지방자치단체 재무회계정보의 신뢰성이 나아지고 있는가?

Abstract

It has been 16 years since financial accounting for local governments using accrual based double-entry bookkeeping was introduced. The purpose of this study is to verify whether the reliability of financial statement information of local governments is improving by using Benford's Law. The reliability of the numbers was estimated by comparing the distribution of the first digit of the assets and liabilities with the Benford distribution. As a result of the analysis, it is confirmed that the assets and liabilities for the past 16 years did not follow the Benford distribution as the MAD test result value and the KS statistic exceeded the critical value. Assets and assets in each statement of financial position for the first 8 years of the introduction of the accrual-based double-entry bookkeeping system and for the first 8 years after financial statements began to be included as mandatory documents in the settlement of accounts of local governments. Liabilities figures still does not follow the Benford distribution. We suggest that there is a need to move from a simple review system to an audit system for local governments' financial statements.