The Application of Managerial Accounting Principles Affecting Accountants’ Performance in Small and Medium Enterprises in Pathum Thani Province

Abstract

This research consists purposes were 1. to study the level of importance regarding the application of management accounting principles in SMEs in Pathum Thani Province and 2. to examine how the application of management accounting principles affects the performance efficiency of accountants working in SMEs in Pathum Thani Province. This is a quantitative research. The sample group consisted of 363 accountants and accounting officers working in SMEs in Pathum Thani Province, determined using Taro Yamane's formula (1973). Data collected through questionnaires were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including mean, frequency, percentage and standard deviation, as well as multiple linear regression analysis. The research findings revealed that 1) The application of all four aspects of management accounting principles was at a high level. When ranked by average score from highest to lowest, they are as follows 1.1) Budget planning was rated the highest in importance, at a high level (x̄ = 4.10, S.D. = 0.59) 1.2) Internal control was also at a high level (x̄ = 4.05, S.D. = 0.57) 1.3) Cost-benefit analysis was at a high level (x̄ = 3.90, S.D. = 0.62) and 1.4) Strategic financial statement analysis, although receiving the lowest mean score among the four, was still at a high level (x̄ = 3.80, S.D. = 0.63) and 2) The application of management accounting principles had an effect on the performance efficiency of accountants in SMEs in Pathum Thani Province. The correlation between the four independent variables and accountants’ performance was relatively high (R = 0.752). The model could explain 56.6% of the variance in performance (R² = 0.566), and the model was statistically significant (F = 33.52, p < 0.001). All four variables had a statistically significant positive influence (p < 0.05) on the outcome.