Title: Exploring the Egyptian accountants' awareness and understanding of XBRL

Authors: Akrum Helfaya; Essam Amin

Addresses: Accounting Department, Keele University, UK; Damanhour University, Damanhour City, Egypt ' Accounting Department, Faculty of Commerce, Damanhour University, Egypt

Abstract: Online reporting is now widespread with 82% of the top 100 listed companies in Egypt providing a variety of financial data online. However, much of this information reflects the paper-based versions of annual reports with little attempt to enhance the usefulness of this data for decision makers. This online reporting provides the first generation (FG) of online reporting languages such as PDF, HTML, Excel and Word formats. XBRL has been developed to provide a second generation (SG) of online reporting to enhance the data handling and usability of corporate reporting. The findings of a questionnaire survey in Egypt report that academics' and bankers' awareness of XBRL and SG reporting is very little compared to FG reporting formats. Additionally, the fast majority of respondents are aware of both the benefits and problems of adopting XBRL. This study has some recommendations for Egyptian regulators, standards' setters, accounting academics and professional accountants.

Keywords: corporate reporting; digital reporting; extensible business reporting language; XBRL; stakeholder engagement; Egypt.

DOI: 10.1504/AJAAF.2020.109176

African Journal of Accounting, Auditing and Finance, 2020 Vol.7 No.1, pp.1 - 23

Accepted: 22 Oct 2019
Published online: 01 Sep 2020 *