全球会计准则:离我们还有多远

在世纪之交 ,随着经济全球化和一体化步伐的加快 ,制定全球会计准则的问题逐渐成为国际会计领域的一个中心话题。为什么当前制定全球会计准则的要求会日益迫切 ,谁在争夺全球会计准则的制定权 ,国际社会对此有何反应 ,美国在重组后的国际会计准则委员会中将占据什么地位 ,我们应如何面对全球会计准则等等 ,本文对以上问题作了较为透彻的分析     

Why Consistency of Accounting Standards Matters: A Contribution to the Rules-Versus-Principles Debate in Financial Reporting

A cross-firm consistent application of accounting standards is sought in all major accounting regimes. Since many transactions and events are only vaguely or not explicitly addressed in the standards managers must often use judgment when applying accounting standards to particular transactions or events. This analysis concludes that a consistent application of accounting standards can only be ensured if the accounting standards themselves are internally consistent. By contrast, inconsistent standards—in the absence of clear guidance—permit managers to (more or less arbitrarily) choose between different accounting methods. Moreover, it is found that a consistent application presupposes the existence of specific guidance ('rules') in order to frame management's judgment. It is argued that the reliance on principles only—as requested by many in the accounting literature—fails to ensure a consistent application because it allows management to exert judgment differently in identical cases. The assessment includes arguments and propositions from the international discussion in the accounting literature and also refers to other related fields of research, such as legal theory.     

International Accounting Standards and Financial Reporting Uniformity: The Case of Trinidad and Tobago

The paper has two purposes. First, it describes the financial reporting environment of Trinidad and Tobago before and after the adoption of International Accounting Standards (IAS) (currently called International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)) as the national standards of Trinidad and Tobago. Second, it examines the association between the adoption of IAS as the national standards of Trinidad and Tobago and the degree of uniformity of financial reporting among public companies. This study is useful because of the dearth of research on financial reporting in the English-speaking Caribbean and the effect of IAS on the degree of financial reporting uniformity within a country. Using an ex post facto research design, the financial statements of 18 publicly traded firms for the year immediately prior to the adoption of IAS (1987) and four years during the period following the adoption of IAS (1995, 1999, 2002 and 2003) were subjected to content analysis. Overall, the uniformity of financial reporting practices among publicly traded firms in Trinidad and Tobago increased following the adoption of IAS. This finding was fairly uniform across all the financial statement items examined though the magnitude of the change varied. It was directly attributed to the adoption of IAS for only three financial statement elements.     

Accounting For Financial Instruments: An Overview

The explosion in the growth of derivative financial instruments in recent years is a major cause of concern for accounting standard-setters. This paper considers the reasons for the growth and identifies the accounting problems associated with these instruments. The relevant United States and Australian pronouncements are discussed. Major proposals in ED 59 Financial Instruments are outlined and two critical issues concerning the automatic writedown of financial assets and the treatment of anticipatory hedges are identified. ED 59 contains similar proposals to E 48 issued by the IASC. However, there are some differences between the two documents and these are discussed. The paper also considers possible developments in accounting for financial instruments.     

A Comparative Analysis of American and French Financial Reporting Philosophies: The Case for International Accounting Standards

Two very dominant financial reporting systems compete today in the international accounting arena: the Anglo-Saxon model of financial reporting and the continental European model. Adopted and extended by the American financial reporting system, the Anglo-Saxon model is riding the wave of world market globalization and it is consolidating its presence on the international scene. On the other hand, the European model, at least in its Latin-German school, strives to maintain its own international position and tries even hardly to grow beyond its own traditional boundaries. Both models, rooted in a rich history and a strong cultural environment, differ at both substantive and philosophical levels. The impact of the industrial revolution and the protestant thinking is more visible in the Anglo-Saxon financial model, while the impact of law and the major wars is more noticeable in the continental European model. This paper uses the American financial reporting model to represent the Anglo Saxon model and the French reporting model to represent the dominant European model. It questions the ability of either of these models to respond to the needs of international users for financial information and advocates that the most viable alternative to these models lies in a strong commitment to worldwide standards.     

Review of Financial Reporting and Global Capital Markets: A History of the International Accounting Standards Committee, 1973–2000

This review of K. Camfferman and S. A. Zeff, Financial Reporting and Global Capital Markets: A History of the International Accounting Standards Committee, 1973–2000 (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007) provides an overview of the work, comments on the authors' approach to the history of the IASC, and comments on the book's contribution to our understanding of the IASC and its place in global financial governance.     

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.     

金融工具会计准则变更 对银行业及金融统计的影响

新金融工具会计准则对金融资产分类和计量、减值和套期三大板块进行了全面修 订。其中金融资产减值是银行实施新准则面临的最大难点。新准则可能导致部分银行资产减值 准备上升、净利润波动性增加;银行资本充足率可能下降,但资产定价所受影响有限;新准则对 银行资产结构配置的影响尚难评估。应密切关注商业银行新会计准则实施最新进展和下一步举 措,及早评估新准则实施可能带来的多方面影响,并相应调整金融统计制度。     

银行业监管如何在新会计准则下谋变

2006年2月15日,财政部发布了新的企业会计准则,并将于2007年1月1日在上市公司施行。新的企业会计准则体系强化了为投资者和社会公众提供有用信息的新理念,基本实现了与国际财务会计准则的趋同。新会计准则体系的实施必将对银行业经营和银行监管工作带来诸多影响。     

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.     

Fair Value Accounting for All Financial Instruments: Perceptions from Managers of Australian Financial Institutions

The Joint Working Group (JWG) proposal for the measurement of all financial instruments at fair value and the recognition of changes in fair value in the income statement met with criticism from the Joint Working Group of Banking Associations QWGBA). This research study investigates the extent to which chief financial officers in Australian financial institutions agree with the JWGBA. Findings indicated respondents tended to agree, albeit to a lesser extent, with the JWGBA. Conversely, they also agree with the JWG, as they believe fair-value information is not commercially sensitive and could be reliably determined.     

The Challenges Faced by Reporting Entities on Their Transition to International Financial Reporting Standards: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

This study explores the challenges of implementing International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) at the organisational level. Based on interviews with experts with aggregated experience relating to the transition projects of over 170 reporting entities, this paper highlights the main challenges in delivering a successful implementation of IFRS. The findings show that the problems faced in implementation include lack of education and training, securing executive-level support, identifying and responding to the wider business-related implications of the transition, and issues with capturing the necessary information for reporting under IFRS.This paper complements the existing literature and offers a qualitative alternative to considering the transition to IFRS, offering insight into the organisational context of IFRS implementation. These insights are useful not only from a historic perspective, but also for organisations and regulators in the many jurisdictions where IFRS is permitted but not required, where more reporting entities will voluntarily move to IFRS-based reporting in the future. More broadly, they are also applicable to the challenges faced in implementing new and significantly revised IFRSs.     

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.     

A Canadian Response to the Pursuit of Global Sustainability Reporting Standards*

As business, government, and society continue to emphasize the importance of sustainability—both of individual organizations and of the natural world—accounting standard-setting bodies want to be part of the process. In September 2020, in response to “urgent and growing demand” for more “consistent and comparable” sustainability reporting, the IFRS Foundation (the Foundation) released for comment a Consultation Paper on Sustainability Reporting. In the paper, the Foundation proposed the creation of a Sustainability Standards Board (SSB), which it would oversee alongside the IASB. The SSB would become, de facto, the global sustainability reporting standard setter. The Foundation received 577 responses to its proposal. These responses came from around the world and from a wide range of stakeholders. Thirty-eight of the responses came from Canada. This study profiles the Canadian responses, contrasting them with the wider set of worldwide responses. Some uniquely Canadian features include user responses from a large number of pension funds and preparer responses solely from the energy sector. There was also a significant response from the Canadian accounting community, including from the full set of Canadian standard-setting organizations. Five auditors general also responded. Overall, Canadian respondents supported both globalized sustainability reporting standards and the Foundation's creation of the SSB. This support aligns Canada's response with the worldwide response.     

Corporate governance and disclosures on the transition to International Financial Reporting Standards

For reporting periods ending on or after 30 June 2004, Australian companies were required to disclose the expected impact of applying Australian equivalents of International Financial Reporting Standards effective from 1 January 2005. The objective of this paper is to examine the association between the level of disclosure and corporate governance quality. Using a sample of listed companies with 30 June balance dates, we find that the quantity of disclosure was positively related to some aspects of superior corporate governance, such as the frequency of board and audit committee meetings and the choice of auditor.     

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.     

Commentary: On the Desirability of Common Financial Reporting Standards for Business and Government

An important financial reporting issue relates to the extent, if any, to which financial reporting standards should differ for businesses and governments. At a high level of abstraction little dispute exists that common financial reporting concepts for both types of organisations are appropriate (for example, financial reporting should provide useful information). As one focuses on more specific financial reporting objectives, however, the issue becomes more contentious. This paper addresses this issue by considering differences in financial reporting objectives between the types of organisations and evaluating whether such differences are of sufficient import to warrant substantially different financial reporting standards.     

The European Union Endorsement Process for International Financial Reporting Standards: A Telos-Based Analysis

The paper discusses the process for the endorsement of an IFRS in the European Union with regard to its compliance with teleological principles and with regard to the true and fair view. It begins with an exposition of the teleological principle under Roman law and its relationship to the true and fair view override, as known in the UK and in the EU. We then discuss firstly the telos-based criteria against which a new Standard is appraised during the endorsement process, and secondly the application of the true and fair view principle to the issue of which criteria an EU-endorsed IFRS should be appraised against as regards its application, using IFRS 3 as a specific illustration. The teleological principle is a crucial element in our conclusions. We show that this principle can be used, and in the EU is being used, to bypass democratic processes. The issues raised by this paper concern the operation of regulations designed to be, at least theoretically, context-neutral, within a specific legal and operational framework, that is, the European Union. But similar issues are likely to require consideration in other geographical areas, outside the European context.     

The relevance of International Financial Reporting Standards to a developing country: Evidence from Kazakhstan

International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) were developed in advanced economies, but are increasingly being applied in emergent economies, potentially ignoring considerations of whether IFRS are appropriate or relevant to such economies. This case study examines the relevance and implementation of IFRS to the emerging economy of Kazakhstan from independence in 1991 to 2006. It concludes that although a strong case for IFRS relevance cannot be made, even by 2006, Kazakhstan had little choice but to proceed with IFRS, and that IFRS relevance is likely to increase as Kazakh economic development continues. Implementation of IFRS is proving problematic, but is taking place slowly. This, in turn, has implications for the theoretical status of the IFRS relevance argument and the pathways that nations might follow in implementing a national accounting system. If the only choice of accounting system is IFRS, then the IFRS relevance debate is effectively closed and the real issue is the pathway of change that nations might follow as they implement IFRS.