The effects of cognitive reflection and work experience on financial statement comparability under principles-based accounting standards

This study examines the influence of cognitive reflection and work experience on certified public accountants’ (CPAs’) classifications of assets and cash flows under principles-based accounting standards and, ultimately, on the comparability of the resulting financial statements. We explore the overlapping guidance provided by the International Financial Reporting Standards on audiovisual content (AVC) classifications to experimentally show that CPAs who are high (versus low) in cognitive reflection make less noisy choices when classifying assets and cash flows. CPAs high in cognitive reflection are also more likely than others to recognise cash flows from AVC assets as operational regardless of the asset classification. We also find that experience in listed, large, or audited firms reduces noise in CPAs’ classifications of cash flows, but it is unlikely to affect their classifications of assets.