The objective of this article is to ascertain the direct impact of the mechanisms of good corporate governance (GCG) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) on financial performance, as well as via earnings management as a mediating variable. Design/methodology/approach – This study utilizes secondary data from 102 businesses registered on the Indonesian Stock Exchange for the year 2014. We utilized WarpPLS 5.0 software to analyze the data for this investigation using partial least squares. Results indicate that the mechanisms of GCG and CSR positively influence financial performance, as does CSR itself. Originality/value – The findings indicate partial mediation of earnings management about the influence of GCG mechanisms on financial performance and complete mediation of earnings management concerning the effect of CSR on financial performance.