Harmonisation of Government Finance Statistics and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

Harmonisation between the Australian accounting standards applicable to the public sector and Government Finance Statistics is the highest priority for Australian public-sector reporting. The objective of harmonisation is to achieve a standard for a single set of government reports which are auditable, comparable between jurisdictions, and in which the outcome statements are directly comparable with the relevant budget statements. The result will be an improvement in the quality, clarity and transparency of government financial statements, and will remove the source of confusion as to which set of financial reports presents a more reliable portrayal of financial results.     

Harmonisation of Government Finance Statistics and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

Harmonisation between the Australian accounting standards applicable to the public sector and Government Finance Statistics is the highest priority for Australian public-sector reporting. The objective of harmonisation is to achieve a standard for a single set of government reports which are auditable, comparable between jurisdictions, and in which the outcome statements are directly comparable with the relevant budget statements. The result will be an improvement in the quality, clarity and transparency of government financial statements, and will remove the source of confusion as to which set of financial reports presents a more reliable portrayal of financial results.     

Accounting losses and earnings conservatism: evidence from Australian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

We provide evidence on three important aspects of Australian financial reporting; namely, the characteristics of losses, the extent to which Australian firms’ earnings are conditionally conservative (i.e. bad news is reflected in earnings more quickly than good news) and the extent to which losses reflect incrementally greater conditional conservatism. We find evidence that loss incidence in Australia is frequent, with around 40 per cent of the sample firm‐years from 1993 to 2003 being losses. Losses are also surprisingly persistent, and the probability of loss reversal declines monotonically as the history of losses extends. Although conditional conservatism is also shown to be a pervasive aspect of Australian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, we demonstrate that it is more evident among loss observations. This result is robust across different methods of capturing conditional conservatism, and supports the conclusion that the relatively high frequency of losses is, at least in part, a reflection of conservative reporting.     

Applying Conceptual Framework Principles to Superannuation1 Fund Accounting

The Australian accounting standard AAS 25, Financial Reporting by Superannuation Plans, was the first pension accounting standard internationally to apply established conceptual framework (CF) principles. In Australia those principles have guided standard setting for more than a decade. However, AAS 25 has been criticized for failing to provide useful financial information. The analysis provided in this article addresses this paradox. The findings reveal major anomalies in AAS 25 associated with the treatment of accrued benefits that distort financial position and performance measures. The conceptual flaws in the standard are attributed to the misapplication of CF principles and an absence of adequate guidance in the CF for non‐corporate entities such as superannuation funds. Distorted financial information produced by superannuation plans has potential undesirable taxation and social outcomes. Consequently, there is an urgent need to update the Australian and international conceptual frameworks to provide guidance for revising accounting standards that better reflect current fiduciary and ownership relationships in non‐corporate entities such as superannuation funds.     

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.     

Testing and Evaluating a Conceptual Framework of Accounting

As a step toward developing a widely accepted theory to guide the standards-making process and the accounting profession, the Financial Accounting Standards Board submitted a conceptual framework to the profession for its consideration. Its purpose is to provide guidance in the choice among alternative accounting methods for an issue. Whether the conceptual framework performs its function can be objectively evaluated only when it is applied to issues and tested through a rigorous procedure. A rigorous procedure to evaluate a theory has two conceptually distinguishable but interrelated parts: (a) testing the set of sentences constituting the logical structure of the theory and its inferences by way of mathematical or logical proofs, and (b) evaluating the content of the sentences constituting the theory and its inferences by way of evidence, be it empirical, intuitive, or otherwise. The purpose of this study is to test the logical structure of the conceptual framework. The results of the study provide a demonstration that the structure of the conceptual framework is logically consistent and that inferences from the structure of the conceptual framework to alternative methods for an issue are deductively valid. The study also exemplifies an application of the structure of the conceptual framework in the selection of an alternative method for an issue. The application explicitly interrelates the structure and content of the conceptual framework.     

财务会计概念框架的国际趋同动态

一、FASB与IASB启动概念框架趋同联合项目的背景众所周知,概念框架是制定和评估会计准则的理论基础。各国制定会计准则的指导思想、基本理念、目标和原则都体现在其各自的概念框架之中。概念框架之间是否存在重大差异将直接影响到依其制定的会计     

Examining the differences between United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (U.S. GAAP) and International Accounting Standards (IAS): implications for the harmonization of accounting standards

Current trends indicate continued movement towards the harmonization of accounting standards, but not without difficulty and concern. At times, the political and financial market pressure, push the movement in opposite directions. The paper discusses the conceptual framework used in establishing Global Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) (International Accounting Standards, IAS) and U.S. GAAP. Numerous transactional examples are illustrated under both Global GAAP and U.S. GAAP treatment. Several country specific references are presented demonstrating the difficulty in achieving harmonization. Implications for harmonization of accounting standards include arguments “for” and “against” Global GAAP.     

财务会计概念框架研究的比较与综评

本文在对目前主要的财务会计概念框架进行比较的基础上 ,着力阐述和综评了美国财务会计概念公告、国际会计准则委员会编报财务报表的框架、英国会计准则委员会的财务报告原则公告的各自优缺点。     

财务会计概念框架的构建及其经济分析

从世界经济的发展趋势来看 ,构建财务会计概念框架已经成为国际会计协调化的大方向 ,也是我国进行会计改革的主要任务。在现有环境约束下 ,构建财务会计概念框架是一种制度均衡。但会计环境的差异决定了我国在制定财务会计概念框架过程中不能完全照搬美国的“综合模式”或国际会计准则委员会的“简约模式” ,而必须结合我国特殊的会计环境制定相应的财务会计概念框架。     

Implications for the Conceptual Framework Arising From Accounting for Financial Instruments

This article describes some of the issues faced by standard setters in developing guidance on accounting for financial instruments and the implications these issues have for the conceptual framework (CF). The objective is to outline issues, not necessarily to resolve them, and to consider the implications they have for further developing the conceptual framework.
Given the current trend of harmonization and convergence of accounting practice towards international standards, it seems reasonable to assume that any policy implications will be most relevant to the CF inherited by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). ¹ Unless otherwise stated, references will be made to International Accounting Standards (IAS).     

建立我国财务会计概念框架的路径选择

在基本准则转换为财务会计概念框架的进程中,需对我国会计准则规范体系进行重新的梳理,应遵循的正确路径是将现行的会计准则体系分立为确认与计量准则和披露准则,并由不同职能部门分别进行制定.完整的会计准则规范体系应包括财务会计概念框架、确认与计量会计准则、财务会计信息披露准则.     

A Statement of Accounting Concepts for Level 1 of the Conceptual Framework?

The type of reporting found in corporate governance includes financial reporting, but over time various arguments have developed regarding a tension found between conventional and financial type reporting, especially as to the role of financial statements. Further tensions follow from the introduction of economic and social issues within both conventional accounting and financial reports.
This article argues that distinct, though related, frameworks at particular levels are required. The mingling of conventional accounting with financial and economic ideas and issues is evident in the conceptual framework (CF) project where there is reference to economic benefits and costs in making economic decisions for the allocation of resources. This results in a misconception of the function of these distinct types of information. An unravelling of particular issues will require a Statement of Accounting Concepts (SAC) for Level 1 of the CF.     

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.     

Financialisation and the Conceptual Framework

The ongoing neoliberalisation of global economies has been well documented. Neoliberalism requires a commitment to a broad set of ideas about how political economies should operate, and these ideas underpin the transformations of practice in the process of neoliberalisation—both at a technical and conceptual level. Transactions within a neoliberal economy need to be accounted for in a way that accords with this broader set of ideas. Specifically, the growth of accumulation through financial markets has seen a concurrent growth in accounts that both reflects and reproduces finance at its centre. These accounts are more than just reports; they condition our expectations and support the production of further accounts, which in turn reinforce the dominant political economy. Despite the connection between neoliberalism, financialisation and the practice of accounting, the role of accounting in the process of neoliberalisation has received only limited attention. In order to contribute to a deeper understanding of these processes and to the role that accounting plays within them, this paper re-examines the Conceptual Framework (CF) to show how it forms an important part of the architecture of neoliberalism, providing coherence and legitimacy to its key ideas. The current CF project was jointly conducted by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and the US Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), and is positioned within the broader literature on neoliberalism and financialisation. This paper shows how changes in terminology, shifts in notions of income and the popularity of market valuations (fair value accounting) work to normalise the speculative characteristics of financial markets. Through this newly configured globalised CF, the regulatory architecture of accounting may work to sustain the centrality of finance in a post-GFC economy, despite its many deficiencies.     

财务会计概念框架应以会计目标为逻辑起点

财务会计概念框架作为一个理论体系,必然涉及两方面的问题:逻辑起点和逻辑结构。逻辑起点是整个框架最基本、最普遍、最简单的范畴。它的内容决定了逻辑结构中应该包括的理论要素及各要素的逻辑构成。本文在分析介绍有关逻辑起点研究成果的基础上,提出应以会计目标为起点的观点。逻辑起点是构造一套理论体系的出发点或建基点,也是财务会计概念框架理论体系中最基本、最抽象、最简单的一个理论范畴,它对整个理论体系的构造具有决定性作用。一般认为,构成逻辑起点的标准有三个:一是理论体系的基本要素之一;二是最基本的出发点和研究的入手点;…     

论行政事业单位管理会计:边界、概念框架及人本化实践

发展行政事业单位管理会计是国家治理体系现代化的现实需要,但是,理论体系的匮乏这一现实困境让行政事业单位管理会计实践陷入了泥沼。在现行制度背景下,立足于行政事业单位的组织目标和管理特点,本文在明确行政事业单位管理会计本质与内涵的基础上,构建了行政事业单位管理会计概念框架,并以管理会计目标为始点对行政事业单位管理会计的人本化实践进行了阐述和分析,以期为行政事业单位管理会计工作的开展提供相应的理论基础和经验支撑。     

会计信息失真的“三分法”:理论框架与证据

会计信息失真是一个国际性、历史性的问题 ,也是世界各国当前需要着力研究解决的重大问题。本文根据会计信息失真的成因 ,提出会计信息失真“三分法” ,将会计信息失真分为规则性失真、违规性失真和行为性失真等三类 ,并分别从会计域秩序、信息不对称和人类有限性的角度 ,分析了这三类会计信息失真的不同成因 ,并给出相应的证据 ;本文最后简要地探讨了三类会计信息失真之间的相互关系 ,在此基础上简要地提出相应的治理思路。     

Measurement and the Australian Conceptual Framework

The nature of accounting dictates that it be concerned with the process of measurement. However, only in recent decades has debate about the concept of measurement appeared in accounting literature. This article identifies problem areas and pitfalls that need to be addressed, and contributes to the debate about measurement. It examines the importance of measurement to accounting, definitions of the term and what measurement involves. This leads to the consideration of statements and inferences that can be made about the outputs of the measurement process, and to proposed guidelines for the development and assessment of a conceptual framework document.