Timeliness of Audited Financial Reports of Jordanian Listed Companies

This study examines the timeliness of annual financial reports published by companies listed on the Amman Stock Exchange (ASE). This study determines whether a company?s complies with the JSC requirement by announcing its annual report within the three-month allowable period. In addition, these study determining the association between timeliness and attributes of companies (namely size, profitability, growth, age, leverage, and audit firm size). An analysis of 235 annual financial reports ended on 31 Dec. 2013. Ninety nine companies reported within an allowable reporting lag of three month. The study also provides evidence that there is a significant association between profitability, growth, and audit firm size and timeliness, and the association is in the hypothesized direction. No significant association was evidenced between the timeliness and size, age and leverage of company. Plausible explanations for these findings are provided. The findings may provide some implications for research regarding the timeliness of financial reporting in Jordan.