http://hdl.handle.net/2268.2/185 Mon, 07 Sep 2026 09:39:34 GMT 2026-09-07T09:39:34Z http://hdl.handle.net/2268.2/25928 Title: Research-Thesis: Examining the impact of blockchain-based systems on transparency, trust, and efficiency in accounting and audit processes: perspectives from professional accounting firms Abstract: Executive Summary Blockchain technology is often described as a way to transform accounting and audit by making records more transparent, more trustworthy, and more efficient to process. This thesis tests that claim against the experience of professionals who actually work with these systems. It asks how blockchain-based systems affect transparency, trust, and efficiency in accounting and audit processes in professional practice. The study combines a literature review with twelve qualitative interviews. Participants were chosen for their direct, hands-on experience of blockchain in audit, accounting, governance, capital markets, and analytics. They include senior assurance specialists from major firms, alongside practitioners working across Europe, with particular attention to Luxembourg and Belgium. The interviews were analysed using thematic analysis, organised around the study's three hypotheses. The findings give a balanced picture. On transparency and trust, a shared, tamper-evident ledger raises the reliability of records, but it cannot guarantee that the data entered was correct or authorised, so trust still depends on the governance of inputs. On efficiency, the gains are real but conditional: they appear mainly where a process is fully on-chain and well designed, while mixed processes still require costly reconciliation. On the profession, the role of accountants and auditors is not disappearing but changing, with new value placed on data analysis, smart-contract review, key management, and system oversight. A single theme runs through every result: the boundary between on-chain and off-chain data is the central challenge for accounting and audit. The study concludes that blockchain reshapes the profession rather than replacing it, and that its benefits are realised only where governance, design, and skills are in place. Keywords: blockchain, distributed ledger technology, audit, transparency, trust, efficiency, smart contracts, professional roles Word count = 16,668 Thu, 18 Jun 2026 22:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2268.2/25928 2026-06-18T22:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2268.2/25925 Title: Research-Thesis: A review of intangible assets recognized in the context of acquisitions under IFRS 3. Abstract: This thesis aims to examine the theoretical framework that regulates the recognition of intangible assets under business combinations, where we find the intersection of three main standards: IFRS 3, IFRS 13, and IAS 38. The objective is to identify how these current IFRS requirements are applied in practice, and the main challenges encountered in the recognition and valuation of these intangibles. The research adopts a mixed-method approach by combining documentary analysis, empirical study, and qualitative perspectives with practitioners. The empirical study is based on a sample of 132 European acquisition deals, extracted initially from the database Refinitiv Eikon between 2020 and 2024, then the data was manually collected from the annual reports and acquisitions notes, including information about the acquisition date, the consideration transferred, the net identifiable assets, goodwill amount, the total intangible assets, the intangibles categories, and the valuation approach under IFRS 13. The qualitative study relies on a sample of 7 highly experienced practitioners, including valuation and IFRS experts, financial analysts, and auditor, through semi-structured interviews based on interview guide questions. The main findings show that the customer relationships, trademarks, technology related assets are the most frequently recognized intangible assets in acquisitions. Also, the study reveals the predominance of the income-based valuation approaches, particularly discounted cash flow techniques such as the multi-period excess earnings method, and the relief-from-royalty method, in addition to the fact that the large majority of intangible assets are valued under the fair value level 3 in the absence of active markets, and unobservable inputs. The research further highlighted practical challenges regarding the distinction between goodwill and intangible assets and the high degree of involvement of professional judgment in the valuation process. Although the current conceptual framework provides strong requirements for accounting for this type of intangibles, the study concludes that a significant conceptual point is still ambiguous for practitioners, regarding the interpretability of the substance of certain identifiable intangibles, especially in modern business models and complex acquisition deals. Thu, 18 Jun 2026 22:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2268.2/25925 2026-06-18T22:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2268.2/25921 Title: Research-Thesis: The Impact of ESG Performance on the Capital Structure of European High-Carbon Firms. Abstract: This thesis investigates the impact of ESG performance on the capital structure of 236 European high-carbon firms over 2015–2023 (1,637 firm-year observations). Using two-way fixed effects panel regressions, three hypotheses are tested: a negative effect of overall ESG performance on leverage (H1), a negative effect of environmental performance (H2), and a positive effect of social and governance performance (H3). The central finding is that ESG performance does not exert a statistically significant effect on leverage across any specification. In contrast, profitability, firm size, tangibility, liquidity, and growth opportunities are all highly significant determinants of capital structure. Thu, 18 Jun 2026 22:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2268.2/25921 2026-06-18T22:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2268.2/25922 Title: Research-Thesis: Quels sont les outils de mesure de la performance durable? Analyse critique et recommandation: étude du secteur industriel. Abstract: Ce mémoire analyse les principaux outils permettant de mesurer et piloter la performance durable présentés dans la littérature et les compare avec ceux utilisés par les entreprises industrielles. Il montre que la performance ne peut plus être évaluée uniquement à travers des critères financiers, mais doit également intégrer des dimensions sociales et environnementales. Plusieurs outils sont étudiés, notamment le Sustainability Balanced Scorecard (SBSC), les Sustainability Performance Measurement Systems (SPMS), les tableaux de bord intégrés et le Social Return on Investment (SROI). Les résultats mettent en évidence que les entreprises utilisent souvent plusieurs approches adaptées à leurs besoins stratégiques et opérationnels. Ce mémoire met également en avant les difficultés liées à la collecte des données, au choix des indicateurs et à l’intégration réelle de la durabilité dans les processus décisionnels. Enfin, il propose des recommandations visant à améliorer la cohérence, la pertinence et l’utilité des outils de mesure de la performance durable. Thu, 18 Jun 2026 22:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2268.2/25922 2026-06-18T22:00:00Z