A Hermeneutic Analysis on ISAK 35: Habermas Perspective
Main Article Content
Enrico Paul Anggiat Panjaitan*
Syarifuddin Syarifuddin
Arifuddin Mannan
Nonprofit-oriented entities play a critical role in providing social, educational, religious, and humanitarian services, yet face growing demands for transparent and accountable financial reporting. This study examines Interpretation of Financial Accounting Standards (ISAK) 35 on the Presentation of Financial Statements of Nonprofit-Oriented Entities through the lens of Jurgen Habermas’s critical hermeneutics. Employing a qualitative approach within an interpretive-critical paradigm, the study analyzes ISAK 35 as a normative accounting text to uncover the meanings, interests, and potential communicative distortions embedded within the standard. The primary data consist of the Exposure Draft of ISAK 35 and supporting documents, including the Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting and relevant Indonesian Financial Accounting Standards (PSAK), collected through document analysis. Drawing on legitimacy theory and entity theory, the findings indicate that ISAK 35 functions not only as a technical guideline for financial reporting but also as a formal instrument of legitimacy for nonprofit organizations. The separation of net assets with and without restrictions reflects the application of entity theory and aims to enhance transparency and accountability. However, from a critical perspective, the study finds that the emphasis on compliance and technical presentation may reinforce instrumental rationality, potentially limiting dialogical communication between nonprofit entities and their stakeholders, particularly in organizations lacking adequate accounting competence. This study contributes to critical accounting literature by highlighting the need to balance standardization with substantive public accountability and communicative rationality in nonprofit financial reporting.
Afifah, R., & Indrayani. (2025). Implementasi ISAK 35 dalam Pengelolaan Keuangan Syariah Pondok Pesantren Al-Mustaqim Parepare. Funds: Jurnal Ilmiah Akuntansi, Keuangan, Dan Bisnis, 3(2), 19–31. https://doi.org/10.35905/funds.v3i2.15054
Aliyah, W. N., & Andayani, S. (2023). Analysis of ISAK 35 Implementation in Ruang Belajar Aqil Non-Profit Organizations Engaged in The Third Sector. Proceedings of International Conference on Economics Business and Government Challenges, 7(1), 243–248. https://doi.org/10.33005/icebgc.v7i1.127
Ayuntari, C. G., Amin, A. F., & Maulana, R. (2025). Implementation of Interpretation of Financial Accounting Standards (ISAK) 35 on The Financial Statements of Non-Profit Entities. Proceeding International Conference on Accounting and Finance, 3, 419–429. https://journal.uii.ac.id/inCAF/article/view/38747
Burrell, G., & Morgan, G. (2017). Sociological Paradigms and Organisational Analysis. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315242804
Dowling, J., & Pfeffer, J. (1975). Organizational Legitimacy: Social Values and Organizational Behavior. The Pacific Sociological Review, 18(1), 122–136. https://doi.org/10.2307/1388226
Ebrahim, A. (2003). Accountability In Practice: Mechanisms for NGOs. World Development, 31(5), 813–829. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0305-750X(03)00014-7
Fitria, N., & Ruci, D. (2025). Financial Accounting Information System Analysis of Nurul Huda Mosque, South Pontianak. Proceeding of The 4th International Conference on Finance Business and Banking, 119–130. https://proceeding.uinmataram.ac.id/index.php/icfbb/article/view/288
Gray, R., Owen, D., & Adams, C. (1996). Accounting & Accountability: Changes and Challenges in Corporate Social and Environmental Reporting. Prentice Hall.
Habermas, J. (1971). Knowledge and Human Interests. Beacon Press.
Habermas, J. (1984). The Theory of Communicative Action: Reason and the rationalization of society. Beacon Press.
Indriani, S. A. (2025). Analisis Penerapan Akuntansi Sektor Publik dalam Penyajian Laporan Keuangan Masjid Baitul Aqrom Berdasarkan ISAK No. 35. AKRUAL : Jurnal Akuntansi Dan Keuangan, 7(1), 132–143. https://doi.org/10.34005/akrual.v7i1.5075
Jannah, B. S., Triyuwono, I., Baridwan, Z., & Hariadi, B. (2025). Accounting in Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs): Insights from Bibliometric Analysis. TEM Journal, 14(4), 3389–3402. https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=1384101
Kossay, E. (2025). Analisis Penerapan ISAK 35 pada Organisasi Nirlaba (SD GMIM 4 Tondano). AKRUAL : Jurnal Akuntansi Dan Keuangan, 7(1), 144–152. https://doi.org/10.34005/akrual.v7i1.5076
Lehman, G. (2006). Perspectives on language, accountability and critical accounting: An interpretative perspective. Critical Perspectives on Accounting, 17(6), 755–779. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpa.2005.02.002
Lindblom, C. K. (1994). The implications of Organizational Legitimacy for Corporate Social Performance and Disclosure. Beacon Press.
Nguyen, K., Sands, J., & Trimmer, K. (2025). A new holistic approach to preventing accounting fraud in the non-profit organisation (NPO) sector: some propositions and research agenda. Journal of Accounting Literature. https://doi.org/10.1108/JAL-09-2023-0170
Noël, C., Ayayi, A. G., & Blum, V. (2010). The European Union’s accounting policy analyzed from an ethical perspective: The case of petroleum resources, prospecting and evaluation. Critical Perspectives on Accounting, 21(4), 329–341. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpa.2009.11.009
Paton, W. A. (1992). Accounting Theory. In Clean Surplus. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315050638-6
Power, M. (2013). Theory and theorization: A comment on Laughlin and Habermas. Critical Perspectives on Accounting, 24(3), 225–227. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpa.2012.06.004
Power, M., & Laughlin, R. (1996). Habermas, law and accounting. Accounting, Organizations and Society, 21(5), 441–465. https://doi.org/10.1016/0361-3682(95)00036-4
Putong, L. N., Anisa, I. N., Lusyanawati, J., & Mulyani, A. S. (2025). Analisis ISAK 35 Tentang Penyajian Laporan Keuangan Pada Yayasan Save The Children Indonesia. Wacana Ekonomi: Jurnal Ekonomi, Bisnis Dan Akuntansi, 24(1), 72–82. https://doi.org/10.22225/we.24.1.2025.72-82
Riahi-Belkaoui, A. (2004). Accounting Theory. Thomson Learning.
Salamah, B., & Nasrullah, M. (2023). Implementasi Laporan Keuangan Organisasi Nonlaba Berdasarkan ISAK 35 (Studi Kasus Pada Pondok Pesantren Az-Zabur Kajen Kabupaten Pekalongan). Jurnal Akuntansi dan Audit Syariah (JAAiS), 4(1), 65–76. https://doi.org/10.28918/jaais.v4i01.943
Sembiring, A. (2025). Analisis Penerapan ISAK 35 pada Panti Asuhan Dorkas. AKRUAL : Jurnal Akuntansi Dan Keuangan, 7(1), 121–131. https://doi.org/10.34005/akrual.v7i1.5074
Subaeda, R., Syamsul, S., & Rosyada, D. (2023). Laporan Keuangan UTD PMI Provinsi Sulawesi Tengah: Apakah Sudah Sesuai Dengan ISAK No. 35? Indonesian Accounting Literacy Journal, 3(3), 317–329. https://doi.org/10.35313/ialj.v3i3.5174
Thompson, J. B. (1981). Critical Hermeneutics. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511609176
Yahya, Salida, A., & Rusdiansyah, N. (2023). Exploring Social and Environmental Accounting Reporting Through Jurgen Habermas’s Critical Theory. West Science Interdisciplinary Studies, 1(8), 530–542. https://doi.org/10.58812/wsis.v1i08.179
