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  Cluster 7: Finance, Accounting & Economics

How to Format an Accounting Research Paper (2026)

Correct manuscript formatting is essential for successful accounting journal submission. Formatting errors — incorrect citation style, missing sections, wrong file format, or non-compliant tables — can result in immediate return without review. This practical formatting guide helps accounting researchers prepare manuscripts that comply with Keith Publications journal requirements and proceed directly to peer review.

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What to Look for When Choosing a Journal

Before submitting your research, evaluate journals on these key criteria:

  • Step-by-step author guidelines available on the finance journal website
  • Clear manuscript structure requirements (abstract, sections, references)
  • Responsive editorial support for pre-submission and technical queries
  • Submission system with clear file format and size requirements
  • Transparent peer review timelines and revision process
  • Guidance on data availability, methodology transparency, and ethics declarations

Recommended Journals — Cluster 7: Finance, Accounting & Economics

All journals below are published by Keith Publications — open access, peer-reviewed, and indexed for global discoverability.

  • Journal of Financial Economics and Management (JFEM)

    Financial economics, corporate finance, investment management, financial markets, monetary policy, and the economics of financial systems and institutions.

    Review: 2–3 weeks Open Access DOI (CrossRef) Google Scholar
    Financial Economics Corporate Finance Investment Management Financial Markets
  • Journal of Accounting and Financial Reporting (JAFR)

    Financial accounting, management accounting, auditing, corporate governance, financial reporting standards, and the intersection of accounting with regulation and public policy.

    Review: 2–4 weeks Open Access DOI (CrossRef) Google Scholar
    Financial Accounting Auditing Corporate Governance Financial Reporting
  • International Journal of Banking and Financial Services (IJBFS)

    Banking systems, financial services regulation, fintech, digital banking, risk management, financial inclusion, and the stability of global financial institutions.

    Review: 2–4 weeks Open Access DOI (CrossRef) Google Scholar
    Banking Systems Financial Services Fintech Risk Management
  • Economics and Social Policy Research Journal (ESPRJ)

    Applied economics, development economics, fiscal and monetary policy, social policy evaluation, labour economics, and the economics of welfare, health, and education.

    Review: 2–4 weeks Open Access DOI (CrossRef) Google Scholar
    Applied Economics Development Economics Fiscal Policy Social Policy

Fast Publication: All Keith Publications journals complete initial review within 2–5 business days and full peer review within 2–4 weeks. Articles are published online within 5–10 days of acceptance — making us one of the fastest open access publishers in finance, accounting, and economics.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Submitting Finance and Economics Research

Successfully publishing finance research requires both excellent research and effective manuscript preparation. Step 1: Identify a journal whose aims and scope match your finance or economics research topic precisely. Step 2: Read the author guidelines thoroughly before writing. Step 3: Structure your manuscript according to the journal's requirements (typically: abstract, introduction, literature review, theoretical framework, methodology, results, discussion, conclusion, references). Step 4: Prepare all supplementary documents (data availability statement, ethics approval if applicable, conflict of interest declaration, funding acknowledgement). Step 5: Submit via the online submission system with a cover letter explaining the significance of your finance research and confirming it has not been published or submitted elsewhere.

Writing a Strong Finance Research Abstract and Cover Letter

Your abstract and cover letter are the first things editors read — and they determine whether your finance manuscript proceeds to peer review. A strong finance research abstract should: state the research problem clearly in the first sentence, describe the methodology concisely (data sources, econometric methods, sample characteristics, time period), present the key findings specifically with quantitative precision where possible, and articulate the policy or practical significance of your findings. A strong cover letter should: address the editor by name or title, state your manuscript title, explain why this finance journal is the right fit, highlight the contribution to finance or economics knowledge, and confirm data availability and originality. Both documents should be concise, professional, and precise.

Tips to Maximise Your Acceptance Chances

  1. Align your topic with the journal's scope — confirm your research fits the journal's finance, accounting, or economics focus area.
  2. Establish clear research questions — finance and economics editors expect precise, testable hypotheses or well-defined research questions.
  3. Address endogeneity and identification — be explicit about your causal identification strategy and its limitations.
  4. Use appropriate data and methodology — match your econometric or quantitative methods to your research question and data structure.
  5. Follow formatting guidelines exactly — non-compliant manuscripts are often desk-rejected without review.
  6. State practical and policy implications — explain how your findings inform investors, regulators, policymakers, or practitioners.
  7. Ensure robust robustness checks — include alternative specifications, subsample analyses, and placebo tests to strengthen your empirical claims.

Frequently Asked Questions

What citation style do Keith Publications accounting journals use?
Keith Publications accounting journals typically accept APA, Chicago, or Harvard citation styles. Always check the specific journal's author guidelines for the preferred citation format. Ensure 100% consistency throughout your manuscript — mixed citation styles are common formatting errors.
How should I format accounting paper tables?
Tables should have descriptive titles (above the table), clear column and row headers, footnotes explaining abbreviations, statistical significance notation (*, **, *** for p<0.10, 0.05, 0.01), and data sources noted. Use consistent decimal places and number formatting throughout all tables.
What font and spacing should an accounting paper use?
Check the specific journal guidelines, but standard requirements are: Times New Roman 12pt or Arial 11pt, double or 1.5 line spacing, 2.5cm margins, page numbers, and section headings clearly distinguished. Abstract typically has no indentation; body text may be indented.
Should tables and figures be embedded or at the end of an accounting paper?
Most Keith Publications journals accept tables and figures either embedded in the text at the appropriate point or collected at the end. Check journal-specific guidance. Embedded tables/figures are preferred as they help reviewers follow the text without flipping back and forth.

Ready to Publish Your Research?

Submit your finance, accounting, or economics manuscript to Keith Publications today. Fast peer review, open access, and global indexing — get your work published within weeks.

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