Accounting Theory overview

1. Overview of the current discussion

Convergence of accounting standard refers to the objective under which main target is to develop single set of accounting standards that can be used globally by all the business firms. Currently, each nation have its own accounting standards and same are followed for preparing financial statements. However, there are international accounting and reporting standards that are also followed by large number of nations across the globe. From long time demand is raised in respect to evolving a common accounting standards that will be followed across the nations to prepare financial statements (Armstrong and et.al., 2010). In past few years, number of efforts are made in respect to convergence of accounting standards at international level. USA currently is working with the International accounting standard board (IASB) to converge its GAAP (Generally accepted accounting standards). There are number of factors due to which nations like USA and Australia are focusing on converging there accounting standards with same of other nations or with IASB. There is a common consensus among the nations that if accounting standards will be converged then it will be very easy to make comparison of the firm’s financial statements. In current time period each nation have its own accounting standards. Hence, each nation firm record book value of accounting items in different manner. Due to this reason it become very difficult to make comparison between varied firm’s financial statements.

It is well known fact that financial statements are greatly used by the investors and managers to make business decisions (Kieso, Weygandt and Warfield, 2010). It is well known fact that in current time period investors are not making investment in securities within their nation boundary. They are making investment in securities in the foreign nations also. For making decisions they require firms financial statements. If the accounting standards of the specific nation will not be designed in the proper way the financial statements may reveal the wrong picture of the financial position of the firm. Hence, investor can make wrong business decisions. This thing not only apply for investors but for all stakeholders also same thing is applied. Hence, it is very important to bring change in accounting standards. This is the fact due to which more and more nations are focusing on convergence of accounting records.

IASB and FASB (US Financial accounting standards board) already take a remarkable action in this regard. It is well known fact that in many nations USA GAPP which are also known as generally accepted accounting principles are widely used in many nations of the world (Hail, Leuz and Wysocki, 2010). Apart from this large number of nations are also using IASB standards. Hence, if standards determined by the FASB and IASB will converge then automatically convergence to great extent will come in existence across the globe.

2. The rationale for current discussion and why projects of convergence of standards are undertaken

In current time period number of nations of the world are focusing on the convergence of accounting standards. It is very important to identify the reason due to which most of the countries of the globe are reluctant to converge their accounting standard at international level. There are some of the reason that are responsible for such kind of convergence and same are discussed below.

Helping investors in making better decisions- In current time period as mentioned above investors are not limiting their investment within their domestic boundaries. They are making investment at international level. For making prudent investment decision an investor needed an accurate information and for same he require financial statements in which each and everything must be recorded and valued at fair price or number. It is the convergence of accounting records which will ensure this thing. When reliability of financial statements and reporting standards will increase investor will promoted to make more investment in securities which will lead to growth of the nation.

Reduction in cost of complying with requirements- As it is well known fact that accounting standard’s very from nation to nation. Firms prepare their entire business financial statements (Daske, and et.al., 2013). But on same time region wise also they prepared financial statements. For example IBM is an American company and it is operating its branches in Indian and other nations of the world. Mentioned firm needs to prepare financial statements country wise. So, in order to prepare statement for Indian branch it needs to comply with the requirements which are accounting standards followed in relevant nation. It will need to hire Indian accountant which will increase its employee cost. Now if accounting standards will converge then accountant will do accounting for all or most branches of IBM. In this way convergence of accounting standards reduce cost for the firm that is incurred in order to comply with the requirements.

Transparency in the accounting system and elevation in accountability-  All nations of the world are laying down stress on bringing more transparency in the firm’s business operations. If there will be similar accounting standards then it will be there will be more transparency in the firm’s business operations (Horton,, Serafeim and Serafeim, 2013). On the basis of common accounting standards firms financial statements can easily checked and if they manipulate figures that such kind of acts can be easily identified by the analysts. If there will be common accounting standards then it make firms more accountable for preparing financial statements in accurate way. Hence, in order to bring more transparency in the firm’s business operations and elevate their accountability it is necessary to develop accounting standards that get acceptance by all nations of the world across the globe.

Reduction in operational challenges for accounting firms- In current time period many accounting firms comes in existence which by taking records from the business firms prepare financial statements for them. If there will be convergence in the accounting standards then firm will not require to employee individuals separately to prepare financial statements for the specific nation company. This will reduce finance cost of the firms. This is another reason due to which most of the nation’s wants to converge domestic accounting standards with international one.

TASK 2

(3) IFRS and public departments

Yes, I am agree with the fact that failure to measure almost means a failure to deliver management terms. This is because if by using IFRS financial statements of the government departments cannot be prepared or presented in a systematic way then it is possible that management does not receive required information in systematic way (Landsman, Maydew and Thornock, 2012). Hence, decisions taken on the basis of inaccurate information or financial statements that does not cover sufficient information will be wrong.  I am agree with this fact because if there will not be proper format in which accounts of government department must be prepared than anyone can manipulate the figures and can do corruption. Moreover, if there is not a systematic procedure that must be followed to compute values of the specific element of the financial statement then also anyone can be involved in the unethical practices. Hence, it is clear that IFRS does not require accounting for stewardship for entrusted public fund and from my point of view it is not good.

It can be observed that in current time period there are very strict rules and regulations that are followed for preparing the financial statements (Christensen and et.al., 2015). Chartered accountants follow rules and regulations to prepare financial statements but at same time also they manipulate figures and no one detect their unethical practices. In case of Toshiba which is the Japan largest firm that is operating in the computer industry was find to be involved in the unethical business practice. Hence, in case of public departments IFRS will not require accounting for stewardship of the public funds. Case of Toshiba clearly reflect that there is very high probability that individuals may manipulate figures for their own benefits. Hence, it is very important to prepare a separate guidelines for the government departments from side of IASB so that chances of fraud and misrepresentation can be minimized at the workplace. It can be seen that inaccurate or wrong set of information’s are always very dangerous for the government departments. This is because lots of decisions like funding that will be made to the specific department and amount it will invest on specific small and mid-size projects are determined on the basis of information furnished by its financial statements. If these accounting records will be prepared in wrong way then they will not reveal the actual condition of the government department and wrong business decisions will be made by the stewards (Ahmed, Neel and Wang,  2013). This makes it important for the relevant entities to ensure that there are relevant and sufficient guidelines that are followed for preparing financial statements of the government department.

(4) IASB and public interest

The statement that IASB does not works in public interest is absolutely wrong. This is because there are number of factors that acts as evidence and reflects that IASB is working in public interest. Some points that prove this statement are described below.

Stakeholders are the main audience of the IFRS and accounting standards. The reporting and accounting standards are prepared in such a way that individual get an accurate overview of the firm profitability and its financial position. Stakeholders of the firm whether they are investors of creditors are part of the general public. IASB standards ensures that financial statements will be prepared in accurate way and will depict true condition of the firm. Hence, general public on the basis of financial statements that are prepared by following accounting and reporting standards can make accurate decisions in relation to protecting their interests. It can be said that IASB is in public interest.

The main objective of the IASB is to prepare accounting records in such a way which portray economic reality of the business firm (Christensen, Hail and Leuz, 2013). It can be said that IASB is developing accounting standards which help firms in preparing financial statements in such a way which give accurate and clear overview of the firm business profitability and financial position. Hence, general public which include current investor, prospective investor and creditors can take right decision on the basis of financial statements that are prepared on the basis of accounting standards developed by the IASB. It can be said that IASB is working in favor of the general public.

With passage of time trust deficit is observed between the business firms and general public. People have a common perception that firm are growing their business by doing illegal acts. Accounts are the mirror of any company and it is only way by using which it can be identified whether firm was involving in any wrong act. International accounting standards ensured that firms will not be able to prepare financial statements at their own discretion. Firms cannot conceal important facts and figures from the general public. This build a trustful relationship between firm and general public. This thing is again reflected that IASB is not working against interest of the general public.

(5) Do you think that IFRS must be adopted by the Australian local authorities?

IFRS must not be fully adopted by the local authorities of the Australia. In order to prove this statement some pros and cons of IFRS are described below.

Pros

It must be noted that IPSAS which is also known as International public sector accounting records is a set of standards that are used to do accounting in the public sector authorities (Horton and Serafeim, 2010). The standards that are prepared in IPSAS are based on IFRS which was developed by the IASB. This means that some standards that are in IPSAS are taken from IFRS and some are developed according to needs of the public sector authorities. If IFRS will be adopted by the Australian local authorities then it means that they are following IPSAS to great extent. Australia local authorities can hire an individuals as public accountants who have good knowledge of IFRS. This is because IPSAS substantial portion is similar to IFRS. Thus, public departments can select an individual that already have good knowledge of IFRS and by giving him training on provisions of IPSAS that are not encompassed by former one his best use can be made. (Barth and et.al., 2012) Thus, Australia local authorities does not need to spend huge amount of time in giving training to selected candidate. This is because he already have knowledge of lots of concepts of IASB that are part of IFRS.

Cons

The main limitation of IFRS is that it best suits to the business firms not public sector companies. IPSAS is based on IFRS which means that some standards of IFRS are covered by former type of set of standards. It can be said that solely by using IFRS accounting for public sector cannot be done. This is because calculation for same thing is different in case of IPSAS and IFRS. Hence, IFRS cannot be used for accounting purpose completely in the government departments and it is its major limitations.

It can be said that this limitation that is observed above in the IFRS is very big and same cannot be used in the Australian local authorities. This is because IFRS is purely developed to prepare accounts in such a way that depict financial position and profitability of the business firms (IPSAS vs IFRS: How do they differ?, 2014). Public departments are nonprofit organizations and they does not have any relationship with the factors like profit and financial position. Hence, even there is similarity in IFRS and IPSAS former cannot be applied in the Australia public sector.

CONCLUSION

On the basis of above discussion it is concluded that most of the nations of the world are focusing on the convergence of the accounting standards. This is because by doing so financial statements can be prepared in a systematic way and same can be compared easily to evaluate profitability and financial position of the one firm with rivals.  It is also concluded that IFRS is appropriate for the public and private sector Company’s but same is not good for the government departments. This is because accounting standards are prepared in such a way that give better picture of the firm profitability and financial position. Government departments works for public and they have no relevance with the profitability. Hence, IFRS cannot be used for accounting purpose in the public departments. It is also concluded that IFRS are prepared in the public interest as it ensure that lots of valuable information’s will be available to the stakeholders. Stakeholders are the part of the public. Hence, IFRS is in public interest and it is not against same.

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REFERENCES

• Ahmed, A.S., Neel, M. and Wang, D., 2013. Does mandatory adoption of IFRS improve accounting quality? Preliminary evidence. Contemporary Accounting Research. 30(4). Pp.1344-1372.
• Armstrong, C.S. and et.al., 2010. Market reaction to the adoption of IFRS in Europe. The accounting review. 85(1). Pp.31-61.
• Barth, M.E. and et.al., 2012. Are IFRS-based and US GAAP-based accounting amounts comparable?. Journal of Accounting and Economics. 54(1). Pp.68-93.
• Christensen, H.B. and et.al., 2015. Incentives or standards: What determines accounting quality changes around IFRS adoption?. European Accounting Review. 24(1). Pp.31-61.
• Christensen, H.B., Hail, L. and Leuz, C., 2013. Mandatory IFRS reporting and changes in enforcement. Journal of Accounting and Economics. 56(2). Pp.147-177.
• Daske, H. and et.al., 2013. Adopting a label: Heterogeneity in the economic consequences around IAS/IFRS adoptions. Journal of Accounting Research.51 (3). Pp.495-547.
• Hail, L., Leuz, C. and Wysocki, P., 2010. Global accounting convergence and the potential adoption of IFRS by the US (Part I): Conceptual underpinnings and economic analysis. Accounting Horizons. 24(3). Pp.355-394.

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