<![CDATA[restricted access to formal financing, partly due to suboptimal digital accounting implementation. Although previous studies have examined digital transformation, financial technology, and MSME governance separately, limited evidence integrates digital accounting, financial transparency, access to financing, and governance within a single empirical framework. This study develops and validates an integrative Digital Accounting-Based MSME Governance model examining the mediating roles of financial transparency and access to financing. A quantitative approach was employed using purposive sampling, involving 175 valid MSME respondents in North Sumatra. Data were collected through documentation, interviews, and questionnaires and analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling–Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS). The results show that Digital Accounting significantly affects Financial Transparency (β = 0.503), Access to Financing (β = 0.513), and MSME Governance (β = 0.525). Financial Transparency significantly affects Access to Financing (β = 0.417) and MSME Governance (β = 0.570), while Access to Financing significantly affects MSME Governance (β = 0.520). Financial transparency and access to financing also significantly mediate the relationship between Digital Accounting and MSME Governance. Theoretically, the study extends digital accounting from a technological capability to a governance-enabling mechanism by demonstrating complementary mediating pathways through financial transparency and access to financing. The findings contribute empirical evidence on how digital accounting can strengthen MSME governance in an emerging economy.]]>
