...How International Differences in the Ownership and Financing of Companies Could Lead to Differences in Financial Reporting Introduction The major objective behind the development of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) has been to achieve financial reporting across different countries, which could be easily compared. In order to achieve this kind of comparability, it is very crucial that the IFRS be used by all the countries involved in the same way, and that these standards be interpreted as well as applied in a manner that is quite consistent in these countries thus leading to consistency in terms of rules or form of application and consistency in the actual manner in which they are applied. However, there are many factors that make it hard for countries and companies to apply these rules consistently (Whittington, 2005). Differences in the ownership structure and the way these companies are financed have been singled out as leading to the differences in financial reporting of these companies. In cases where countries do come up with very drastic changes or the professional accountants also fail to clearly interpret and use these IFRS in a manner that is consistent, then there is the risk of not achieving comparability. The differences in accounting practices across countries are not obvious when it comes to all accountants. Such differences that have been widely noted have to do with the ownership and financing practices of companies, which have the...
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...EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report is prepared in response to the exposure draft ED164 titled ‘An improved Conceptual Framework Financial Reporting: The objective of Financial Reporting and Qualitative Characteristics and Constraints of Decision-useful Financial Reporting Information.’ released by Australian Accounting Standard Board (AASB). Four major differences have been identified between the AASB’s current Australian Framework for the Preparation and Presentation of Financial Statements and ED 164 are identified. In Current Australian Framework financial report are prepared from a proprietary perspective whereas in ED 164 they are prepared from an entity perspective. The boards decided to identify present and potential capital providers as primary users for General Purpose Financial Report (GPFR) whereas the Australian Framework lists the users of GPFR as investors, lenders, suppliers and other trade creditors, employees, customers, governments and their agencies and the public. Besides, The boards have also decided on a broad enough objective that encompass all the decisions that equity investors, lenders and other creditors make in their capacity as capital providers, including resource allocation decisions as well as protection and enhancement of their investments whereas the other one focus on provide information to wide range of users in making economic decisions. In addition, the ED 164 has categorised the qualitative characteristics – fundamental, enhancing and pervasive...
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...Different countries have different output despite whether the accountant follow a set of rules. This is because, even though accountant follows a set of rules, there are still possibilities that the set of rules does not covers every aspects in detail. This had led to room for professional judgements. It will be based on accountant’s judgement. The differences is not only between countries but it could differ within the country as well especially for Multinational enterprises (MNEs) it could be complicated as it involved different countries. MNEs can be defined as companies who offer products or services internationally. For instance, company XYZ’s headquarter is in Malaysia while its branch is in China. The existence of MNEs can be explained by Dunning’s eclectic paradigm. Firstly because the companies can gain access to assets that will gives them competitive advantages over local firms. Secondly due to the extent to which relative transaction cost make it appropriate for the companies to use such advantages themselves instead of to license or franchise to other firm and lastly, the existence of MNEs because of relevant cost and the government policies that encourage companies to perform production in other countries. MNEs can be classified into three groups: resource-seeking, market-seeking and efficiency-seeking. Resource-seeking is the search of resources in other country. While companies with market-seeking, they tend to establish subsidiaries. Those subsidiaries play...
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...International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS): Pros and Cons for Investors by Ray Ball* Sidney Davidson Professor of Accounting Graduate School of Business University of Chicago 5807 S. Woodlawn Ave Chicago, IL 60637 Tel. (773) 834 5941 ray.ball@gsb.uchicago.edu Acknowledgments This paper is based on the PD Leake Lecture delivered on 8 September 2005 at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, which can be accessed at http://www.icaew.co.uk/cbp/index.cfm. It draws extensively on the framework in Ball (1995) and benefited from comments by Steve Zeff. Financial support from the PD Leake Trust and the Graduate School of Business at the University of Chicago is gratefully acknowledged. 1 Abstract Accounting in shaped by economic and political forces. It follows that increased worldwide integration of both markets and politics (driven by reductions in communications and information processing costs) makes increased integration of financial reporting standards and practice almost inevitable. But most market and political forces will remain local for the foreseeable future, so it is unclear how much convergence in actual financial reporting practice will (or should) occur. Furthermore, there is little settled theory or evidence on which to build an assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of uniform accounting rules within a country, let alone internationally. The pros and cons of IFRS therefore are somewhat conjectural, the unbridled enthusiasm...
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...defined as the practice of recording, analyzing, and reporting the financial transactions of an organization (Schroeder, Clark, & Cathey, 2011). Since 1973, there has been a governing body that has determined what is considered acceptable business practices in regard to the relationship between these functions. In the United States, that governing body is known as the Financial Accounting Standards Board or FASB. FASB helped to refine and establish what is known as the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles or GAAP. These principles have laid the foundation for modern day accounting practices and have served as a road map for financial accountants worldwide. In 2001, a new board was established to bring unity to international accounting practices. It is known as the International Accounting Standards Board or IASB. IASB has its own set of standards commonly known as International Financial Reporting Standards or IFRS. Together these two entities lay the groundwork for accountants to follow to most accurately and ethically report the financial activities of their respective organizations. Although both these organizations have striking similarities and strive to serve a common goal, there are marked differences in their approach to financial reporting standards. In recent years, FASB and the IASB have affirmed their commitment to bring together their basic fundamentals and create a unified accounting resource that will become the standard for accounting practices across the...
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...Uncertain Supply Chain Management 2 (2014) 61–72 Contents lists available at GrowingScience Uncertain Supply Chain Management homepage: www.GrowingScience.com/uscm Sustainable accounting reporting practices of Indian cement industry: An exploratory study Shagufta Khana , Vineet Chouhanb*, Bibhas Chandrac and Shubham Goswamib a Research Scholar, School of Management, Sir Padampat Singhania University, Udaipur-India Assistant Professor, School of Management, Sir Padampat Singhania University, Bhatewar, Udaipur-India, 313601 c Associate Professor, School of Management, Sir Padampat Singhania University, Bhatewar, Udaipur-India, 313601 b CHRONICLE Article history: Received September 10, 2013 Received in revised format 10 December 2013 Accepted February 25 2014 Available online February 27 2014 Keywords: Cement Industry Sustainability Financial Information Environment Accounting Reporting Sustainable Reporting Practices ABSTRACT Cement is the single most important and profitable product in the building material sector. With the economic boom, in India, Indian cement industry is a market of opportunities waiting to be tapped. However, at the same time cement industry is also experiencing a surge in demand. Production of Cement will always release carbon dioxide and change in the climate of the earth that is why despite its profitability, the cement industry faces many challenges regarding environmental concerns and sustainability issues. In order to minimize the impact of all...
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...This article was downloaded by: [Library Services City University London] On: 26 July 2013, At: 08:32 Publisher: Routledge Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK Accounting and Business Research Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/rabr20 International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS): pros and cons for investors Ray Ball a a University of Chicago Published online: 28 Feb 2012. To cite this article: Ray Ball (2006) International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS): pros and cons for investors, Accounting and Business Research, 36:sup1, 5-27, DOI: 10.1080/00014788.2006.9730040 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00014788.2006.9730040 PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information...
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... Financial Accounting Standards Board History The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) is a private sector organization that was established in 1973. The FASB is governed by the Financial Accounting Foundation (FAF). The FAF appoints the members of the Financial Accounting Standards Advisory Council (FASAC), the council is the entity that informs the FASB of pressing issues or topics to be reviewed (2003, Webster’s). The goal of the FASB is to set standards for financial accounting practices and the production of financial reports. The FASB works to ensure that financial reporting is; transparent, reliable, relevant, comparable, and consistent. It is the responsibility of the FASB to regularly review standards, to check for deficiencies within the current standards, and to also look for methods to improve reporting based on current day needs. As set by Section 108 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act any standard set by the FASB is recognized to be “generally accepted” for the purpose of the federal securities laws (Schroeder, 2011). The FASB initially issued standards through two different types of pronouncements, these are more commonly known as Statements of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS’s) and Interpretations. Today the pronouncements are issued as Statements of Financial Accounting Concepts (SAFC’s), which disclose the objective and concepts the FASB uses to determine standards for financial accounting and reporting. Technical...
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...Accounting Reporting Criteria The world of accounting can look quite universal to any outsider. Most people assume that when you are dealing with money and business that everyone follows the same standards regardless of where the company is located. This is not the case when dealing with companies in different companies that do not utilize the US GAAP. While there are some aspects that may be similar there are many differences between these types of companies and how they perform different accounting transactions. Regulatory Environment The regulatory environments in the United States and the International business community have some very distinct differences that make them very unique. In the United States due to major corporate scandals that have occurred in the past, such as Enron, have brought about some major changes with regard to corporate governance. “The US Government passed the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 which, among other things, set out specific guidelines for the behavior of directors of boards and senior management” (2008,p.2). The Sarbanes-Oxley Act was created to set specific standards that all companies would have to abide by. This act also created an “oversight board titled the Public Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) was established to serve as a regulator of the accounting firms that audit public companies” (2008, p.2). The Security and Exchange Commission monitors the PCAOB and maintains changes and updates to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. These boards...
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...State Administration of Audit (SAA), whereas accounting firms focused on companies using foreign investments and were sponsored by the Ministry of Finance. C. Unlike in the U.K., where there was a good legislative and judicial environment during the early stages of the development of the profession, in China, a market-oriented legislative and judicial environment is still emerging. D. Unlike in the U.K., where auditors receive support from the established professional bodies, these support mechanisms are still lacking in China. II. The recent economic reform program stimulated the growth of the accounting profession in China. A. With the recognition by the State of joint stock company form, the demands for financial information from investors and other interested parties increased. B. The establishment of two stock exchanges helped rapid growth of the accounting activities. C. Various government regulations on the implementation of economic reform measures require the involvement of independent auditors. D. The laws on joint ventures with foreign companies require the audit of annual statements. E. International accounting firms were allowed to be involved in training local auditors and setting auditing standards. III. There are clear signals that Anglo-American...
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...CORPORATE REPORTING AND ANALYSIS By Dr. S.A.S. ARUWA[1], CNA ____________________________________________________________________ Being a paper presented at ANAN Practitioners’ Forum at Mainland Hotel, Lagos on 3rd August, 2010 ____________________________________________________________________ Abstract Good corporate reporting is generally an indication of competitiveness and superior corporate governance. Good reports show initiative and effort on the part of the preparers. Significant changes in the corporate external reporting environment have led to proposals for fundamental changes in corporate reporting practices. A variety of new information types are been demanded, in particular forward-looking, non-financial and soft information. Openness and transparency in annual reporting on an unprecedented scale may be inevitable with the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and Nigeria’s commitment to adopt IFRS; Nigerian companies will have no alternative but to bring themselves up to speed. One way is to ensure that company’s reports actually reflect good governance. INTRODUCTION Good corporate reporting is generally an indication of competitiveness and superior corporate governance. Good reports show initiative and effort on the part of the preparers. “The better reports always address all the required relevant information concisely, and disclose thoroughly the measures taken – including on activities, corporate policy, strategic plans...
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...industrialized countries have their own organizations, such as the United States Financial Accounting Standards Board, that govern their accounting standards. This can cause major difficulties for multi-country corporations, as well as confusing for investors who are trying to compare company financials. To rectify this problem, the SEC has prepared a roadmap that proposes requiring all U. S. companies to implement an improved version of International Financial Reporting Standards as soon as 2014. What would be required to implement these changes? Are accountants today ready and able to implement these news standards or will continuing education be vital to prepare them? If the U. S. takes on these changes, are other countries willing and able to implement changes as well? What will be accomplished with the implementing of a more universal system? Implementing International Financial Reporting Standards As the countries of the world become increasingly interdependent, language barriers must be transcended in order to promote adequate communication. This is true not only of spoken language, but also of accounting, which is commonly known as the language of business (Spiceland, Sepe & Nelson, 2011, p. 4). Global commerce has sounded the call for financial entities worldwide to speak one common language. Historically, the standardization of accounting principles has followed the integration of the financial markets served by those principles. Standardized national accounting...
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...what social, economic, and institutional factors in Switzerland Might be causing the inclusion of these disclosures? 1c) Describe on of the differences in financial reporting between a Swiss company and the reporting in another country? Facts: Rob Carpenter senior manager at a prestigious accounting firm, recently transferred to the international division of acquisition and mergers. Mr. Carpenter was recently asked to make a recommendation regarding Nestle. Mr. Carpenter unfamiliar with the accounting in Switzerland has realized substantial differences between Swiss and U.S. accounting standards. Surprisingly, there are many “unnecessary” details in Nestle’s annual report including things such as social, environmental and employee disclosures. Furthermore, he notices differences in the financial statements. Mr. Carpenter is in charge of resolving the reports. Analysis: Multiple aspects of accounting and financial reporting affect the international community in different forms particularly in respect to needs of their prospective capital markets. The United States and Canada are equity-oriented markets, in these countries any individual is allowed to invest in the companies. The reports are typically a “public relations document that will present a positive image of the company” (Saudagaran, 2009). This may be a frowned upon practice by some parties but nonetheless its aim is to create marketability to attract the investor. As a result, investors may be more likely to commit...
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...at domestic borders. When companies, equity, or capitials cross borders they are confronted with new cultures, challenging new laws and differences in political systems. Besides that there are the differences in Accounting Standards abroad. For example there are the US gaap and IAS. The lack of similar Accounting Standard led to problems in comparing financial datas and informations. Another issue is that not all financial statements or Accounting Standards are accepted in all stock exchanges. Example, companies who would like to be listed in New York Stock Exchange, have to have additional reporting, other than their national standards (reporting) in accordance with the prevailing US-Gaap. This means extra work, example reconciliation that equates to extra costs. The rapid emergence of MNE highlight the problems further. This is where the work of EU and IASB becomes internationally crucial. The aim was not only to avoid diversity of financial statements, ‘birth of two standard-reporint’, to promote foreign investment but to also reduce extra cost in producing two repors. Their journey (EU and IASB) were however not smooth sailing. IASB and EU-failure :- Initial attempt to harmonise accounting practice by EU was via the issuing the directives. There are several setbacks;- 1- Measurement options, apply for different reporting requirements for small, medium and large companies. 2- The 4th directives allows member countries to select one or both of the alternative...
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...shareholder orientation, and the level of cultural secrecy on individuals’ perceptions of earnings management practices. Examining perceptions from 1,260 participants from 13 countries indicates that individuals from stakeholder-oriented institutional backgrounds were less accepting of earnings management, including both accounting earnings management and operating earnings management activities, than participants from shareholder-oriented institutional backgrounds, and that individuals from secretive cultures were more accepting of both types of earnings management activities. Our findings provide evidence of the anticipated perceptual differences across countries with respect to earnings management and suggest the need for further research linking perceptions to reported earnings management measures. I. INTRODUCTION constant pressure in accounting and business across the globe is for companies to report stable, if not growing, financial position to stockholders, creditors, analysts, and other interested parties. With this strain comes the pressure on the firm’s financial reporting executives to “manage” the company’s reported financial results. In part, because of this financial reporting pressure, we seem to be bombarded with news of financial wrongdoing in a continual stream of announcements regarding someone, or some company, acting unethically in the context of financial reporting, not only in the United States Hogan et al. 2008 , but around the world Reinstein et al. 2006; Goh 2008;...
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