国际财务报告准则前言

国际会计准则委员会最近发布了《国际财务报告准则前言》。该《前言》全面阐述了国际会计准则委员会的构成和职能、国际会计准则理事会的目标、国际财务报告准则的地位和作用、国际财务报告准则的制定程序 ,甚至还包括使用的语言 ,是国际会计准则委员会的全新展示。本期特刊出此《前言》译稿 ,供参考。     

Contextual issues of the convergence of International Financial Reporting Standards: The case of Germany

The objective of this paper, using Germany as a case study, is to show that accounting as the language of business is deeply embedded in a country's social, political and economic environment and that these contextual factors cannot be ignored in the process of convergence. Specifically, by invoking the accounting ecology framework and interviewing selected stakeholders, this study critically examines the unique features of accounting in Germany and raises issues related to the adoption of IFRS. The findings of this study provide evidence of the importance of considering the contextual influences in successful adoption of IFRS in a country.     

国际财务报告准则第2号:以股份为基础的支付

目标1.本国际财务报告准则的目的是规范主体从事的以股份为基础的支付交易的财务报告.特别是,它要求主体在其损益和财务状况中反映以股份为基础的支付交易的影响,包括与授予雇员股票期权交易相关的费用.     

国际财务报告准则研究的回顾和展望

国际财务报告准则制定者预期国际财务报告准则的应用将使财务报表能够更好地反映公司的经济实质、增强各国公司财务报表的可比性、改善公司信息的透明度、提高企业财务报告的质量,并最终使广大投资者受益。然而现有研究并未就国际财务报告准则的应用效果得出一致性结论。然而无论短期内投资者是否从国际财务报告准则中受益,各国采用国际财务报告准则似乎已是大势所趋,那么接下来最亟待解决的问题应该是探究如何使各国从国际财务报告准则的应用中收益最大化,而解决此问题的一个重要前提条件就是需要探究国际财务报告准则应用收益的影响因素。为此,本文首先对现有国际财务报告准则相关文献进行了梳理和回顾,具体包括自愿采用国际财务报告准则的相关研究,强制采用与自愿采用国际财务报告准则的应用效果存在差异的原因探析,和强制采用国际财务报告准则的相关研究。接下来,本文着重分析了影响国际财务报告准则应用效果的一些重要因素,以期为各个国家或地区改进国际财务报告准则应用效果提供努力方向。     

国际财务报告准则第1号—初次采用国际财务报告准则

目标 1.本国际财务报告准则的目标是确保实体首份按国际财务报告准则编制的财务报表,以及这些财务报表涵盖的部分期间的中期财务报告提供高质量的信息:     

与资产评估业务相关的国际财务报告准则

2004年3月,国际财务报告准则经修订后重新发布,修订后的国际财务报告准则对于资产评估的需求大幅度增加.而根据惯例,相关的资产评估业务一般要求由独立的评估师来完成.近年来,国际财务报告准则(IFRS)日益受到各国的重视,2005年1月1日,欧盟上市公司已全面采用国际财务报告准则.同时,许多国家的会计准则也纷纷致力于与国际财务报告准则的接轨.     

严格遵守会计准则提供高质量财务报告认真履行社会责任

财务报告具有决策有用和受托责任双重目标以及公共产品的特征,属于企业对社会承担的法律责任,因此高质量的财务报告意义重大。本文基于上市公司和各类非上市企业执行财会[2009]16号文件的背景,从财务报告的编报、内控规范的落实、会计师事务所的整合以及加强财务报告的监督检查等几个方面,对企业遵守会计准则、提高财务报告质量和履行社会责任提出个人看法。     

我国会计标准与国际会计标准的差异分析及国际趋同的思考

本文从我国B股上市公司、金融类上市公司双重审计的制度背景出发 ,以B股和金融类上市公司的年度报告中的双重审计差异为基础 ,对我国会计标准和国际会计标准进行综合比较研究 ,对存在的差异做出了分析与评价 ,并提供了有关的政策建议。     

国际财务报告准则实施进展与经验

近年来,经济发展导致融资竞争更加激烈,经济资源跨境流动愈加频繁,能够向潜在投资者提供可靠可比的财务报表的企业,更有可能吸引国内外的投资。联合国已成为其成员国就可靠和可比的公司报表问题交换意见和经验的重要论坛。2007年10月31日至11月1日,联合国贸易和发展会议在瑞士日内瓦召开了第24届国际会计和报告标准政府间专家工作组(ISAR)会议。会议的主题之一是国际财务报告准则(IFRS)具体实施中的国际经验。巴基斯坦、南非和土耳其三国代表分别以案例研究的形式介绍了本国实施IFRS以来的经验和教训。以下对此次会议的主要内容作一综述,以便大家更多地了解国际财务报告准则研究与实施中的一些情况。     

The Effects of International Financial Reporting Standards on the Accounts and Accounting Quality of Australian Firms: A Retrospective Study

We examine the effect of Australian equivalents to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) on the accounts and accounting quality of 1,065 listed firms, relying on retrospective reconciliations between Australian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (AGAAP) and IFRS. We find that IFRS increases total liabilities, decreases equity and more firms have earnings decreases than increases. IFRS earnings and equity are not more value relevant than AGAAP earnings and equity and while adjustments for changes in accounting for provisions and intangibles other than goodwill are value relevant, they weaken associations with market value. Goodwill adjustments improve associations with market value. We also find that the reconciliation note for the earnings adjustments contained no new information.     

International Financial Reporting Standards in an Emerging Economy: Lessons from Romania

International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) are a reference point for the modernisation of accounting models in emerging economies. Previous literature documents a diverse IFRS experience, especially among emerging economies. The IFRS implementation strategy and local institutional characteristics shape the way in which the standards are used in practice. We use the Romanian case to illustrate the effect of various contextual factors, some historical, on the process and outcomes of IFRS implementation. We show that IFRS implementation can follow a different pattern in emerging economies.     

Measuring Harmonisation of Financial Reporting Practice

Many organisations are currently engaged in the process of national and international harmonisation of financial reporting. This paper examines the nature of the harmonisation problem and the possibility of developing a method to quantify the degree of harmony of financial reporting practice. This quantification can be useful in determining problem areas where the degree of harmony is low, and the impact of standards on financial reporting harmony and spontaneous harmonisation, i.e. harmonisation that cannot be attributed to laws, standards or guidelines. Standard setters might use the method to set goals in respect of the required degree of harmony when issuing a standard, guideline or opinion.     

Disclosure of the impacts of adopting Australian equivalents of International Financial Reporting Standards

This study investigates two disclosure variables (Extent and Quality) in relation to compliance with paragraph 4.1 (b) of AASB 1047 Disclosing the Impacts of Adopting Australian Equivalents to International Financial Reporting Standards. Using a sample of 150 Australian listed firms, I find that the extent and quality of disclosure is influenced by firm size, leverage and auditor firm size, with the latter variable being the most significant. In general, the results suggest that many companies might have relied on sample disclosures provided by their auditors, perhaps limiting both quality and intent. Additionally, the ultimate usefulness of broad and imprecise standards might be questionable. Smaller companies might also require more guidance and assistance with their preparation for the adoption.     

The preparedness of companies to adopt International Financial Reporting Standards: Portuguese evidence

This paper uses ordinal regression, structural equation modelling, and multivariate analysis techniques to investigate the preparedness to adopt IFRS that was exhibited by listed Portuguese companies in August 2003. We find the level of preparedness was significantly associated with company size, commercial internationalization, audit by a ‘Big 4’ accounting firm, and profitability. Our findings will help to indicate the pre-conditions that are likely to spur lagging companies (and countries) to prepare to implement IFRS.     

Insights into accounting choice from the adoption timing of International Financial Reporting Standards

This paper collects survey evidence on the costs and benefits of adopting International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). It also examines the motivations for the timing of IFRS adoption. Significant differences exist between early and late adopters for three of nine benefits and for one of six cost measures. No significant differences exist in terms of firm size or the impact of IFRS on contracts. Early adopters perceive themselves as market leaders. They are more certain about the manageability of implementing IFRS and are more specific with regard to the impact of IFRS adoption. Late adoption decisions are motivated by adverse consequences and uncertainty.     

International Accounting Standards and Accounting Quality

We examine whether application of International Accounting Standards (IAS) is associated with higher accounting quality. The application of IAS reflects combined effects of features of the financial reporting system, including standards, their interpretation, enforcement, and litigation. We find that firms applying IAS from 21 countries generally evidence less earnings management, more timely loss recognition, and more value relevance of accounting amounts than do matched sample firms applying non‐U.S. domestic standards. Differences in accounting quality between the two groups of firms in the period before the IAS firms adopt IAS do not account for the postadoption differences. Firms applying IAS generally evidence an improvement in accounting quality between the pre‐ and postadoption periods. Although we cannot be sure our findings are attributable to the change in the financial reporting system rather than to changes in firms' incentives and the economic environment, we include research design features to mitigate effects of both.     

A Proposal for Teaching Introductory and Intermediate Accounting in an Environment of International Financial Reporting Standards and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles for Private Enterprises*

Teaching introductory and intermediate financial accounting in an environment of international financial reporting standards (IFRS) and generally accepted accounting principles for private enterprises (GAAP for PEs) is an issue facing faculty at Canadian universities and colleges. We present a number of options and then propose an approach that we believe provides a balanced treatment of accounting standards for both publicly accountable and private enterprises. This approach focuses on the concepts and principles that are common to both IFRS and GAAP for PEs. We argue that this approach encourages deep learning resulting in students’ better understanding of accounting standards and their application.     

The voluntary adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards and loan contracting around the world

Using a sample of non-U.S. borrowers from 40 countries during 1997 through 2005, this paper investigates the effect of the voluntary adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) on price and nonprice terms of loan contracts and loan ownership structure in the international loan market. Our results reveal the following. First, banks charge lower loan rates to IFRS adopters than to non-adopters. The difference in loan rates in excess of a benchmark rate between the two groups is about 20 basis points for all loans and nearly 31 basis points for London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)-based loans. Second, banks impose more favorable nonprice terms on IFRS adopters, particularly less restrictive covenants. We also provide evidence suggesting that banks are more willing to extend credit to IFRS adopters through larger loans and longer maturities. Finally, IFRS adopters attract significantly more foreign lenders participating in loan syndicates than non-adopters.