From Intelligent Reporting to Investor Trust: The Mediating Power of Information Transparency
Downloads
Abstract
The aim of this study is to examine the impact of intelligent financial reporting on investors’ trust with the mediating role of information transparency. In terms of purpose, this research is applied, and in terms of nature and method, it is descriptive–survey and correlational, and it is considered a field study. The statistical population includes financial managers, senior accountants, internal auditors, and financial analysts of listed companies on the stock exchange, and sampling was conducted using a purposive method. The sample size was determined based on Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) criteria. The data collection instrument was a researcher-made standardized questionnaire based on a five-point Likert scale, measuring three main variables: intelligent financial reporting, information transparency, and investors’ trust. The validity of the instrument was confirmed through content validity and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), while its reliability was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha and Composite Reliability (CR). Data analysis was performed using PLS-SEM approach and SmartPLS software. The findings indicated that intelligent financial reporting has a positive and significant effect on investors’ trust (β = 0.42, t = 5.87). The results also showed that information transparency plays a significant mediating role in this relationship, and the indirect effect of intelligent reporting on investors’ trust was confirmed (β = 0.31, t = 4.92). Model fit indices also indicated an acceptable structural model and adequate explanatory power of the dependent variables (R² = 0.56). Overall, the results suggest that intelligent financial reporting can enhance investors’ trust through improving information transparency. Therefore, modern reporting technologies are most effective when accompanied by transparency mechanisms that help reduce information asymmetry in capital markets.
Keywords
Intelligent financial reporting Investors’ trust Information transparency Financial information Capital marketReferences (30)
- [1] Cheng, B., Ioannou, I., & Serafeim, G. (2014). Corporate social responsibility and access to finance. Strategic management journal, 35(1), 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.2131
- [2] Cavaco, S., & Crifo, P. (2014). CSR and financial performance: Complementarity between environmental, social and business behaviours. Applied economics, 46(27), 3323–3338. https://doi.org/10.1080/00036846.2014.927572
- [3] Mohammadi, S., Saeidi, H., & Naghshbandi, N. (2020). The impact of board and audit committee characteristics on corporate social responsibility: Evidence from the Iranian stock exchange. International journal of productivity and performance management, 70(8), 2207–2236. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPPM-10-2019-0506
- [4] Dwekat, A., Meqbel, R., Seguí-Mas, E., & Tormo-Carbó, G. (2022). The role of the audit committee in enhancing the credibility of CSR disclosure: Evidence from STOXX Europe 600 members. Business ethics, the environment & responsibility, 31(3), 718–740. https://doi.org/10.1111/beer.12439
- [5] Buallay, A., & Al-Ajmi, J. (2019). The role of audit committee attributes in corporate sustainability reporting: Evidence from banks in the Gulf cooperation council. Journal of applied accounting research, 21(2), 249–264. https://doi.org/10.1108/JAAR-06-2018-0085
- [6] Dahlsrud, A. (2008). How corporate social responsibility is defined: an analysis of 37 definitions. Corporate social responsibility and environmental management, 15(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.132
- [7] Galant, A., & Cadez, S. (2017). Corporate social responsibility and financial performance relationship: A review of measurement approaches. Economic research-ekonomska istraživanja, 30(1), 676–693. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1331677X.2017.1313122
- [8] Areias, J. S., & Eiriz, V. (2013). Building competitive advantage through inter‐organizational projects. Strategic direction, 29(9), 31–34. https://doi.org/10.1108/SD-08-2013-0057
- [9] Gao, X. (2023). Digital transformation in finance and its role in promoting financial transparency. Global finance journal, 58, 100903. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfj.2023.100903
- [10] Jensen, M. C., & Meckling, W. H. (1976). Theory of the firm: Managerial behavior, agency costs and ownership structure. Journal of financial economics, 3(4), 305–360. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-405X(76)90026-X
- [11] Sumiyati, S., Khairiansyah, K., Ridwan, M. Q., & Ikhlash, M. (2023). Readiness of accountans in XBRL:(Evidence from Indonesia). Jurnal akuntansi, ekonomi dan manajemen bisnis, 11(2), 211–219. https://doi.org/10.30871/jaemb.v11i2.6525
- [12] Judijanto, L., Samsu, G., & Iskandar, D. (2024). Analysis of the impact of digitalization of financial statements and internal control on report accuracy and shareholder trust in public companies in Indonesia. West science social and humanities studies, 2(12), 2035–2046. https://doi.org/10.58812/wsshs.v2i12.1492
- [13] Yoro, M. (2024). Impact of financial reporting transparency on investor decision-making. American journal of accounting, 6(1), 25–36. https://doi.org/10.47672/ajacc.1785
- [14] Beattie, V., McInnes, B., & Fearnley, S. (2004). A methodology for analysing and evaluating narratives in annual reports: a comprehensive descriptive profile and metrics for disclosure quality attributes. Accounting forum, 28(3), 205–236. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.accfor.2004.07.001
- [15] DeFond, M., Hu, X., Hung, M., & Li, S. (2011). The impact of mandatory IFRS adoption on foreign mutual fund ownership: The role of comparability. Journal of accounting and economics, 51(3), 240–258. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacceco.2011.02.001
- [16] Boroujeni, H. N., Noroozi, M., & Chadegani, A. A. (2016). The effect of financial reporting quality on investment efficienc. Specialty journal of accounting and economics, 2(3–2016), 23–42. https://sciarena.com/article/the-effect-of-financial-reporting-quality-on-investment-efficienc
- [17] Nozari, R., Valipour, H., & Gholami, A. (2022). The impact of financial reporting quality on investor decisions, focusing on the informational role of the accrual component of earnings volatility. Accounting and auditing research, 14(56), 117-132. (In Persian). https://doi.org/10.22034/iaar.2022.168268
- [18] Sheikh, N. (2026). The impact of artificial intelligence adoption on financial reporting quality: The mediating role of user trust in accounting systems. Accounting, finance, and computational intelligence., 4(3), 1-16. (In Persian). https://doi.org/10.61838/jafci.281
- [19] Ghale Ghafi, H. (2025). Assessing the impact of financial reporting transparency on attracting investor confidence in Iran’s emerging markets. 2nd international conference on advancements in management, economics, and accounting sciences. Civilica, Sari, Iran. (In Persian). https://civilica.com/doc/2531570
- [20] Naderi, H. (2025). Investigating the impact of international financial reporting standards (IFRS) on financial information transparency and the improvement of investor decision-making. Presented at the first international conference on new horizons in the psychology of learning and education, Urmia, Iran. Civilica, Urmia, Iran. (In Persian). https://civilica.com/doc/2448516
- [21] Maufira, R. (2026). The influence of digital financial reporting on financial transparency and accountability in public companies. Jurnal ilmiah manajemen kesatuan, 14(1), 499–510. https://doi.org/10.37641/jimkes.v14i1.4697
- [22] Jamaludin, A., Yusof, M. S., Seman, S. A., Deraman, R., Shauri, N. A. A., & Manoharan, K. (2024). The impact of financial transparency and corporate governance transparency on the performance of public listed companies in Malaysia. Migration letters, 21(S7), 309–318. https://migrationletters.com/index.php/ml/article/view/8682
- [23] JieWei, W., JianQiang, C., Li, L., Yu, Zheng, L., Zhenhong, G. U., & Loang, O. K. (2023). The impact of digital transformation on financial reporting and analysis in the accounting industry. International journal of accounting, 8(50), 290–309. 10.55573/IJAFB.085021
- [24] Budiandru, B. R., Fauzi, L. J., & others. (2025). Enhancing Financial reporting transparency and accuracy through technology-based accounting for business sustainability. Journal of hunan university natural sciences, 52(9), 155–165. https://doi.org/10.55463/issn.1674-2974.52.9.12
- [25] Alassuli, A., Thuneibat, N. S., Eltweri, A., Al-Hajaya, K., & Alghraibeh, K. (2025). The impact of accounting digital transformation on financial transparency: Mediating role of good governance. Journal of risk and financial management, 18(5), 272. https://doi.org/10.3390/jrfm18050272
- [26] Li, J., & Li, Z. (2025). Mechanisms of corporate digital transformation on asymmetric capital structure adjustment—the mediating role of information asymmetry and financial stability. Heliyon, 11(3), e41745. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e41745
- [27] Rachmawati, A., Kuang, T. M., Kwang En, T., Meythi, M., & Marpaung, E. I. (2025). Building financial reporting quality through ethics, authenticity, and leadership: A study in Indonesia. Cogent business & management, 12(1), 2523414. 10.1080/23311975.2025.2523414
- [28] Abdulameer, A. N., Merhej, B. M., & Meteab, H. L. (2025). Evaluating the impact of applying digital fair value on the transparency of published financial information. IOSR journal of business and management, 27(11), 50–59. https://doi.org/10.9790/487X-2711035059
- [29] Oti-Akenteng, E., Ocansey, E. O. N. D., & Asamoah, F. O. (2025). The mediating effect of transparency on the relationship between digitalization and revenue generation, public participation, and allocation efficiency. Archives of business research, 13(5), 172–196. https://doi.org/10.14738/abr.1305.18804
- [30] Milani, R., Gharibi, H., Bahri, J., & Eslamian, M. (2026). Information transparency and financial reporting quality in the banking system as determinants of customer trust in the value of national currency under inflationary conditions: the mediating role of perceived fairness and legal protection of stakeholders. Financial and banking strategic studies, 4(2), 131-159. (In Persian). https://doi.org/10.22105/fbs.2026.252805
