The Role of Present Value-based Measurement in General Purpose Financial Reporting

Accounting theorists have advocated different measures of the elements of general purpose financial reports. Australian accounting standards currently permit those elements to be measured in a number of ways. At present there is no Australian concepts statement dealing with the topic of measurement. This article examines the proposition that present value-based measurement ought to be, in the context of the Australian conceptual framework, adopted as the "prefewed" conceptual basis of measurement.     

Fifty-Seven Serious Defects in 'Australian' IFRS

Australian accounting standards commonly used in the preparation of company financial reports have a controversial origin. Under a protocol adopted by the Financial Reporting Council, Australian accounting standards since 2005 substantially replicate the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) made by the International Accounting Standards Board. These standards' continued development is largely outside the control of Australian authorities. The standards examined are found to have such a large catalogue of conceptual and technical deficiencies that the authors call to question the adoption of an Australian IFRS protocol.     

Understanding participation in accounting standard-setting: the case of AASB ED 192 Revised Differential Reporting Framework

This paper explores the motives of participants in the standard-setting process, based on the premise that standard-setters strive for standards that are useful for decision-making by a wide range of financial statement users. Our setting is the development of a contentious but contained Australian accounting standard, Reduced Disclosure Requirements. A consultative process initiated by the Australian Accounting Standards Board to create a specific Australian accounting standard for differential reporting provided an opportunity for interested parties to participate. We analyse the motives of participants through semi-structured interviews with members of the Australian Accounting Standards Board and comment letter writers who responded to the relevant exposure draft. Our findings identify participants’ economic and political motivations and question the ability of the current standard-setting process to extract decision-making requirements from a wide range of users of financial statements and to reflect these in financial reporting standards. We find that the perspectives gathered are homogenised and that the process privileges the voices of powerful elites.     

The Financial Milieu of the IASB and AASB

This paper considers the implications of the convergence of the accounting standards of the International Accounting Standards Board with those of the Australian Accounting Standard Board. Australia seems well placed to comply with the international accounting standards in 2005, but not quite in the way the boards would have us imagine. While actively seeking funds from large multinational corporations and elite accounting firms, the AASB is dominated by stakeholder groups with what are described as "corefinancial" and "partial-financial" interests. This financial milieu may offer cosy deals for the key stakeholders, but does little in the way of civic responsibilities and accounting service for the wider public .     

Definition of the Reporting Entity

Harmonisation between Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and Government Finance Statistics is the highest priority for Australian public-sector reporting. This paper addresses the question of the reporting entity in a harmonised GAAP-GFS framework and discusses whether the GFS General Government Sector meets the criteria for the general-purpose reporting entity. The objective of harmonisation is to achieve an Australian accounting standard for a single set of government reports which are auditable and comparable between jurisdictions, and in which the outcome statements are directly comparable with the relevant budget statements. Since there is widespread interest in General Government Sector information by users, the sector is the obvious candidate for the government general-purpose reporting entity.     

Did Australian Firms Choose to Switch to Reporting Operating Cash Flows Using the Indirect Method?

In 2007 Australian accounting standards were amended to allow a choice of presenting operating cash flows using either the direct or indirect method. This study investigates the number of ASX‐listed entities that switched to the indirect format. Our results indicate that between 2007 and 2009 nine companies changed their reporting format. The firms adopting the indirect method have similar leverage, liquidity and performance to industry and size‐matched controls. Given that previous research indicates that the direct method provides superior information for predicting cash flows and performance, our results will be welcomed by financial statement users and the Australian Accounting Standards Board.     

Harmonization and the Conceptual Framework: An International Perspective

The release of CLERP 9 (Commonwealth of Australia, 2002) requires the Financial Reporting Council and the Australian Accounting Standards Board to adopt International Accounting Standards (IAS) en bloc as domestic reporting standards by 1 January 2005. This article considers the current and future role and direction of the conceptual framework (CF) under the CLERP proposals and a potential IAS reporting environment after January 2005. It is argued that Australia, which has been a major innovator on CF issues, may suffer a major setback if the International Accounting Standards Board's CF is adopted in January 2005. Furthermore, while the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) has been aggressively pursuing a set of global accounting standards, it remains unclear whether the IASB will, or can, develop an internationally relevant and generally accepted CF which can guide the development of a globally compatible set of accounting standards.     

The Conceptual Framework as a Coherent System for the Development of Accounting Standards

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) visualized a conceptual accounting framework as a 'coherent system of interrelated objectives and fundamentals that can lead to consistent standards that prescribes the nature, function, and limits of financial accounting and financial statements' (FASB, 1976). To Australian standard setters, the primary purpose of the conceptual framework (CF) was only to be used as a 'guide' in developing and reviewing accounting standards (AASB, 1995, para. 5). The International Accounting Standards Committee (IASC) diminished the role of a conceptual framework even further by openly acknowledging that some standards are inconsistent with the guidelines offered by the framework (IASC, 1989 para. 12). Even though the Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB) supposedly pursues a policy of harmonization of conceptual frameworks and accounting standards, there are also acknowledged inconsistencies in the conceptual frameworks of the IASC.
The aim of this article is to assess the coherence of the Australian (and IASC) conceptual framework. This analysis identifies confusion in drafting or construction of the conceptual framework, internal inconsistencies, and inconsistency with the legal framework within which business entities operate. Accordingly it is suggested that the adoption of a conceptual framework will not lead to consistent accounting standards, and inevitably the conceptual framework will lack credibility so long as it is inconsistent with legislation.     

Practical Problems In The Reporting Entity Concept

The concept of a reporting entity has been introduced into financial reporting in Australia through a number of statements and standards. These documents require reporting entities to prepare so-called general-purpose financial reports which comply with all statements of accounting concepts and accounting standards, whereas non-reporting entities are not bound to the same level of compliance. Unfortunately, little authoritative guidance on interpretation and application of the reporting entity concept has come from either the Australian Accounting Standards Board or the Auditing Standards Board, despite the fact that the reporting entity concept has applied since 30 June 1992. The solutions proposed here may be temporary, given that the Corporations Law could be amended. It would be in readers' interests to consider any further authoritative guidance which might become available.     

Financial Reporting of Cultural, Heritage, Scientific and Community Collections

An article by Carnegie and Wolnizer in Australian Accounting Review argued that "it is not technically proper to recognise cultural, heritage and scientific collections as assets for financial reporting purposes". The reasons included the following: cultural, heritage, scientific and community collections do not satisfy the definition of and recognition criteria for assets; there is no demand for such information by users of general-purpose financial reports; the cost of preparing the information would outweigh the benefits; and recognition of these collections is not in accordance with generally accepted accounting practice. This article analyses these arguments and generally does not find support for them.     

会计改革与会计信息质量——来自中国证券市场的经验证据

本文以股份公司会计制度改革为例 ,从会计改革的目标出发 ,运用会计信息的市场反应 ,分别从信息观和计量观的角度 ,就会计信息的质量进行定量研究 ,对其改革效果做出实证性的评价 ,籍此观察《企业会计制度》改革的合理性。研究表明会计信息质量的提高不仅有赖于会计改革建立高质量的会计准则 ,而且离不开执行机制的改革提供有效的准则执行支撑系统。《企业会计制度》面对缺乏效率的准则执行机制 ,出台尽可能回避按“公允价值”计价的改革政策 ,无疑是考虑会计准则与经济环境的融合性而做出的明智之举     

The new global accounting community: Rationale for dialogue to establish its accountability?

The reputation of the accounting community is an important intangible asset. The community persistently builds its reputation through disclosure of reputation signals that crystallize its status with the commercial social system [Riahi-Belkaoui and Pavlik, 1992; Raar J. Beyond ethics: a community platform to secure moral integrity. Australian Accounting Review 2006;16(1):41–50]. Therefore, as a community in the global village, it is an institution of accountability, which in turn is dependent on honesty and trust (Lee, 1995). The intention of this conceptual paper is to provide discourse that induces questions for reflection in the call for values underpinning the integrity and ethical stance of the profession. To an extent ethical codes assist, however in an international professional community the self-governance procedures and investigations of a local professional body may now be outside its geographical jurisdiction. Walker [Walker RG. The ASRB: policy formation, political activity and research. Paper presented at Accounting Association of Australian and New Zealand (AANZ) annual conference in Sydney; August, 1985] suggests that accounting rules are only symbolic behaviour unless compliance is monitored, and sanctions are imposed [Walker RG. The ASRB: policy formation, political activity and research. Paper presented at Accounting Association of Australian and New Zealand (AANZ) annual conference in Sydney; August, 1985. p. 12]. The internationalisation of accounting standards appears to present an opportune period in the evolution of a self regulatory accounting profession to consider the issues of moral values and integrity and ask the question, what does this international profession stand for?     

Accounting for Pre-production Costs: Extracting Consensus

Accounting for the extractive industries has recently been added to the work program of the LASC, suggesting that Australian standard-setters will soon reconsider the relevant Australian standards. The method to be used to account for pre-production costs is likely to be a major concern in these deliberations. This paper discusses the available alternative accounting methods, including the change in regulation that SAC 4 would suggest is required. The paper reviews the development of the existing standard and presents evidence of significant diversity in mining companies' accounting practices. With this background in mind, the future of accounting regulation in the area is considered.     

Keeping it private: financial reporting by large proprietary companies in Australia

Since 2010, proprietary companies have had a choice of preparing three types of financial reports that vary in scope. We find that between 2010 and 2015, most proprietary companies in our random sample chose the lowest scope option, with very low quality financial reports. Few adopted the new option provided by AASB 1053 Application of Tiers of Australian Accounting Standards. The characteristics of the firms that adopted each type of report are consistent with the regulator's intention. Our findings should provide a better understanding of how accounting standards impact practice, and should assist regulators to reform private company financial reporting.     

International Harmonisation: He Who Pays the Piper Calls the Tune

This article reviews the historical background to the call for Australian accounting standards (AASBs) to be "harmonised" with international accounting standards (LASs) and analyses the major arguments for and against it. The companion article by Tarca reviews research on the extent of harmony between national standards (including AASBs) and LASs and the third article in the series, by Brown and Clinch, reports the available capital-market evidence on the debate.     

An Empirical Investigation of Accounting Methods for Goodwill and Identifiable Intangible Assets: 1985 to 1989

Accounting for intangible assets represents one of the more controversial accounting standards issues. This study examines the accounting policies adopted for goodwill and for identifiable intangible assets by a sample of 150 Australian Stock Exchange listed companies over the five-year period 1985 to 1989 inclusive. Findings reveal a general decrease in the diversity of goodwill accounting policies over the study period but the converse for identifiable intangible policies. In particular, an increase in the percentage of companies electing not to amortize identifiable intangibles was found. The study provides evidence to support claims that companies have been recognizing identifiable intangibles to reduce the impact on reported operating profits of the requirement of accounting standards for the amortization of goodwill.     

Perceptions of accounting professionals in the adoption and implementation of a single set of global accounting standards: Evidence from Bahrain

In the quest for a single set of global accounting standards, the International Accounting Standard Board (IASB) continues to work with regulators in other countries toward adoption of IFRS. This study reports on an exploratory study of Bahrain's accounting and auditing professionals' perceptions about important issues relevant to developing and implementing global accounting standards. Bahrain is a financial hub of the Middle East with distinct features that could provide some insights to harmonization issues. The respondents' views portray optimism by auditors and non-auditors that harmonization of accounting standards is a worthwhile objective that can be fairly, but gradually accomplished. However, the survey data indicate expected challenges in applying the IFRS principles-based accounting standards. The survey findings suggest that there will be a growing demand for detailed application guidance for IFRS. Also, it appears that nationalism may well continue to be a major impediment to global adoption of IFRS.     

论会计准则的法律地位

本文从法律的角度论述了会计准则的性质和地位 ,进而探讨了在西方遵循会计准则并非免除法律责任的充分条件 ,最后从我国法律体系和会计准则的基本特征出发 ,讨论了我国会计准则的法律地位。在我国 ,目前应当充分肯定会计准则的法律地位 ,在认定虚假财务报告时应以会计准则作为基本依据 ,同时应当努力提高会计准则的质量 ,缩小会计准则与公众意识的差距。     

A machine learning analysis of citation impact among selected Pacific Basin journals

This study uses a machine learning approach to identify and predict factors which influence citation impacts across five Pacific Basin journals: Abacus, Accounting & Finance, Australian Journal of Management, Australian Accounting Review and the Pacific Accounting Review from 2008 to 2018. The machine learning results indicate that citation impact is mostly influenced by: length of a journal article; the field of research (particularly environmental accounting), sample size; whether the sample is local or international; choice of research method (e.g., archival vs survey/interview); academic rank of the first author; institutional status of the first author; and number of authors of the article. The results may be useful for predicting future trends in citation impact as well as providing strategies for authors and editors to improve citation impact.