Leverage, Operating Cash Flow, and Ownership Structure as Predictors of Accounting Conservatism: Evidence from Indonesian Consumer Goods Firms

Abstract

Accounting conservatism plays an important role in financial reporting to reduce the risk of earnings overstatement and increase transparency. This study examines whether leverage (as a proxy for debt covenant pressure), operating cash flow, managerial ownership, and institutional ownership are associated with accounting conservatism in manufacturing companies in the consumer goods industry sector listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) in 2021-2023. This study uses a quantitative approach with secondary data obtained from the financial statements of companies selected through purposive sampling techniques, with a sample of 13 companies that produced 39 firm-year observations. Data analysis was carried out using multiple linear regression and classical assumption tests such as normality, multicollinearity, heteroscedasticity, and autocorrelation tests. The four variables are jointly associated with accounting conservatism (F = 3.160, p = 0.026; adjusted R² = 0.185). Partially, leverage (B = 0.180, p = 0.016) and operating cash flow (B = 0.453, p = 0.003) are positively associated with accounting conservatism, whereas managerial ownership (B = −0.017, p = 0.875) and institutional ownership (B = −0.082, p = 0.464) are not significantly associated with it. The findings suggest that creditor pressure and internal cash generation, rather than ownership structure, are related to conservative reporting in this sector, although the small sample and modest explanatory power call for cautious interpretation