The Effect of Earnings Management in Mediating the Role of Corporate Governance, Capital Structure, and Liquidity on Financial Performance (A Study of Conventional Commercial Banks Listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange)

Authors

  • Ita Juwita Halu Oleo University, Kendari, Indonesia

Keywords:

Corporate Governance, Capital Structure, Earnings, Management, Financial Performance Liquidity.

Abstract

This study examines the effect of corporate governance, capital structure, and liquidity on financial performance, with
earnings management as a mediating variable in conventional commercial banks listed on the Bursa Efek Indonesia
during 2021–2025. A quantitative approach was applied using secondary data from annual financial reports of banks
consistently listed throughout the observation period. Purposive sampling was used to obtain a balanced panel dataset
covering five years. Data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares–Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to
assess both the measurement and structural models. The results show that corporate governance, capital structure, and
liquidity have positive and significant effects on earnings management. In addition, corporate governance, capital
structure, liquidity, and earnings management each have a positive and significant direct effect on financial
performance. Mediation analysis confirms that earnings management significantly mediates the relationship between
corporate governance, capital structure, liquidity, and financial performance. The R-square values indicate strong
explanatory power in predicting earnings management and financial performance. These findings suggest that effective
governance mechanisms, optimal capital structure decisions, and adequate liquidity management improve financial
performance both directly and indirectly through earnings management. This study provides empirical evidence on the
mediating role of earnings management in the Indonesian banking sector and offers practical implications for bank
management, investors, and regulators in enhancing governance and financial strategies to ensure sustainable
performance

References

Aras, G., & Crowther, D. (2013). Governance and sustainability: An investigation into the relationship between

corporate governance and corporate sustainability. Journal of Business Ethics.

Brigham, E. F., & Ehrhardt, M. C. (2017). Financial Management: Theory & Practice (15th ed.). Cengage Learning.

Brigham, E. F., & Houston, J. F. (2019). Fundamentals of Financial Management (15th ed.). Cengage Learning.

Cadbury, A. (1992). Report of the Committee on the Financial Aspects of Corporate Governance. Gee Publishing.

Claessens, S., & Yafeh, Y. (2012). How Does Corporate Governance Affect Bank Performance. Journal of Financial

Intermediation.

Deloof, M. (2003). Does working capital management affect profitability of Belgian firms. Journal of Business Finance

& Accounting, 30(3‑4), 573–588.

Gitman, L. J., & Zutter, C. J. (2012). Principles of Managerial Finance (13th ed.). Pearson.

Healy, P. M., & Wahlen, J. M. (1999). A review of earnings management literature and its implications for standard

setting. Accounting Horizons, 13(4), 365–383.

Jensen, M. C., & Meckling, W. H. (1976). Theory of the firm: Managerial behavior, agency costs and ownership

structure. Journal of Financial Economics, 3(4), 305–360.

Jones, J. (1991). Earnings management during import relief investigations. Journal of Accounting Research, 29(2),

–228.

Kao, L., Hodgkinson, L., & Jaafar, A. (2022). Corporate governance and earnings management in the banking sector.

International Journal of Bank Marketing.

Kim, J., & Park, S. (2024). Liquidity and profitability in emerging market banks: A paradox of excess liquidity. Journal

of Banking & Finance Studies.

Mallin, C. A. (2019). Corporate Governance (6th ed.). Oxford University Press.

Modigliani, F., & Miller, M. H. (1958). The cost of capital, corporation finance and the theory of investment. American

Economic Review, 48(3), 261–297.

Myers, S. C. (2001). Capital structure. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 15(2), 81–102.

Nguyen, T., & Nguyen, H. (2023). Corporate governance effectiveness and managerial discretion: Evidence from Asia.

Corporate Governance: An International Review.

OECD. (2015). G20/OECD Principles of Corporate Governance. OECD Publishing.

Rahman, A., & Saeed, S. (2024). The role of liquidity management in bank performance: Evidence from ASEAN

countries. Emerging Markets Finance and Trade.

Shleifer, A., & Vishny, R. W. (1997). A survey of corporate governance. Journal of Finance, 52(2), 737–783.

Solomon, J. (2017). Corporate Governance and Accountability (5th ed.). Wiley.

Titman, S., & Wessels, R. (1988). The determinants of capital structure choice. Journal of Finance, 43(1), 1–19.

Downloads

Published

2026-06-30

How to Cite

Juwita, I. (2026). The Effect of Earnings Management in Mediating the Role of Corporate Governance, Capital Structure, and Liquidity on Financial Performance (A Study of Conventional Commercial Banks Listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange). International Journal of Management and Education in Human Development, 6(02), 1777–1783. Retrieved from https://ijmehd.com/index.php/ijmehd/article/view/357

Issue

Section

Articles