that enable the establishment of a high level of mutual understanding are explored. Owner–managers with a high level of mutual understanding consider their accountant as a strategic partner, experience a high level of proactive behaviour with them, have a higher frequency of formal contact, and perceive informal contact as important. External accountants should consider these opportunities in their client management and training of internal staff. Education of clients and openness also seem very important, as the level of a client's accounting knowledge, the number of accounting topics owner–managers deal with, and transparency towards the accountant are significantly positively related to mutual understanding.
Keywords
mutual understanding, external accountant, financial health, SME, BUSINESS ADVICE, DYNAMIC CAPABILITIES, FIRM, IMPACT, DIVERSIFICATION, COMMUNICATION, PERFORMANCE, GROWTH, VIEW

Downloads

  • Download
    (...).pdf
    • full text (Published version)
    • |
    • UGent only
    • |
    • PDF
    • |
    • 382.39 KB

Citation

Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:

MLA
De Bruyckere, Stefanie, et al. “The Importance of Mutual Understanding between External Accountants and Owner-Managers of SMEs.” AUSTRALIAN ACCOUNTING REVIEW, vol. 30, no. 1, 2020, pp. 4–21, doi:10.1111/auar.12251.
APA
De Bruyckere, S., Verplancke, F., Everaert, P., Sarens, G., & Coppens, C. (2020). The importance of mutual understanding between external accountants and owner-managers of SMEs. AUSTRALIAN ACCOUNTING REVIEW, 30(1), 4–21. https://doi.org/10.1111/auar.12251
Chicago author-date
De Bruyckere, Stefanie, Frederik Verplancke, Patricia Everaert, Gerrit Sarens, and Carine Coppens. 2020. “The Importance of Mutual Understanding between External Accountants and Owner-Managers of SMEs.” AUSTRALIAN ACCOUNTING REVIEW 30 (1): 4–21. https://doi.org/10.1111/auar.12251.
Chicago author-date (all authors)
De Bruyckere, Stefanie, Frederik Verplancke, Patricia Everaert, Gerrit Sarens, and Carine Coppens. 2020. “The Importance of Mutual Understanding between External Accountants and Owner-Managers of SMEs.” AUSTRALIAN ACCOUNTING REVIEW 30 (1): 4–21. doi:10.1111/auar.12251.
Vancouver
1.
De Bruyckere S, Verplancke F, Everaert P, Sarens G, Coppens C. The importance of mutual understanding between external accountants and owner-managers of SMEs. AUSTRALIAN ACCOUNTING REVIEW. 2020;30(1):4–21.
IEEE
[1]
S. De Bruyckere, F. Verplancke, P. Everaert, G. Sarens, and C. Coppens, “The importance of mutual understanding between external accountants and owner-managers of SMEs,” AUSTRALIAN ACCOUNTING REVIEW, vol. 30, no. 1, pp. 4–21, 2020.
@article{8569038,
  abstract     = {{This study investigates the perspective of the owner–manager of a small or medium‐sized enterprise (SME) on the importance of mutual understanding with an external accountant. Mutual understanding means that the owner–manager understands what the accountant is saying and feels understood by the accountant. The results, based on 310 completed surveys of Belgian owner–managers, show that owner–managers who have a high level of mutual understanding use the advice of their external accountant more extensively. This is in turn positively linked to the financial health of an SME. Furthermore, several drivers that enable the establishment of a high level of mutual understanding are explored. Owner–managers with a high level of mutual understanding consider their accountant as a strategic partner, experience a high level of proactive behaviour with them, have a higher frequency of formal contact, and perceive informal contact as important. External accountants should consider these opportunities in their client management and training of internal staff. Education of clients and openness also seem very important, as the level of a client's accounting knowledge, the number of accounting topics owner–managers deal with, and transparency towards the accountant are significantly positively related to mutual understanding.}},
  author       = {{De Bruyckere, Stefanie and Verplancke, Frederik and Everaert, Patricia and Sarens, Gerrit and Coppens, Carine}},
  issn         = {{1035-6908}},
  journal      = {{AUSTRALIAN ACCOUNTING REVIEW}},
  keywords     = {{mutual understanding,external accountant,financial health,SME,BUSINESS ADVICE,DYNAMIC CAPABILITIES,FIRM,IMPACT,DIVERSIFICATION,COMMUNICATION,PERFORMANCE,GROWTH,VIEW}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{4--21}},
  title        = {{The importance of mutual understanding between external accountants and owner-managers of SMEs}},
  url          = {{http://doi.org/10.1111/auar.12251}},
  volume       = {{30}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}
Altmetric
View in Altmetric
Web of Science
Times cited: