Social capital accounting and improving financial performance: a mediating role of the quality of accounting information

Purpose The purpose of the current research is to examine the relationship between social capital (SC) and financial performance (FP) in industrial enterprises in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and Sulaimani City (KRG), as well as the role of the quality of accounting information (QAI) as a mediator between SC and FP. Design/methodology/approach In this study, SmartPLS is used to analyze the questionnaire that was distributed to 10 industrial firms engaged in the iron industry in 2021. The researcher used stratified random sampling to collect sample data from 252 full-time employees of a manufacturing companies in Kurdistan Region/ Iraq. Findings The findings of this research show that accounting measurement and disclosure of social capital (AMDSC) plays an important role in improving FP and that QAI mediates between AMDSC and FP in industrial companies in the KRG and Sulaimani city. This research aims to examine the impact of AMDSC on FP through mediating the QAI between AMDSC and FP at industrial companies in KRG/Sulaimani City. The results showed that AMDSC had a positive and significant impact on the company’s FP. The overall results of this study show that AMDSCs are positively and significantly correlated with financial performance, and QAI mediates between AMDSC and FP. This shows that SC should be considered in the companies’ plan to obtain additional funding in this sector. Research limitations/implications This study is exclusive to KRG/Sulaimani City’s iron industry. Other industries including sugar, cement, clothing, vehicles and medications could be the subject of future investigations. Practical implications The research provides insightful practical implications for management. First, the outcomes recommend that business owners and managers find a satisfactory level of SC when it significantly and positively affects financial performance. Second, the findings of this study will assist KRG manufacturing companies in making rational decisions to maximize profits while minimizing transaction costs such as information and research costs, increasing trust or reducing administrative burdens. This will eventually lead to the growth of industrial companies’ wealth in KRG/Sulaimani City. Managers should focus on social relationships between employees and management to maximize trust and reduce transaction costs, as they have future earnings. Originality/value Due to the lack of prior attention given to social capital in KRG, this research focuses on enhancing financial performance in industrial enterprises in KRG and Sulaimani City.