Corporate Management in the Eighteenth Century in the Company of Commerce of Pernambuco and Paraiba

Álvaro Pereira de Andrade¹, Ana Maria S. B. Sotomayor², Jorge José Martins Rodrigues²  
(1. Department of Accounting and Actuarial Sciences, Federal University of Pernambuco, Brazil;
2. Department of Management, Higher Institute of Accounting and Administration of Lisbon, Portugal)

Abstract: This study is based on the management model carried out by Companhia Geral de Comércio de Pernambuco e Paraíba — CGCPP (General Company of Commerce of Pernambuco and Paraiba), founded in 1759 by the government of the Marquis of Pombal, for the exclusive trade rights in Brazil between the kingdom of Portugal and the captaincies of Pernambuco and Paraíba. The results of this research revealed that CGCPP’s management adopted policies and practices of governance structure similars to the current ones, focused on ethics and transparency, aiming at the security of shareholders and the well-being of Captaincies. This survey also brought to light that the monitoring of CGCPP’s internal control system was carried out through accounting reports issued by its “Contadoria” (Accounting department), and were subject to systematic review by its Inspection of Accounts unit, whose the assignments in the Company were similar to those of an internal audit. The main objectives of this accounting review were to ensure the safety of internal controls of the CGCPP and to detect possible irregularities for immediate correction and adjustments, thus allowing the regular flow of operations of the Company.

Key words: accounting; governance; internal control; management; company of commerce

JEL codes: M410