Management accounting performance measurement systems in Swedish banks

Purpose – To study the nature of management accounting performance measures in the Financial Services Industry (FSI). The nature of Performance Measurement (PM), specially non‐financial PM in FSI (service “shop”) has not been explored before. Design/methodology/approach – This exploratory multiple case study consists of survey, interviews with questionnaire, individuals' (senior management and executives) interviews, collecting primary and secondary sources of information as well as literature surveys. Findings – The results of this study demonstrate that the actual practices of the recent trends of management accounting in non‐financial PM are negligible in the studied financial institutions, and management of studied banks paying more attention to improve and measure financial performance than that to non‐financial performance for different reasons that affect the function/operation of FSI. Research limitations/implications – The field study is being conducted without a conceptual/theoretical framework. An explanatory case study with particular theoretical framework/model could make possible to discuss the factors that affect non‐financial PM in this particular industry. Moreover, a comparative study with manufacturing industry would make the research results more robust. Practical implications – A stable economic condition and competition that would increase the need and importance of non‐financial PM in FSI as well as in other services (and even in manufacturing industries). Originality/value – This paper explores the nature of management accounting PM particularly in FSI.