THE DEVELOPMENT OF CORPORATE ACCOUNTING IN BELGIUM

This paper examines accounting practice and its environment in one European country, Belgium, whose capital is home to the European Union (EU). Belgium's national accounting system has witnessed dramatic improvements in the last two decades as it has moved toward a highly standardized accounting system similar to France. This article traces what one author calls “the Belgian accounting revolution,” based on professional literature and personal interviews with senior partners of major accounting firms and academics in Belgium. Little is known in North America about accounting in Belgium. This article intends to fill this gap and provides some insights on accounting in this vital European country.