Greek Public Higher Education Institutions Under the New General Government Accounting Framework (Presidential Decree 54/2018 and IPSAS): Investigating the Perceptions of Their Administrators

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of staff members at Greek public Higher Education Institutions regarding the transition to the New Accounting Framework (NAF), based on accrual accounting in accordance with Presidential Decree 54/2018 and the principles of the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS). A quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional research design was adopted, using primary data collected through a structured self-report questionnaire. The sample comprised 283 staff members from public HEIs, including accounting services (n = 90, 31.8%), financial directorates (n = 67, 23.7%), administrative services (n = 72, 25.4%), and academic staff (n = 54, 19.1%). Compared with the existing accounting system, the NAF received higher perceived ratings regarding the quality of accounting information, with statistically significant differences in financial and human resources, p = .014, and the relevance and usefulness of information for decision-making, p = .006. Financial health, early diagnosis of financial difficulties, application of financial indicators, and resource management exhibited strong positive correlations, r = .693–.957, p < .001, highlighting the close relationship between financial assessment and the economic management of HEIs. Analyses of variance concerning the anticipated effects of NAF adoption revealed large effect sizes for accuracy, transparency, comparability, costing, and administrative decision support, η² = .443–.504. In the predictive models, knowledge of the NAF emerged as the most consistent predictor of perceived accounting information quality, β = .456, p < .001, and perceived effectiveness, β = .483, p < .001. Accounting information quality and financial health jointly explained 65.6% of the variance in the perceived overall impact of NAF adoption, R² = .656, F(2, 280) = 266.45, p < .001, with financial health presenting the stronger contribution, β = .590. Inadequate technological infrastructure, shortages of specialized personnel, and organizational resistance emerged as the principal implementation challenges, whereas continuous staff training, systematic implementation monitoring, cooperation with supervisory bodies, and change management were strongly associated with transition readiness. The study positions the NAF within the domain of university financial governance, indicating that its institutional utilization depends on accounting information quality, financial oversight, staff knowledge, and the organizational and technological readiness of public HEIs.