(The Applicability of the Islamic Accounting Standards in the Participation Banks in Turkey: A Field Study)

Abstract

Purpose – This study aims to reveal the applicability of the Islamic accounting standards for interest-free finance institutions by issued Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) in the participation banks in Turkey. Design/methodology/approach – For the purpose of the study, a questionnaire study is applied for the employees in the accounting and financial reporting units of the interest-free banks in Turkey. While in the first part of the questionnaire consisting of two main parts in general demographic characteristics and Islamic accounting awareness levels of the participants, undesirable situations before application and desired conditions after the application for the implementation of Islamic accounting standards in Turkey are included in the second part. SPSS statistic program was used to make difference analysis based on by considering the awareness situation of participants. Findings – According to the questionnaire results, it was found that approximately 58% of the participants did not have knowledge about AAOIFI and Islamic accounting. There is no meaningful difference between awareness situation of participants. Discussion – According to these findings, it is necessary to organize training activities on accounting standards in compliance with AAOIFI and Islamic principles for employees working in accounting and financial reporting units of participation banks. On the other hand, according to their level of awareness of the participants it is the lack of any significant difference between the answers they gave to questions, It show that the application of AAOIFI and/or Islamic accounting standards İn Turkey is not depending on the level of knowledge of participants.