A New Dimension to Corporate Governance in Preventing Financial Statement Fraud

This research delves into the perceptions of students and professional economists/accountants concerning the pivotal role of corporate governance in preventing and combatting fraud in financial reports. The study hypothesizes significant disparities in how students and accounting professionals view the efficacy of corporate governance in fraud prevention within financial reports. A specialized questionnaire was crafted to gauge perceptions of corporate governance effectiveness, familiarity with governance mechanisms, and personal encounters with governance practices, with participant status (student vs. professional) serving as the independent variable. The findings highlight the potential benefits of enhancing corporate governance education with a practical and reality-oriented approach. Collaboration among academic institutions, professional bodies, and industry entities emerges as a crucial factor for the success of such initiatives. The study engaged 236 participants, comprising 118 economics/accounting students and 118 seasoned accounting professionals, utilizing Google Forms. The diverse participant pool, including students from various universities and experienced accounting professionals, ensured a comprehensive exploration of viewpoints on corporate governance and its impact on fraud prevention.