Accounting choices in the statement of cash flows at companies listed in the novo mercado of B3

This study investigated which factors may be related to the SCF accounting choices made in 112 non-financial companies listed on the B3 Novo Mercado in the period from 2010 to 2015. The main contribution of this study is to provide an overview of how companies considered high level of corporate governance in Brazil are evidencing their cash flows with respect to the comparability and also the management of the SCF, making choices that imply an increase in the operational cash flow. This study provides evidence that most companies present the SCF by the indirect method and follow the accounting policy recommendations contained in CPC 03 to classify interest and dividends paid and received. In addition, the size of the company and the growth opportunities appear to be related to the ratings choices of interest paid and dividends received, respectively. The results in the Brazilian context differ from previous findings in other markets, probably because of the institutional environment in which companies are inserted