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Purpose This paper aims to update the cybersecurity-related accounting literature by synthesizing 39 recent theoretical and empirical studies on the topic. Furthermore, the paper provides a set of categories into which the studies fit. Design/methodology/approach This is a synthesis paper that summarizes the research literature on cybersecurity, introducing knowledge from the extant research and revealing areas requiring further examination. Findings This synthesis identifies a research framework that consists of the following research themes: cybersecurity and information sharing, cybersecurity investments, internal auditing and controls related to cybersecurity, disclosure of cybersecurity activities and security threats and security breaches. Practical implications Academics, practitioners and the public would benefit from a research framework that categorizes the research topics related to cybersecurity in the accounting field. This type of analysis is vital to enhance the understanding of the academic research on cybersecurity and can be used to support the identification of new lines for future research. Originality/value This is the first literature analysis of cybersecurity in the accounting field, and it has significant implications for research and practice by detailing, for example, the benefits of and obstacles to information sharing. This synthesis also highlights the importance of the model for cybersecurity investments. Further, the review emphasizes the role of internal auditing and controls to improve cybersecurity.

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Research on International Standards on Auditing (ISAs) would greatly benefit from a research framework that categorizes the research streams related to ISAs and suggests areas for future research. This paper reviews the current research related to ISAs and develops a framework for analysis going forward. We identify seven main research streams: the development and history of ISAs; adoption of ISAs; association between national auditing standards and ISAs; financial reporting quality; audit reports; audit efficiency; and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) compliance. For each research stream, the main results are summarized. At the conclusion of our literature reviews for each research stream, we suggest areas requiring further examination.

This paper addresses the question whether adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) is associated with low earnings management in unlisted companies in three European countries. Therefore, this paper investigates whether companies that have adopted IFRS voluntarily engage significantly less in earnings management compared to companies that have not adopted IFRS. Moreover, this study examines firm-specific incentives and their role in the adoption decision within different institutional settings. The distribution of earnings is analyzed to discover whether companies have managed their earnings. Logistic regression analysis is used to examine the firm-specific incentives. Empirical findings reveal that in sample of unlisted firms using IFRS the distribution of earnings is smoother. Thus, the results provide supporting evidence for the adoption of IFRS. Moreover, results of this study provide relatively good empirical support for statements that large unlisted firms with foreign owners and that are profitable are more likely to adopt IFRS voluntarily. However, the firm-specific incentives play different role in the adoption decision process in weak institutional settings compared to strong institutional settings.