An evaluation of professional views of implementation of International Public Sector Accounting Standards in Brazil: advantages and purpose

Abstract

This dissertation will present an analysis of the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) implementation in Brazil, and an assessment of how the adoption of IPSAS is being experienced by the accountants from the public sector and the potential improvements in Brazilian accountancy that might be reached. The focus of changing the accounting system was the implementation of accrual accounting instead of cash-basis. This process has started to be applied in accounting in Brazilian public sector in ten years, since 2008. The objective of this paper is to explore how the changes are being faced and if the modification of the accounting system is bringing benefits to users and which benefits are these. There have been interviewed five accountants from different positions of the federal government as a source for primary research. The questions were done focused on analysing their experience, and their perception of implementation of IPSAS was used. The conclusion was developed throughout the findings and their interpretation and analysis. IPSAS adoption is not wholly entirely implemented in Brazilian public-sector, however, in general, it has been well accepted by accountants. There is an expectation of positive advance in government administration with the adoption of international accounting standards, and the dissertation will explain the logical arguments that direct to this result.