The impact of the new OHADA accounting system on the judgments and decisions of Cameroonian bankers

Abstract

Abstract Cameroon and 15 other African States belonging to the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA) adopted the Uniform Act Organizing and Harmonizing Undertakings' Accounting Systems on March 23, 2000, which scuttled the OCAM accounting plan in favor of the new OHADA accounting system (SYSCOHADA). Companies were required to adopt SYSCOHADA for company accounts and consolidated accounts beginning on January 1, 2001, and January 1, 2002, respectively. The goal of this study is to compare the impact of the presentation format and informational content of both accounting systems on the judgments and decisions of bankers, and, more specifically, to find out whether the information contributed by SYSCOHADA has changed the judgments and decisions bankers made under the old OCAM accounting plan. To that effect, a field experiment was conducted with Cameroonian bankers using a within-subjects design. Significant differences were noted in bankers' underlying judgments (operating income, net income, cash flow, leverage, liquidity, and ability to raise capital) as well as in their initial judgments about profitability and financial structure. Conversely, no significant differences were noted with respect to other judgments and decisions, i.e. principal judgments about the overall risk rating and overall risk trend, the loan decision, and the interest rate to charge (risk premium). Further, the new statement of sources and applications of funds (SSAF) influenced their underlying judgments about operating income, leverage, liquidity, and ability to raise capital, as well as their initial judgments about financial structure.