The impact of implementation of international public sector accounting standards on financial reporting in public sector in Kenya

Abstract

The accountants in Kenya have over the years through their professional body the Institute of certified Public Accountants of Kenya championed the adoption of Public sector accounting standard (IPSAS) in Kenya. However much talking had been in boardrooms, conferences and seminars, it was only until 2014 when treasury, auditor general and Ernest and Young teamed up together to steer the IPSAS adoption in the Central Government that the implementation actually commenced. The research specifically assesses the impact of implementation of International Public Sector Accounting Standards on financial reporting in Public Sector in Kenya since adoption and more specifically how the implementation of IPSAS has improved accountability, comparability and reliability of Public sector financial reporting in Kenya. The study mainly focused on the IPSAS adoption in Central Government and forty seven Counties Kenya. The research used qualitative methodology through a questionnaire sent to accountants in the Government ministries and Counties in Kenya. The population size for the study is Ministries and counties under the central government of Kenya. Data for the study was primarily and secondarily sourced. Data collected was then summarized, coded and tabulated using statistical package for social sciences software package (SPSS) version. Data containing the study results was then presented using pie charts, bar charts, and graphs. The study concluded that adoption of public sector accounting standards would improve accountability, comparability of financial statements and increase user satisfaction by enhancing their confidence on relying on them for economic decision making and therefore improving financial reporting in Kenya.