Effect of the Integration of Accounting Disclosure and Corporate Identity on Sustainable Competitive Advantage

Abstract

In today’s highly competitive business environment, insurance companies must adopt strategic approaches to strengthen and sustain their market position. This study examines the impact of integrating accounting disclosure with commercial (brand) identity on maintaining sustainable competitive advantage. It focuses on a sample of public and private insurance companies in Iraq using a quantitative approach. The study considers key indicators such as advertising expenditure, investment income, business profitability, and insurance portfolio performance. The findings indicate that companies such as Gulf and Al Hamra Insurance were able to outperform competitors and maintain stable revenue and profit levels through effective integration of financial transparency and a strong brand identity. The results further show that transparent accounting disclosure enhances investor and customer trust, while a well-developed brand identity contributes significantly to reputation building and customer loyalty. The study concludes that combining financial reporting practices with branding strategies is not merely an organizational advantage but a necessity for achieving long-term competitiveness, particularly in sensitive sectors such as insurance. It recommends adopting a dual disclosure approach that aligns accounting transparency with strategic brand communication to strengthen trust and ensure sustainable performance. Additionally, the study addresses a gap in Arabic literature by providing an analytical framework for evaluating the relationship between financial disclosure and brand identity in the insurance sector, an area that has received limited academic attention.