The preparedness of listed Tunisian companies to adopt international financial reporting standards

Over the years, the number of firms acknowledging adherence to international financial reporting standards (IFRS) has increased steadily. This study examines firm-specific characteristics of Tunisian companies that have voluntarily prepared their financial reports using IFRS. The purpose is for Tunisian companies to adopt IFRS in 2008. Many characteristics have been cited in the literature to explain the preparedness of companies to adopt IFRS. In this paper, the following characteristics have been selected: company size, commercial internationalisation, auditor type, indebtedness, foreign participation in the equity of the company and the rate of profitability. Our results indicate that commercial internationalisation and auditor type are significantly and positively associated with the level of preparedness to adopt IFRS.international financial reporting standards; IFRS adoption; harmonisation; Tunisia; company size; commercial internationalisation; auditor type; indebtedness; foreign participation; equity; profitability rate.