...AC504: Ethical Issues in Business and Accounting Assignment #6 for Professor Gates By Nicholas Gainsbrugh Overview of the Australian Accounting Standards Board and Harmonization with IFRS Nicholas Gainsbrugh Unit 6 Assignment for Prof. Gates Assignment: An Overview of the Australian Accounting Standards Board and Harmonization with IFRS Abstract: The accounting profession in Australia is thriving. The number of accountants employed at the professional level has risen strongly over the past decade, from around one hundred thousand in 1997to over one hundred fifty thousand in 2006 and it has really skyrocketed from there for the last 6 years. This paper will discuss what actions that Australia should take with regard to the adoption or (Harmonization) of IFRS. Many dissenters have complained - pointing attention to the political dimensions of the decision. While it might be politically unattractive for Australia to surrender some of its power to set its own standards, it would also be unattractive for Australia to remain on the outside while important international agreements are being made. This paper will also look developments in the adoption and implementation of IFRS around the globe, with particular interests in certain countries that are … within scope – similar to Australia - countries such as Canada, China and India. And if harmonization is not really a sensible reality, then would compatibility be a close second? Something to hope for if you fall short...
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...Abstract: The Australia Accounting Standard Board is an Australia government agency that developing, issuing, and maintaining Australia accounting standards and related pronouncements. In 2004, the Australia Accounting Standard Board (AASB) adopted the Framework for the Preparation and Presentation of Financial Statement. (Picker, Leo, Loftus and Wise, 2009, P30) The framework plays an important role as a guide to the AASB in developing accounting standards and resolving accounting disputes. Also, the framework address general purpose financial statement, which are the financial statements that an entity prepares and presents at least annual to meet the common information needs of a wide range of users external to the entity. (Picker, Leo, Loftus and Wise, 2009, P30) The essay following will talk about the purpose and status of a conceptual framework such as the use of framework, authority of framework and the development of the conceptual framework. Moreover, this essay will pay attention on the role that the framework plays in the standard setting process. Background: With the development of today’s global economic world, accounting standard setting process is been paid more attention. The framework that set by IASB has been adopted by more and more countries in which not to fall behind by others in accounting standards. The Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB) is a body corporate with perpetual succession, and the most important function of AASB is to developing...
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...Testbank to accompany Company Accounting 10e by Ken Leo, Jeffrey Knapp, Sue McGowan & John Sweeting Prepared by Peter Baxter [pic] © John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd 2015 Chapter 1: Nature and regulation of companies Multiple-choice questions 1. The advantages of a company over a partnership and sole trader do not include which of the following? a. Members are able to sell their shares at any time to another person without having to obtain permission from the other members. b. Members are liable for only a limited amount of the company’s debts. c. A company has a legal existence distinct from its owners. *d. A company is only entitled to raise small amounts of cash by issuing shares. Correct answer: d Learning Objective 1.1 ~ summarise the nature and attributes of a company 2. In Australia, the Corporations Act 2001 is administered by the: a. Australian Securities Exchange. b. Australian Accounting Research Foundation. *c. Australian Securities and Investments Commission. d. Securities and Exchange Commission. Correct answer: c Learning Objective 1.1 ~ summarise the nature and attributes of a company 3. The two main types of companies permitted to be registered under the Corporations Act 2001 are a: a. private company, and a proprietary company. b. public company, and a trade union. *c. proprietary company, and a public company. d. proprietary company, and a partnership...
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...Accounting Standards Building international opportunities for Australian business Corporate Law Economic Reform Program Proposals for Reform: Paper No. 1 © Commonwealth of Australia 1997 ISBN 0 642 26110 5 This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Australian Government Publishing Service. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction rights should be directed to the Manager, Commonwealth Information Services, Australian Government Publishing Service, GPO Box 84, Canberra ACT 2601. The Government is seeking comments from interested parties on the detail of the proposals in this paper which should be forwarded to the following address:| First Assistant SecretaryBusiness Law DivisionThe TreasuryParkes PlacePARKES ACT 2600|Telephone:Fax:Email:|02 6263 396002 6263 2882clerp@treasury.gov.au| Copies of this paper are available from the Australian Government Publishing Service and on the Treasury web site (http://www.treasury.gov.au).Enquiries concerning the paper can be made to:Ms Veronique IngramAssistant SecretaryThe TreasuryTelephone: 02 6263 3970| Printed by the Australian Government Publishing Service Table of Contents Page Abbreviations v PART 1: Reform Proposals 1 PART 2: Introduction 9 2.1 Background 9 2.2 Key economic principles 10 PART 3: The Case for Reform 11 3.1 Impetus for reform 11 3.2 What the Government is seeking...
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...The history and Accounting practices in Australia Development of accounting practices in Australia: The Accounting Practices were firstly recommended and issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (ICAA) in 1946 and these accounting practices were called as “Recommendations of Accounting Principles”. These accounting principles were just barely “copied” from those issued earlier by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wale (ICAEW). However, these accounting practices somehow led to high level of nonconformity because lack of united professional body to work on the issues incurred. Other than ICAA that is incorporated by Royal Charter, another professional accounting body named CPA Australia (was initially known as the Australian Society of Accountants, ASA then changed its name to the Australian Society of Certified Practicing Accountants, ASCPA and changed it name to CPA Australia in 2000) also issued accounting practices that deal with subjects related directly in preparation of financial statements. In 1966, ICAA and CPA were then jointed and work together to form Australian Accounting Research Foundation (AARF) to research and issue proposed accounting standards through its Accounting Standards Board (AcSB) and the Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (PSASB) to the private sector and public sector organizations. The process of how AARF issued accounting standards was pretty much the same as how The International Public Sector...
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...Accounting Standards Building international opportunities for Australian business Corporate Law Economic Reform Program Proposals for Reform: Paper No. 1 © Commonwealth of Australia 1997 ISBN 0 642 26110 5 This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Australian Government Publishing Service. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction rights should be directed to the Manager, Commonwealth Information Services, Australian Government Publishing Service, GPO Box 84, Canberra ACT 2601. The Government is seeking comments from interested parties on the detail of the proposals in this paper which should be forwarded to the following address: First Assistant Secretary Business Law Division The Treasury Parkes Place PARKES ACT 2600 Telephone: 02 6263 3960 Fax: 02 6263 2882 Email: clerp@treasury.gov.au Copies of this paper are available from the Australian Government Publishing Service and on the Treasury web site (http://www.treasury.gov.au). Enquiries concerning the paper can be made to: Ms Veronique Ingram Assistant Secretary The Treasury Telephone: 02 6263 3970 Printed by the Australian Government Publishing Service TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Abbreviations PART 1: PART 2: Reform Proposals Introduction 2.1 2.2 PART 3: Background Key economic principles v 1 9 9 10 11 11 12 13 13 14 16 17 19 19 19 20 22 23 The Case for Reform 3.1 3.2 Impetus...
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...IFRS vs. A- IFRS Australia along with New Zealand, The European Union, China and Russia was one of the earliest adopters of the IFRS. Australia adopted an IFRS equivalent which they call A-IFRS starting January 1, 2005. Even though, Australia and the IFRS have converged there are still some difference in the accounting practices allowed by Australian GAAP and the full IFRS. The differences between the two sets of standards are not as glaring as the differences between US GAAP and IFRS but the differences between the A-IFRS and IFRS are worth noting. The treatment of general insurance contracts and life insurance differs between the two standards. Australian firms must follow AASB 1023 and 1038 these standards are more specific than IFRS 4 which covers all insurance contracts and financial instruments with flexible participation features. AASB details all of the disclosure measurement and recognition requirements of accounting for general insurance contracts. AASB 1038 deals with life insurance contracts and is more specific than IFRS 4, it doesn’t allow “shadow accounting” which IFRS 4 does allow (Porter, 6). Shadow accounting has become popular because of outsourcing and is the checking and confirming aspects of a company’s accounting function on the managers behalf (Kaufman, 69). These slight differences do allow a company following the Australia equivalent to the IFRS does allow Australian firms to fully comply with the IFRS but it does lead to comparability problems. A...
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...Part 1: The Australian Accounting Environment Chapter 1 An overview of the Australian external reporting environment Review questions 1.1 Refer to pages 6 to 25 of the text. The main bodies responsible for regulating accounting disclosure in Australia are: (i) Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) Briefly, ASIC is responsible for administering corporations legislation within Australia (which includes various reporting requirements). According to its own website, the role of the ASIC is to enforce and regulate company and financial services laws to protect consumers, investors and creditors. (ii) Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB) The role of the AASB is to develop a conceptual framework. It is also responsible for ‘making’ accounting standards that have the force of law under the corporations legislation, as well as formulating accounting standards that are to be used by reporting entities that are not governed by corporations legislation, inclusive of entities operating in the not-for-profit sector and public sector entities. The AASB is also responsible for Interpretations Advisory Panels, user focus groups and project advisory panels. As was indicated in this chapter, however, a great deal of the responsibility for developing accounting standards to be released by the AASB is in the hands of the IASB, as is the development of the conceptual framework. It is to be anticipated that only minor...
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...com.au/resources/30%20June%202009%20- %20Final%20Docs%20-%20AUI/AUI%20- %20Annual%20Report%202009%20-%20Final.pdf Australian Accounting Standards Board. (2004). AASB 139 „Financial Instruments: Recognition and measurement‟. Vic., Australia: AASB Australian Accounting Standards Board. (2009). AASB 9 „Financial Instruments. Vic., Australia: AASB Bentley, P. A., Franklin, M. A. (2013). Which international cultures favor disclosure of risk. International Journal of Business, Accounting, & Finance. 7(2), 62-76. Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia. (2012). AASB 9 Financial instruments. Retrieved from http://www.charteredaccountants.com.au/Industry- Topics/Reporting/Australian-accounting-standards/Analysis-of-AASB- standards/AASB-9--Financial-instruments Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia. (2012). AASB 139 Financial 7 instruments: recognition and measurement. Retrieved from http://www.charteredaccountants.com.au/Industry- Topics/Reporting/Australian-accounting-standards/Analysis-of-AASB- standards/AASB-139--Financial-instruments AASB 139 (IAS 39) in Australia – The main challenges for everyone else. (2006). Retrieved from http://ozrisk.net/2006/09/28/aasb-139-ias-39-in-australia- the-main-challenges-for-everyone-else/ Loftus, J. (2006). What do you get when you mix measurement methods and priciples? Accounting for financial instruments. Retrieved from http://business.curtin.edu.au/files/Loftus.pdf Qantas Group. (2010). Annual Report...
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...usefulness of accounting theory is evident at various levels within the accounting profession and society in general including, standard setters, accounting professionals and users of accounting information. This essay will address two key areas, firstly, a personal reflection on this course and why studying theory is essential for practicing accountants. The second part is a critical evaluation of the conceptual framework and why it is an essential part of accounting literature. Areas evaluated include the purpose and benefits of a conceptual framework, a brief history of it in Australia, principle based versus rules based standards and some criticisms of it are discussed. Personal reflection I must admit, when scrolling through the list of courses I have left to complete my degree Accounting Theory did not jump out as one I was eager to enrol in. This is in no small part due to my lack of appreciation of how knowledge of the development of theory can give context and power to understanding changes. Whereas before I was more about practice and ‘getting it done’, it has become apparent that theory generally is an intrinsic element in advancing our understanding of our environment, culminating in improvements in practice. It is not a means of simply explaining or predicting behaviour, nor is it there only to serve as a framework for further inquiry (although these are important benefits of theory). Theory has a much more significant and elegant role to play in accounting than simply...
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...IFRS in Australia has led to some significant changes to some accounting standards and minor changes in others. A number of countries throughout the world are now undergoing a similar process as they too adopt the IFRS regime. However, a single global set of accounting standards has not been achieved as the United States continues to apply its own Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (US-GAAP) as endorsed by the US Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). In 2003 the International Financial Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and the US Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) commenced a joint project with the aim of converging the IFRSs and FASB standards. This project will result in further changes which will flow through to Australia, but when complete, may ultimately result in a true international standardisation of accounting and a single set of global financial accounting standards. This task requires you to consider the implications to Australian financial reporting if this international standardisation occurs. What benefits can Australia expect from all this international standardisation? Required: In an essay you are required to explain “the benefits Australia can expect from the international standardisation of financial reporting”. You must use scholarly research to develop the arguments you present in your essay to achieve a high grade in this assignment. Your essay should demonstrate reading beyond the prescribed text and accounting standards. Your essay...
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...Hongtao Lu 41586561 Financial Statement Project of Corporate Accounting Individual report of Decmil Group Ltd Hongtao Lu (41586561) 16th April 2014 ACCT7104 Corporate Accounting Individual Financial Statement Project 1 Hongtao Lu 41586561 1. Introduction The purpose of this report is to identify the significant elements of changes of Australian accounting standards in the fields of Segment Reporting and Joint Arrangements/Ventures in last five year. The report will examine accounting methods used in Decmil Group Limited’s annual report in order to assess the compliance level of the financial statements. 2. For Segment reporting 2.1. Significant Elements of Changes in the Field of Segment Reporting From the old to the new consolidation suite, for segment reporting, significant changes of accounting standard were mainly from AASB 114 segment reporting to AASB 8 operating segment. The latest version AASB 114 was applied to reporting periods beginning on or after 1st July 2008 but before 1st January 2009 (AASB 2008, p.1). Its replacement AASB 8 started from 1st Jan 2009, and early adoption was acceptable (AASB 2010, p.1). Firstly, the most significant change is the identification method of operating segments. AASB 8 (AASB 2010, p.10) requires reporting entity to identify reporting segments whose performance is regularly examined by CODM for decision making purpose of allocating resources. In contrast, AASB 114 required that segments should be defined by...
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...C) Discuss the extent to which IAS 21 is likely to enhance the comparability of financial statements of listed companies in Europe and Australia. Accounting standards around the world were immensely diverse. Each country had different accounting standards and methods of calculation within their country. Over time many listed companies and corporations have become international and have spread globally. Individual standards caused a large number of rework and comparison issues in order to prepare financial reports to be in accordance with that of their own country. Many countries have adopted and converged their own standards to the international Financial Reporting Standards. The United Kingdom, members of the European Union and Australia are just some of the countries that have done so. Australia’s AASB is the equivalent of the IAS, although different methods can be used and therefore may not enhance the comparability of transactions and translation. The adoption of the IFRS in the European Union aimed to increase the comparability of companies consolidated accounts. It has aimed to achieve the de facto harmony. Countries therefore rectifying the standards to the IFRS have made it easier to compare and thus reducing the time spent on comparability. IAS 21 is one of the standards of the IFRS, that’s objective is to successfully include foreign currency transactions and foreign operations in the financial statements of an entity. Financial statements are converted into...
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...is selected, evaluated and organized into three key areas: the Carbon tax legislation represents a creation of a new social reality and the impact on sustainability in business. The carbon tax would be represented in the financial reports. To introduce the particular company and legislation impacts on that company. The Framework shows that the financial reporting is present relevant and reliable information. Some experts considered that the insufficient information on financial reporting impact on social reality. Thus, the Sustainability reporting occurs to fix up the fanatical reporting gaps. Introduction Financial reporting is both a reflection and creator of our perception of social reality and consistently evolving. Currently, accounting system is not only focus on the data of how much company earns, it also shift towards to social responsibility. As the dramatic of pollutions, especially that of the developing nations is extremely harmful not only to the surrounding environment, but also to the inhabitants of that country as well. Thus, financial reporting take concern on such problems and create out Sustainability reporting which help to reduce the pollutions. This essay is to discuss the both reflection and creator of financial reporting in reality social and the impact on sustainability in business. It will focus on how the carbon tax will help to reduce the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. First, to introduce the background of financial reporting; and then what is...
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...COVER SHEET for SUBMISSION of INDIVIDUAL/ GROUP ASSIGNMENTS Course Code | Course Name | Dept. Date Stamp | ACCT2159 | Corporate Accounting | | Assignment Title | Assignment No: | Date Due | | Corporate Accounting Assignment 2012 semester 3 | 1 | Friday, 7th December 2012 | | Academic’s Name: | | | Ms. Sue | | (For Office use only) | STUDENT(S) Family name | Given Names | Student Number | 1) Vu Ly Bao | Ngoc | s3357828 | 2) Bui Mai | Phuong | s3372823 | 3) Nguyen Thi Phuong | Mai | s3345216 | 4) Lee | So Huyn | s3357820 | Declaration and Statement of Authorship: 1. I/we hold a photocopy of this assignment which can be produced if the original is lost/damaged. 2. This assignment is my/our original work and no part of it has been copied from any other student’s work or from any other source except where due acknowledgement is made. 3. No part of this assignment has been written for me/us by any other person except where such collaboration has been authorised by the academic/teacher concerned and as detailed in the assignment. 4. I/we have not previously submitted this work for any other course/unit. 5. I give permission for my assignment to be scanned for electronic checking of plagiarism. 6. I give permission for a copy of my/our marked work to be retained by the Department for review by external examiners. I/we understand that: Plagiarism is the presentation of the work, idea or creation of another...
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