Information and Strategic Aspects of Financial Statements in the Assessment of their Users

Research background: General purpose financial statements constitute a source of financial information used by different groups of stakeholders. However, the frequency of changes concerning the form and content of reports insinuates uncertainty in relation to the credibility and thorough understanding of included information.

Purpose: The aim of the article is to verify the suitability and utilisation of financial statements in decision-making processes and evaluation of their reliability as assessed by unit managers and tax advisors.

Research methodology: In the first half of 2018 a survey was conducted among 60 tax advisors concerned with legal and tax services of economic entities and an identical survey was conducted among 60 managers of entities recognised as big economic entities functioning in the area of Kuyavian-Pomeranian and Pomeranian Voivodships.

Results: The surveys conducted in selected groups of stakeholders make it possible to indicate the areas in which the presented contents are not fully used and do not provide any basis for them to be recognised as compatible with the rules of ethics.

Novelty: For the first time, questionnaires were conducted in various groups of users of financial statements, they determined the level of their interest in particular elements of the report and the principles of accounting ethics.