Sustainability 15 08612 v2
Sustainability 15 08612 v2
Sustainability 15 08612 v2
Article
The Impact of IFRS 17 on the Development of Accounting
Measurement and Disclosure, in Addition to Improving the
Quality of Financial Reports, Considering Compliance
with the Requirements of IFRS 4—Jordanian Insurance
Companies-Field Study
Omar M. Alhawtmeh
Department of Accounting, Business College, University of Jordan, Aqaba 11733, Jordan; a.alhawtmeh@ju.edu.jo
Abstract: The research examines the impact of applying the IFRS 17 International Financial Re-
porting Standard on the development of accounting measurement and disclosure to improve the
quality of financial reports when considering compliance with the requirements of applying the
IFRS 4 International Financial Reporting Standard for Jordanian insurance companies. Achieving
the objective, previous studies were examined which related to the impact of applying the IFRS 17
Financial Reporting Standard on the development of accounting measurement and disclosure for
improving the quality of financial reports when considering compliance with the requirements of
applying the IFRS 4 International Financial Reporting Standard for Jordanian insurance companies.
Moreover, the researcher linked the theoretical aspect to the practical aspect. Therefore, the researcher
designed a questioner, distributed, and then analyzed the results obtained from the relevant parties.
The study found the need to conduct increased research related to the impact of adopting the IFRS
17 International Financial Reporting Standard in improving the quality of reports and overcoming
Citation: Alhawtmeh, O.M. The obstacles such as current laws, professional qualifications of those preparing reports for insurance
Impact of IFRS 17 on the companies, and the situation of auditors. Including the IFRS 4 and IFRS 17 standards in the content
Development of Accounting of accounting courses can be beneficial for linking academic study with practical practice in several
Measurement and Disclosure, in ways: Real-world application, Industry relevance, Compliance and regulation, Career opportunities,
Addition to Improving the Quality of Evolving nature of accounting. The need to adjust accounting practices of the International Financial
Financial Reports, Considering Reporting Standard IFRS 17 is an important step in the field of insurance activity to improve the
Compliance with the Requirements
quality of financial reporting. Owing to the fact that the standard has been allocated only to insurance
of IFRS 4—Jordanian Insurance
activity and not to all economic operations, means the application of the standard is limited to all
Companies-Field Study. Sustainability
insurance contracts for the duration of contracts, regardless of the nature of the activity of the entity
2023, 15, 8612. https://doi.org/
issuing those contracts. Therefore, the study recommends increasing attention on disclosure and
10.3390/su15118612
improving accounting methods in relation to IFRS 17; this is considered a major step in the insurance
Academic Editor: Marc A. Rosen business in order to improve the quality of financial reports. Additionally, relevant information is
Received: 9 March 2023 provided for financial reports and similar; this helps improve the level of transparency and quality of
Revised: 7 May 2023 the information presented in the core of the reports. Thus, it enables companies to assess the impact
Accepted: 10 May 2023 of contracts about the current financial position, financial performance, and cash flow.
Published: 25 May 2023
Keywords: IFRS 17 international financial reporting standard for insurance contracts; IFRS 4
international financial reporting standard for Jordanian insurance companies; development of
accounting measurement and disclosure; quality of financial reports for Jordanian insurance
Copyright: © 2023 by the author.
companies
Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
This article is an open access article
distributed under the terms and
conditions of the Creative Commons
Attribution (CC BY) license (https://
1. Introduction
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ The international business environment has witnessed rapid development resulting
4.0/). from economic globalization and the linking of global markets. The outcome is a challenge
that has been posed for corporate administrations to improve their level of disclosure and
transparency of financial reports in an attempt to rationalize various economic decisions
for all listed users [1].
Most notably, the global financial crisis resulted from a wave of collapses, especially
in Japan where major insurance companies failed. The most well-known was Chiyoda and
Kiwi Life Insurance Services, bankruptcy being the eventual outcome [2].
Avoiding further collapses and to attract domestic and foreign investments, financial
institutions are seeking to improve their level of disclosure with respect to their reports,
whether they are restricted to the stock market or not [3].
Conversely, providing information for those who use financial reports released by
insurance companies that are appropriate, credible, and with a high level of transparency,
contributes to rationalizing the economic decisions of users. It reflects positively on the
financial performance indicators of the relevant institutions. Accordingly, the International
Accounting Standards Board (IASB) has sought to improve the quality of financial reports of
insurance companies by adhering to the International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS
17) [4] to overcome the shortcomings of the International Financial Reporting Standard
(IFRS 4) [5], which negatively affected the quality of their financial reports.
2. Research Problem
The insurance sector plays a vital role in the national economy, being one of the
important savings organizations that contributes significantly to the process of economic
development [6].
The sector has witnessed tremendous recent development with the emergence of new
insurance products, including life insurance associated with an investment component.
Moreover, the participation of insurance companies, alongside banking institutions, has
emerged by linking their insurance documents to banking products as they aim to improve
their financial performance indicators [7]. Therefore, it was necessary to provide appro-
priate information to all parties associated with the company, the only way to improve
the quality of financial reporting by insurance companies was to find a unified framework
which encompassed recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of insurance
operations, in order that company financial reports include a high level of disclosure, trans-
parency, and are comparable at local and international levels, it is possible only through the
application of international accounting standards that have all the requirements of good
accounting. Thus, the needs of users of financial reports are met, reflecting positively on
improving the performance indicators of the companies in question [8].
Resulting from developments, the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB)
issued the IFRS 4 International Financial Reporting Standard for insurance contracts in
March 2004. The aim was to regulate the accounting practices of insurance companies [9].
The initiative was considered by professionals and those in charge of developing and
drafting standards as a temporary step prior to the issuance of a comprehensive accounting
standard for insurance contracts governing the recognition, measurement, presentation,
and disclosure of financial reports provided by the relevant companies. It was especially
important after many criticisms of the IFRS 4 International Financial Reporting Standard
had been recorded; problems had risen in practice and had involved several notable
organizations such as [10–13]; At the local level, the insurance sector is one of the important
economic sectors that have received great attention on the legislative and professional sides,
while on the legislative side, Law No. 10 of 1981 and its amendments were issued, as well
as Law No. 118 of 2008 [14].
The insurance sector with regard to financial reporting is a special case, due to the
complexity of insurance in terms of the nature of its long-term activity, as well as the
difficulties of determining the return compared to other commercial activities, which leads
to the difference in the financial statements of the insurance company from any lists of a
company in another sector [15].
Sustainability 2023, 15, 8612 3 of 26
While on the professional side, the Egyptian standards were amended in 2015 to
comply with international standards, including financial reporting standards (IFRS/IAS),
which included the international financial reporting standard IFRS 4. Which was translated
under the name of Egyptian Accounting Standard No. 37 “Insurance Contracts” [16].
3. Objectives
The Research article Aimed to:
• Determine the positive impact of using IFRS 17, as an alternative to IFRS 4, on the
financial statements and key performance indicators of insurance companies.
• Develop clear and consistent rules for recognizing, measuring, presenting, and dis-
closing insurance contracts. The standard enhances the comparability of financial
statements, allowing stakeholders to make more informed decisions about the perfor-
mance and financial position of insurance companies.
• Maintains compliance with other international accounting standards, avoiding di-
vergent accounting practices for identical insurance contracts. Improve the level of
disclosure and transparency in financial reports.
• The application of IFRS 17 contributes to improving the quality of financial reporting
and providing more transparent and relevant information on how the profits or losses
of insurance companies are determined in relation to the insurance services provided,
as well as the investment profits of insurance premiums collected from customers.
Conversely, the International Accounting Standards Board, when drafting the IFRS
17 International Financial Reporting Standard, explained that there were reasons and
justifications that called for its need. They are detailed in the issuance of the standard and
are represented in the following.
Reasons were stated in the issuance of the standard: IFRS 17:
• The international standard for financial reporting IFRS 4 is an interim standard, it
allowed the use of different accounting practices for insurance contracts; these neg-
atively reflected on the quality of financial reports and the inappropriateness of the
information contained therein for its users, investors, and financial analysts [19].
• There are complications related to the measurement process of insurance contracts:
the length of the insurance contract period, the associated risks, and the lack of trading
of those contracts in financial markets. In addition, insurance contracts may include
investment components [25].
• Many financial statements issued by insurance companies lack periodic updating as
to the value of insurance liabilities, as well as risks that reflect the impact of changes
in the economic environment, such as changes in interest rates [26].
• IFRS 4 Financial Reporting Standard allows insurance companies to use different
accounting policies with identical insurance contracts, as a result it is impossible to
make comparisons between the financial reports of insurance companies [8]. The
statement is confirmed by a study [21]. Clarifying the Impact of Applying IFRS 4
International Financial Reporting Standard on Insurance Companies in Improving
the Qualitative Characteristics of Accounting Information, contained in the financial
reports of the companies. The research relied on conducting a comparative study on a
sample of Nigerian companies before and after the application of the IFRS 4 Financial
Reporting Standard. The research concluded that Nigerian companies operating in
the insurance sector toward the application of IFRS 4 Financial Reporting Standard
had significantly contributed to improving the level of disclosure and transparency of
financial reports, making them more suitable for their users and comparable to the
local and international levels.
Research [27] clarified the Impact of the International Financial Reporting Standards
(IFRS) on enhancing the suitability of accounting information contained in the financial
reports of insurance companies listed in the Stock Exchange. The study relied on the use of
the Harris valuation model and the Ohlson model in measuring the relationship between
the book value, market value, and profits of companies shares that fell within the sample
of the research.
The research found that there was a significant impact on the value of profits, whether
before or after the application of the relevant standards; the research also found that the
characteristics of companies enhance the relevance and affect the suitability of information
contained in the financial reports.
The main objective of drafting any accounting standard is to improve the quality
of financial reporting, and as a result of the problems of practical application of IFRS 4,
which negatively affected the quality of financial reports of insurance companies and the
inappropriateness of the information contained therein, and accordingly, the International
Accounting Standards Board (IASB) [28] issued IFRS17 for the purpose of developing
requirements for measuring and disclosing financial reports for insurance companies and
improving the quality of information contained in these reports [29].
Compliance with the financial reporting standard IFRS 4 insurance companies is
imperative to improve the level of measurement and disclosure in the financial statements,
which entails meeting the needs of all parties associated with the company of appropriate
information to evaluate financial performance and rationalize their various investment
decisions [30].
Moreover, the research [23] aimed toward clarifying the impact of applying IFRS
International Financial Reporting Standards on enhancing the qualitative characteristics of
Sustainability 2023, 15, 8612 6 of 26
accounting information contained in financial reports, made the reports more convenient
for users from various parties associated with the company.
The research relied on conducting a comparative study between several European
countries for a number of companies listed on the stock exchange before and after apply-
ing the criteria. The study concluded that the difference in accounting practices between
countries made it necessary to apply international financial reporting standards. This was
required in order to improve the quality of reports and enhance the qualitative characteris-
tics of accounting information to make the data more relevant.
These results were confirmed by a study by [26] that evaluated the effectiveness
of the International Financial Reporting Standard IFRS 17 on enhancing the qualitative
characteristics of accounting information contained in the financial reports of insurance
companies. The findings of the study ensured that there was an accord between the
study sample and the impact of the application of the International Financial Reporting
Standard IFRS 17 on improving the content of financial reports of companies’ insurance and
strengthening of the qualitative characteristics of the accounting information contained.
Thus, it can be concluded that the International Accounting Standards Board IASB
issued the IFRS 17 International Financial Reporting Standard to achieve a number of
objectives as stated in [4,12,20,25].
4.1. The Impact of Insurance Contracts on the Financial Performance and Financial Indicators of
Insurance Companies
The result of the study by [31] “Evaluation of IFRS 17 Insurance Contracts Standard
for Insurance Companies “describes the Measurement and Disclosure Details Contained In
the International Standard for Financial Reporting IFRS 17, addressing the most important
amendments to the standard of insurance contracts IFRS 4.
A sample of insurance companies listed on the European stock market was the ba-
sis of the research. The study concluded that the application of the Financial Reporting
Standard for insurance contracts IFRS 17 as an alternative to the International Reporting
Standard IFRS 4 would contribute significantly to improving the measurement and disclo-
sure requirements in the financial reports of insurance companies. Therefore, the quality of
accounting information contained in those reports would be enhanced, making them more
convenient and comparable with the financial reporting of other insurance companies at
the international level.
Furthermore, a study [13] clarifying the role of legislation and accounting standards
related to the field of insurance, in improving the level of disclosure and transparency of
financial reports, as well as the impact on risk management, was conducted on several
banks listed on the Romanian Stock Exchange. The research found that there was a conflict
between legislation and accounting standards which led to a distortion of the information
contained in financial reports. They became misleading to users; consistency between the
prevailing legislation and laws in the country on the one hand and accounting standards
on the other is needed. It is especially important as the trend is toward applying the
International Financial Reporting Standard 17 for insurance contracts to improve the
quality of financial reports.
Both the commitment to adopt the International Financial Reporting Standard IFRS 4
and the efficiency of financial reporting preparers to apply those standards as well as the
integrity of the data used in light of a consistent framework of legal legislation contribute
to improving the quality of financial reporting, but the development of the International
Financial Reporting Standard IFRS 4 should be consistent with other international standards
in order to ensure improved quality of financial reporting for insurance companies [32].
Target for the research was [12]; clarified the most important changes in the standard
of insurance contracts IFRS 4 in addition to the role of the International Financial Reporting
Standard IFRS 17 in improving the quality of financial reports of insurance companies.
Moreover, the study addressed the measurement and disclosure requirements contained
Sustainability 2023, 15, 8612 7 of 26
in the IFRS 17 reporting standard, as well as how to present financial statements and the
valuation of assets at current value by using future cash flows.
The research found the variation in accounting in IFRS 4 reporting standards negatively
affected the quality of financial reports, necessitating the need to apply the International
Financial Reporting Standard for insurance contracts IFRS 17th. The research concluded
that reconciliation involving the requirements of the international standard for financial
reporting IFRS 17 as an alternative to the IFRS 4 Financial Reporting Standard is a necessity.
The reason is there is a significant impact when improving the quality of financial reports
of insurance companies; appropriate information on financial performance indicators is
enhanced, as are cash flows in order to rationalize investment decisions for users.
Conclusions are confirmed by a study [11] clarified the impact of applying the IFRS 17
International Financial Reporting Standard on improving the quality of financial reports
for insurance companies, making them more convenient for their users and comparable
with other insurance companies at local and international levels. The study addressed the
requirements for disclosure of financial reports, in addition to measurement methods and
recognition of profits, losses and other comprehensive income. The study concluded that
the drafting and issuance of the IFRS 17 Financial Reporting Standard came as a result of
many criticisms of the IFRS 4 insurance contracts standard. Therefore, it is necessary to
move toward adopting the Financial Reporting Standard IFRS 17 in order to improve the
quality of company financial reports for insurance companies.
The main objective of the IASB drafting and issuance of the IFRS 17 international finan-
cial reporting standard for insurance contracts is to develop requirements for recognition,
measurement, and accounting disclosure contained in IFRS 4; this will improve the quality
of financial reports of insurance companies and make them more convenient for their users
and comparable at the local and international levels.
4.1.1. First: Scope of Application of the International Financial Reporting Standard for
Insurance contracts IFRS 17
Due to the importance of the insurance sector, the International Accounting Standards
Board has sought to address the shortcomings of the IFRS 4 International Financial Re-
porting Standard that negatively affected financial reporting, by issuing a standard that
addresses all aspects of financial reports of companies issuing insurance contracts. The aim
is to answer the following questions as stated in the study [19,25].
• Is there a need to issue a standard that deals only with companies that issue insurance
contracts in order to ensure the consistency of financial reporting internally?
• How will the new standard establish a unified definition of the insurance company,
which can be applied consistently at international level, taking into account the differ-
ent laws and legislations from one country to another?
• Is the application of the standard limited to insurance companies only, there are
companies other than insurance companies that issue insurance contracts?
• Is the application of the standard limited to insurance contracts issued only?
• What is the position of the standard of other activities practiced by insurance compa-
nies other than insurance activities?
To overcome these complexities, the optimal solution is to allocate the standard only
to the insurance activity and not to the entity. Therefore, IFRS 17 is applied to all insurance
contracts included in its scope for the duration of the contracts, regardless of the nature of
the activity of the entity issuing those contracts.
The research indicates that the IFRS 17 International Financial Reporting Standard is
an important step in adjusting accounting practices of insurance activity and improving
the quality of financial reporting.
By extracting the third paragraph of IFRS 17, the researcher finds that there is a specific
range of contracts to which the standard applies [4].
Sustainability 2023, 15, 8612 8 of 26
4.1.2. Second: The Impact of the Application of the IFRS 17 International Financial
Reporting Standard on the Development of Accounting Measurement and Disclosure in
the Financial Reports of Insurance Companies
1. Insurance contracts issued by the company:
An insurance contract is defined according to IFRS 17 as “a contract whereby one party
(the issuer of the contract) accepts to assume significant insurance risks from another party
(the policyholder) by agreeing to compensate the policyholder “insurance policy” in the
event of an uncertain future event (the insured risk) adversely affecting the policyholder
(IFRS17 appendix).
The concept of the insurance contract contained in the standard is based on four
essential elements that must be met in the insurance contract in order to apply the standard:
• Insurance risks.
• The insurance risks are significant.
• The future event is uncertain.
• A negative impact will result if the insured event occurs.
Insurance risks represent the essence of the insurance contract, if the contract transfers
to the insurance company only financial risks without insurance risks, then it is not consid-
ered an insurance contract. Some insurance contracts do not transfer any insurance risks to
the company at the beginning, they may transfer the risks at a later date.
In addition, insurance risks must be significant; this happens if the insured event in
the contract results in significant additional payments incurred by the company and a total
loss for the contract. It means the present value of additional payments is greater than the
present value of the amounts payable if the insured event does not occur. Therefore, to
assess whether this situation already exists, insurance companies should rely on the present
value, using a discount rate reflecting the time value of money, cash flow characteristics,
and liquidity characteristics of the insurance contract [26].
2. Reinsurance contracts:
Insurance companies resort to transferring insurance risks to another party by using a
reinsurance company to protect them from any major losses on insurance contracts issues;
this is completed under contractual agreements included in the insurance contract [31].
A reinsurance contract is defined by IFRS 17 as “an insurance contract issued by a
reinsurance company for the purpose of compensating another insurer for losses arising
from one or more of the contracts issued [4,25]”.
IFRS 17 has considered the nature of reinsurance contracts that are different from
issued insurance contracts; this the standard requires measurement and disclosure indepen-
dent of issued contracts within its range, in order to provide detailed financial information
about the nature of the contracts and their impact on financial performance [33].
The research concludes that the requirements of IFRS 17 for assessing significant
insurance risks with a reinsurance contract are the same as the requirements for assessing
significant insurance risks with an insurance contract. Additionally, intermediary insurance
companies (between the original insurance company and the reinsurance company) will
not be affected by the standard since they do not issue insurance contracts; their activity
is limited to coordinating and arranging insurance coverage with clients (other insurance
management companies) on behalf of the insurance company.
3. Investment contracts with optional participation features
An investment contract that contains an optional participation feature is defined by
IFRS 17 as “a contract that grants the holder the right to receive additional payment benefits
as a supplement to guaranteed benefits, taking into account that the determination of the
amounts and timing of those benefits is contractually subject to the discretion of the contract
issuer, the company issuing the contract”.
The benefits depend on any of [4,19,25]:
The performance of a specific set of contracts or a specific type of contract.
Sustainability 2023, 15, 8612 9 of 26
• Realized and/or unrealized investment returns on a certain set of assets held by the
issuing insurance company.
• Profits or losses of the company issuing the insurance contract.
Investment contracts that contain optional participation features are one of the most
significant problems when applying IFRS 17. Despite the availability of legal insurance
contracts, they lack the essence of the definition of an insurance contract. They do not
transfer significant insurance risks [4].
Additionally, the scope of application of IFRS 17 includes investment contracts that
contain optional participation features and are not considered financial instruments to
which IFRS 9 applies, provided that the same company issues insurance contracts [4,25].
The researcher concludes that allowing the application of IFRS 17 or IFRS 15 for service
contracts with fixed fees is considered a kind of flexibility; it enables companies that issue
both types of contracts to be accounted in the same way.
4.2. Timing of the Recognition of the Investment Contract, which has an Optional
Participation Feature
IFRS 17 states that the date of initial recognition of investment contracts containing
optional participation features is the date on which the company becomes a party to the
contract [4,25].
Research concludes that the main reason is due to the lack of a pre-coverage period,
characterized by insurance contracts that require operational processes.
insurance contract. Unlike the general model, it does not require a clear measurement to
estimate future cash flows and the time value of money and risks [11].
The initial measurement using the “entrance” approach of premium allocation for the
remaining obligations is performed according to the following steps [4,19,25]
• Premiums received upon initial recognition (if any).
• Less cash flow for the acquisition of the insurance contract on the date; unless the
company chooses to recognize the payments immediately after they are incurred.
• Plus, or minus any amounts resulting from the withdrawal of official recognition at
the date of initial recognition of cash flows for the acquisition of insurance that were
previously considered assets or liabilities before that date.
4.4. Important Provisions and Changes Resulting from of the Application of the Financial
Reporting Standard IFRS 17
Paragraph 117 of IFRS 17 states that significant provisions as well as changes in the
provisions used when applying the standard should be disclosed; specifically, the company
should disclose inputs, assumptions, and estimation methods it uses as follows [4,25]:
Sustainability 2023, 15, 8612 13 of 26
(A) Methods used to measure insurance contracts that fall within the scope of the IFRS 17
Reporting Standard.
(B) Changes in the methods and processes in estimating the inputs used in the measure-
ment of contracts.
(C) Methods used in determining both investment components, discount rates and risk
adjustment for non-financial risks.
(D) Disclosure of the level of confidence used in the calculation of risk adjustment for
non-financial risks.
(E) Disclosure, with an explanation of the methods used to determine the income or
expenses of insurance financing recognized in profit or loss, if the company chooses
to separate these expenses between profit and loss and comprehensive income.
(F) Disclosure of the yield curve used to discount cash flows.
Research shows the inclusion of the IFRS 17 International Financial Reporting Stan-
dard for disclosure; however, its main objective is to improve the level of disclosure and
transparency in financial reporting.
5. Research Hypotheses
Regarding the research presented and previous research for achieving the study
objective to reach the impact of the International Financial Reporting Standard No. IFRS 17
on the development of accounting measurement and disclosure and improving the quality
of financial reports considering compliance with the requirements of the application of the
International Financial Reporting Standard IFRS4 for Jordanian insurance companies, the
research formulates the following main hypothesis:
6. Sample Study
First: The sample was chosen arbitrarily according to each group of the study popula-
tion as follows:
(1) Faculty members of the accounting department.
• The researcher selected a sample of 62 individual faculty members in the field of
accounting, professor, an assistant professor, and a teacher.
(2) Financial reporting preparers of Jordanian insurance companies listed on the
Amman financial market.
Sustainability 2023, 15, 8612 14 of 26
Table 1. Response rate and validity of lists retrieved for statistical analysis.
Table 2. Honesty and accuracy for the entire poll list (Kronbach Alpha Test).
Table 3. Measuring the variability (extent of agreement and disagreement) in the sample groups
opinions depending on the job title (P—ANOVA TEST).
Table 4. Measuring the variability (extent of agreement and disagreement) in the sample groups
opinions depending on the academic qualification (P—ANOVA TEST).
Table 4. Cont.
6.1. Statistical Analysis of Data Related to the Main Hypothesis and Its Testing
Descriptive analysis and the results of the validity and reliability of the elements
that determine IFRS 17 cannot be applied to the development of accounting measurement
and disclosure to improve the quality of financial reports regarding compliance with the
requirements of applying IFRS 4 for Jordanian insurance companies (Table 5).
Table 5. Descriptive analysis and the results of the validity and reliability of the elements of IFRS 17
requirements regarding compliance with the requirements of applying IFRS 4.
Table 5. Cont.
Table 5. Cont.
Testing the main hypothesis by testing the sub-hypotheses; paragraph no.7 “discount
rates are determined that reflect the characteristics of cash flows arising from insurance
contracts and therefore the lack of options for determining these rates contributes to im-
proving the quality of the financial report” relates to no.1 paragraph no.18 disclosure of
contracts “acquired during the conversion of insurance contracts or grouping of business
independently of the issued insurance contracts contributes to providing clearer informa-
tion to users of financial reports” thus, no.18 is of relative importance to paragraphs testing
the main hypothesis with testing its sub-hypotheses.
Research concludes that there is a direct correlation between the application of IFRS 17
and development of the basis for recognition, measurement, improvement of presentation
and disclosure of financial reports, regarding compliance with the requirements of IFRS 4
for Jordanian insurance companies; this supports the validity of the main hypothesis of
the study.
Table 6. The Results of the Correlation Relationship between the Main Hypothesis Variables.
Research concludes from the results of the regression analysis of the main hypothesis
that there is a strong relationship between the application of IFRS 17 and development
of the basis for recognition, measurement, improvement of presentation and disclosure
of financial reports regarding compliance with the requirements of IFRS 4 for Jordanian
insurance companies; this supports the validity of the main alternative hypothesis of
the study.
Testing the first sub-hypothesis:
Research reviews the results of testing the dependent hypotheses, and the variables of
this hypothesis are as follows:
Independent variable (X): application of IFRS 17 International Financial Reporting
Standard.
Dependent variable (Y): improving the quality of financial reporting of insurance
companies.
Determination Correlation
Independent Variable Value
Coefficient (R2 ) Coefficient (R)
There is no significant relationship
between the application of IFRS 17 and
the development of recognition,
** 0.000 0.903 0.951
measurement, improved presentation,
and disclosure for financial reports of
Jordanian insurance companies.
** Indicates the relevance of the correlation coefficient at the significance level of 0.01.
The research concludes there is a strong direct correlation between the application of
the IFRS 17 International Financial Reporting Standard and the development of recognition,
measurement, improvement of presentation and disclosure for financial reports of Jordanian
insurance companies; this supports the validity of the first sub-hypothesis of the study.
The research concluded from the results of the regression analysis of the second
hypothesis that there is a strong impact relationship between the application of IFRS 17
and the improvement of the presentation and disclosure for financial reports of Jordanian
insurance companies; this supports the validity of the first hypothesis.
Testing the second sub-hypothesis
Researched reviewed testing the dependent hypotheses, and the variables of this
hypothesis are as follows:
• Independent variable (X): application of IFRS 17 International Financial Reporting
Standard.
• Dependent variable (Y): improving the quality of financial reporting of insurance
companies.
• The total correlation coefficient (0.977) indicates the strength of the direct correlation
relationship between the application of IFRS 17 (as an independent variable) and
the improvement in the quality of financial reporting of insurance companies (as a
dependent variable).
Table 10. The results of the correlation relationship between dependent hypothesis variables.
Determination Correlation
Independent Variables Value
Coefficient (R2 ) Coefficient (R)
There is no statistically
significant relationship between
the implementation of IFRS 17
** 0.000 0.954 0.977
and the improvement of the
quality of financial reports of
Jordanian insurance companies.
** Indicates the significance of the correlation coefficient at the significance level of 0.01. The previous table shows.
The research concludes that there is a strong direct correlation between the application
of the IFRS 17 International Financial Reporting Standard and the improvement in the
quality of financial reports of insurance companies; this supports the validity of the second
hypothesis of the study.
The research concludes from the results of the regression analysis of the second
hypothesis that there is a strong impact relationship between the application of IFRS 17
and improving the quality of financial reports for insurance companies; this supports the
validity of the second hypothesis of the study.
• The total correlation coefficient value (0.970) indicates the strength of the positive
correlation relationship between the application of IFRS 17 (as an independent variable)
and compliance with the requirements of the application of IFRS 4 for Jordanian
insurance companies (as a dependent variable).
Table 12. The results of the correlation relationship between dependent of the third sub-hypothesis
variables.
Determination Correlation
Independent Variable Value
Coefficient (R2 ) Coefficient (R)
There is no significant
relationship between the
application of IFRS 17 and
** 0.000 0.949 0.970
compliance with the
requirements of IFRS 4 for
Jordanian insurance companies
** Indicates the relevance of the correlation coefficient at the significance level of 0.01.
Research concludes there is a strong direct correlation between the application of IFRS
17 and compliance with the requirements of IFRS 4 for Jordanian insurance companies; this
supports the validity of the third sub-hypothesis of the study.
Compliance with the requirements of applying the IFRS 4 International Financial Reporting Standard for
Jordanian insurance companies = 0.285 + 0.910 when applying the IFRS International Financial Reporting
Standard 17.
The research concludes from the results of the regression analysis of the third hy-
pothesis that there is a strong impact relationship between the application of IFRS 17 and
compliance with the requirements of the application of IFRS 4 for Jordanian insurance
companies; this supports the validity of the third sub-hypothesis of the study.
8. Recommendations
Based on the benefits and challenges of implementing IFRS 17, here are some recom-
mendations for insurance companies:
1. Planning and Preparation: Insurance companies should start planning and preparing
for the implementation of IFRS 17 well in advance to ensure a smooth transition.
Sustainability 2023, 15, 8612 24 of 26
This includes assessing the impact of the new standard on their business processes,
systems, and data, and developing a comprehensive implementation plan.
2. Data Management: Insurance companies should ensure that they have accurate,
complete, and reliable data to support the implementation of IFRS 17. They should
also establish processes and controls to manage the data effectively.
3. IT Systems: Insurance companies should consider the need for new or upgraded
IT systems to support the implementation of IFRS 17. This may include changes to
accounting and reporting systems, data management tools, and actuarial models.
4. Training and Communication: Insurance companies should provide training and
communication to their employees, investors, and other stakeholders on the new
requirements of IFRS 17. This will help to ensure that everyone understands the
changes and their impact.
5. Ongoing Monitoring and Review: Insurance companies should establish processes to
monitor and review the effectiveness of the implementation of IFRS 17. This includes
regular assessments of the quality of financial reporting, compliance with regulatory
requirements, and the effectiveness of internal controls.
6. There is a need to conduct more research and studies related to the impact of adopting
the IFRS 17 International Financial Reporting Standard in improving the quality of
financial reports and addressing obstacles to its application. Research and studies can
help to provide insights into the potential benefits and challenges of adopting IFRS
17. Items to be addressed include current laws, professional qualification of financial
report preparers in insurance companies, as well as auditors and the increasing needs
for information required by existing and prospective investors.
7. There is a need to include the International Financial Reporting Standard IFRS 4 and
IFRS 17 in the content of the accounting course, in order to link academic study with
practice to keep abreast of developments in the international business environment,
supplying the labor market with distinguished graduates.
8. There is a need for major accounting and audit offices (KPMG, EY, PWC, Deloitte)
to issue more guidelines for the application of IFRS 17 in order to be a guide and
reference for those who prepare financial report in insurance companies and for
auditors.
9. There is a need to increase attention to disclosure, improvement, and accounting
development in relation to IFRS 17 to provide appropriate information in financial
reports and clarifications to improve the transparency and quality of the information
presented in these reports, thus, enabling users to assess the impact of contracts falling
within the scope of the standard on the financial position, financial performance, and
cash flows of the company.
References
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Solvency II; Working Paper; Springer: Berlin/Heidelberg, Germany, 2014.
2. Klumpes, P.; Kumar, A.A.; Kumar, R.X. Investigating Risk Reporting Practices in the Global Insurance Industry. Br. Actuar. J.
2014, 19, 692–727. [CrossRef]
3. Porzio, C.; Malafronte, I.; Starita, M. The Nature and Determinants of Disclosure Practices in the Insurance Industry: Evidence
from European Insurers. Int. Rev. Financ. Anal. 2016, 45, 367–382.
4. Available online: https://www.ifrs.org/issued-standards/list-of-standards/ifrs-17-insurance-contracts/ (accessed on
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33. Widing, B.; Jansson, J. Evaluation Practices of IFRS 17; Working Paper. 2018. Available online: https://www.diva-portal.org/
smash/get/diva2:1190206/FULLTEXT01.pdf (accessed on 8 March 2023).
34. Al-rumaili, S. A Proposed Indicator for Risk Disclosure in the Egyptian Insurance Industry and the Extent to Which Investors Accept;
Journal of the Faculty of Commerce for Scientific Research; Faculty of Commerce, Alexandria University: Alexandria, Egypt,
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