Difficulties of municipalities in the cearense metropolitan region in adhering to the public accounting convergence process: a multi-study

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this multi-case study is to evaluate the perceptions of Brazilian municipalities regarding the process of convergence of public accounting to international standards, initiated in 2008, considering the importance of these federated entities in the primary provision of public goods and services to society.
 Methodology: It was based on the application of a questionnaire with structured questions applied to the finance departments in 7 (seven) municipalities of the Metropolitan Region of Fortaleza. In addition to this aspect, the municipalities were selected based on the state’s GDP and the level of public investments made by them.
 Results: The results were considered consistent by emphasizing that 71% of the municipalities started the convergence process within the deadline established by the National Treasury Secretariat (STN), however only 43% stated they were prepared to apply the NBCASP. One of the main related difficulties refers to the lack of investment in training for the technicians involved and of their own systems to operate the changes determined by the STN.
 Contributions of the Study: Effectively, the research proved real difficulties experienced by part of the surveyed municipalities that can compromise the progress of the convergence process in Brazil, aspects which were not considered in the researches previously carried out.