IFRS for SMEs: the current perception of South African practitioners

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to obtain an understanding of the current perceptions of South African practitioners regarding the application of the IFRS for SMEs in the South African SME sector. This understanding would help assess whether the initial scepticism displayed when the IFRS for SMEs was first introduced in South Africa, has changed, and would also help assess what the drawbacks and benefits of the application of the IFRS for SME’s in South Africa are. The perceptions of South African practitioners were analysed by reference to two phases- first according to the results of a structured questionnaire that was issued to a sample of SAIPA practitioners, and then according to the results of semi-structured interviews conducted with thirteen South African practitioners. The primary conclusion drawn is that there appears to be an overall acceptance of the IFRS for SMEs in South Africa although there are also certain challenges of its application and certain aspects that affect the value of using the IFRS for SMEs as an accounting reporting framework. The uniformity that the IFRS for SMEs brings seems to be one of the more significant advantages. Factors, however, such as the age of the population of the practitioners; the use of automated software systems; and the legislative requirements regarding the application of the IFRS for SMEs, affect the relative merit of using the standard. Keywords: practitioners; IFRS for SMEs