IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/abacus/v54y2018i2p181-209.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Modelling Receivables and Deferred Revenues to Detect Revenue Management

Author

Listed:
  • Jenny Zha Giedt

Abstract

This study develops and calibrates a revenue accruals model. Changes in accounts receivable and deferred revenues are modelled using the respective income statement and cash flow numbers (i.e., revenues and cash flows from sales) that relate directly to the accruals’ origination and reversal. Compared to existing models, the proposed specification explains more variation in the data and, in simulations with seeded revenue manipulation, exhibits greater detection power and less bias. Furthermore, the abnormal revenue estimates are positively associated with cases of revenue misstatements identified by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Results imply that researchers, auditors, and regulators interested to detect earnings management should focus on modelling specific accruals. As a practical matter, to detect revenue management, they should consider broadening their scope to examine not only accounts receivable but also current and long†term deferred revenues.

Suggested Citation

  • Jenny Zha Giedt, 2018. "Modelling Receivables and Deferred Revenues to Detect Revenue Management," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 54(2), pages 181-209, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:abacus:v:54:y:2018:i:2:p:181-209
    DOI: 10.1111/abac.12119
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/abac.12119
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/abac.12119?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Carol A. Marquardt & Christine I. Wiedman, 2004. "How Are Earnings Managed? An Examination of Specific Accruals," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 21(2), pages 461-491, June.
    2. Zhang, Yuan, 2005. "Revenue recognition timing and attributes of reported revenue: The case of software industry's adoption of SOP 91-1," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 39(3), pages 535-561, September.
    3. Caylor, Marcus L., 2010. "Strategic revenue recognition to achieve earnings benchmarks," Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, Elsevier, vol. 29(1), pages 82-95, January.
    4. Patricia M. Dechow & Weili Ge & Chad R. Larson & Richard G. Sloan, 2011. "Predicting Material Accounting Misstatements," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(1), pages 17-82, March.
    5. McNichols, Maureen F., 2000. "Research design issues in earnings management studies," Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, Elsevier, vol. 19(4-5), pages 313-345.
    6. Rachna Prakash & Nishi Sinha, 2013. "Deferred Revenues and the Matching of Revenues and Expenses," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(2), pages 517-548, June.
    7. Jegadeesh, Narasimhan & Livnat, Joshua, 2006. "Revenue surprises and stock returns," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 41(1-2), pages 147-171, April.
    8. Kothari, S.P. & Leone, Andrew J. & Wasley, Charles E., 2005. "Performance matched discretionary accrual measures," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 39(1), pages 163-197, February.
    9. Bernard, Victor L. & Skinner, Douglas J., 1996. "What motivates managers' choice of discretionary accruals?," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 22(1-3), pages 313-325, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Maureen F. McNichols & Stephen R. Stubben, 2018. "Research Design Issues in Studies Using Discretionary Accruals," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 54(2), pages 227-246, June.
    2. A‐Reum Jung & Do‐Jin Jung, 2022. "The effects of size‐dependent policy on the sales distortion reporting: Focusing on the discretionary sales management of Korean SMEs," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(2), pages 301-320, March.
    3. Andrzej Piosik, 2021. "Revenue Identification in Attaining Consensus Estimates on Income Predictions: The Function of Ownership Concentration and Managerial Ownership Confirmation from Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-16, December.
    4. Véronique Darmendrail & Frederic Pourtier, 2021. "La mise en équivalence dans les comptes consolidés permet-elle la manipulation du chiffre d’affaires et du résultat consolidés ? : le cas des groupes cotés en Europe," Post-Print hal-03361453, HAL.
    5. Stewart Jones & Nurul Alam, 2019. "A machine learning analysis of citation impact among selected Pacific Basin journals," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 59(4), pages 2509-2552, December.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ke Zhong & Robert B. Welker & Donald W. Gribbin, 2010. "Method‐Shifting in Aggressive Earnings Reporting: The Case of the US Software Industry's Response to New US Regulation," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(7‐8), pages 792-814, July.
    2. Bruce K. Bennett & Michael E. Bradbury, 2010. "An analysis of the reasons for the asymmetries surrounding earnings benchmarks," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 50(3), pages 529-554, September.
    3. Maureen F. McNichols & Stephen R. Stubben, 2018. "Research Design Issues in Studies Using Discretionary Accruals," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 54(2), pages 227-246, June.
    4. Chad R. Larson & Richard Sloan & Jenny Zha Giedt, 2018. "Defining, measuring, and modeling accruals: a guide for researchers," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 23(3), pages 827-871, September.
    5. Campa, Domenico & Camacho-Miñano, María-del-Mar, 2015. "The impact of SME’s pre-bankruptcy financial distress on earnings management tools," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 222-234.
    6. Trimble, Madeline, 2018. "A reinvestigation into accounting quality following global IFRS adoption: Evidence via earnings distributions," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 18-39.
    7. Silva, Aldy Fernandes da & Weffort, Elionor Farah Jreige & Flores, Eduardo da Silva & Silva, Glauco Peres da, 2014. "Gerenciamento de resultados e crises econômicas no mercado de capitais brasileiro," RAE - Revista de Administração de Empresas, FGV-EAESP Escola de Administração de Empresas de São Paulo (Brazil), vol. 54(3), May.
    8. Iatridis, George, 2010. "International Financial Reporting Standards and the quality of financial statement information," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 19(3), pages 193-204, June.
    9. Timothy A. Seidel & Chad A. Simon & Nathaniel M. Stephens, 2020. "Management bias across multiple accounting estimates," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 25(1), pages 1-53, March.
    10. Muhammad Ilyas, Ihtesham Khan, Saima Urooge, 2019. "Earnings Manipulation and the Cost of Capital: Empirical Investigation of Non-Financial Listed Firms of Pakistan," Journal of Management Sciences, Geist Science, Iqra University, Faculty of Business Administration, vol. 6(1), pages 96-104, March.
    11. Theoharry Grammatikos & Nikolaos I. Papanikolaou, 2021. "Applying Benford’s Law to Detect Accounting Data Manipulation in the Banking Industry," Journal of Financial Services Research, Springer;Western Finance Association, vol. 59(1), pages 115-142, April.
    12. Aase, Øivind André Strand, 2022. "Effects of Voluntary Audit on Accounting Quality in Small Private Firms," Discussion Papers 2022/1, Norwegian School of Economics, Department of Business and Management Science.
    13. David F. Larcker & Anastasia A. Zakolyukina, 2012. "Detecting Deceptive Discussions in Conference Calls," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 50(2), pages 495-540, May.
    14. Antonia Botsari & Geoff Meeks, 2008. "Do Acquirers Manage Earnings Prior to a Share for Share Bid?," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 35(5‐6), pages 633-670, June.
    15. Patricia M. Dechow & Amy P. Hutton & Jung Hoon Kim & Richard G. Sloan, 2012. "Detecting Earnings Management: A New Approach," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 50(2), pages 275-334, May.
    16. Nguyet T. M. Nguyen & Abdullah Iqbal & Radha K. Shiwakoti, 2022. "The context of earnings management and its ability to predict future stock returns," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 59(1), pages 123-169, July.
    17. Susana Callao & José I. Jarne & David Wróblewski, 2019. "A New Perspective on Earnings Management in Emerging European Countries: Investigation on Environmental Factors that Explain Differences in Earnings Management," Journal of Accounting, Business and Finance Research, Scientific Publishing Institute, vol. 7(2), pages 59-81.
    18. Jorge Farinha & Luis Filipe Viana, 2006. "Board structure and modified audit opinions: the case of the Portuguese Stock Exchange," CEF.UP Working Papers 0609, Universidade do Porto, Faculdade de Economia do Porto.
    19. Gaver, Jennifer J. & Paterson, Jeffrey S., 2007. "The influence of large clients on office-level auditor oversight: Evidence from the property-casualty insurance industry," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 43(2-3), pages 299-320, July.
    20. Mittal, Amit & Garg, Ajay Kumar, 2016. "How do Indian firms cope with a crisis? Earnings management characteristics of CNX Nifty 100 companies," MPRA Paper 85353, University Library of Munich, Germany.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:abacus:v:54:y:2018:i:2:p:181-209. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=0001-3072 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.