Impact of COVID-19 Outbreak on Financial Reporting in the Light of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) (An Empirical Study)

Abstract

The outbreak of a novel type of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the majority of countries around the world has had many negative implications on almost all aspects of life. Currently, about a quarter of the population of Earth is quarantined at their homes, social distancing is effective everywhere, almost all industries have ceased their activities, and various businesses are either closed down or working from home. Procedures taken by governments or local authorities to improve their ability to contain the outbreak have impacted the global economy, which in turn will have many consequences on financial reporting of organizations. This study examines the impact of the novel Coronavirus outbreak on financial reporting of organizations from the viewpoint of Certified Public Accountants in Lebanon. The researchers have used a descriptive-analytical approach and have constructed a well-structured five-point Likert style questionnaire as the study tool. The questionnaire was distributed to a sample chosen from the population of certified public accountants in Lebanon. The random sample consisted of 300 practitioners of the profession, and 221 of them responded; all of which were valid for testing and analysis. The study reached some important findings mainly that the COVID-19 outbreak has had a significant impact on the financial reporting of businesses according to the opinions of Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) in Lebanon, and the researchers had some recommendations as a result.