The role of accounting ethical practices on financial reporting quality of the accountants: a case study of Centenary Bank
| dc.contributor.author | Josephine Awel | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-06-12T07:11:24Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-06-12T07:11:24Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2026-04-21 | |
| dc.description | Undergraduate | |
| dc.description.abstract | This research project was carried out to assess the effects of accounting ethics practices on the quality of financial reporting by Centenary Bank Limited, a commercial bank that is among the best in Uganda. Although there are various codes of ethics and regulations governing financial institutions in the country, there still seems to be a disparity between the standards set for ethics in practice and the actuality of what takes place. Corporate scandals and decreased stakeholder confidence continue to pose a threat to the reliability of financial reports. Thus, the study focused on how ethics practices affect the quality of financial reporting. A descriptive cross-sectional research design, which involved both qualitative and quantitative methods, was adopted in this study. The primary data were collected from 135 individuals (91.2%) working at the headquarters (Mapeera House) of the bank, using questionnaires, key informants’ interviews, and observation. The respondents were selected randomly using Yamane formula and stratified as well as purposive sampling strategies. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools such as frequency, percentage, and mean through Microsoft Excel, and discussed using the Agency Theory framework. The results revealed a strong positive relationship between accounting ethics and financial reporting quality. Respondents gave disclosure practices a high mean score of 4.42, strongly agreeing that comprehensive disclosure of accounting policies, risks, related-party transactions, and notes significantly improves the relevance, reliability, and usefulness of financial reports. Similarly, adherence to core ethical principles (integrity, objectivity, professional competence, and due care) recorded an overall mean of 4.49, confirming that ethical compliance enhances faithful representation, timeliness, and stakeholder confidence in financial statements. However, the study also identified notable ethical challenges, including pressure from management to meet profit targets (62.2%), conflicts of interest (48.1%), and inadequate continuous ethics training (34.8%). These issues, though occasionally managed through internal controls, still pose risks to reporting integrity. In conclusion, ethical accounting practices are vital for producing credible, transparent, and reliable financial reports at Centenary Bank. The study recommends regular ethics training in collaboration with ICPAU, increased voluntary disclosures (including ESG), annual ethics audits by regulators, and stronger independent ethical committees. Implementing these measures will help bridge the gap between ethical standards and practice, restore stakeholder trust, and promote good corporate governance within Uganda’s banking sector. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12311/3322 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Uganda Christian University | |
| dc.title | The role of accounting ethical practices on financial reporting quality of the accountants: a case study of Centenary Bank | |
| dc.type | Dissertation |