1ADVANCED FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING Part A The provided situation indicated towards the failure of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in correctly disclosing the financial image of the business organizations in spite of the fact that millions of dollars have been spent for the adoption of IFRS standards in order to improve financial reporting. Many of the famous business personalities have stated that the main reason behind this failure is the absence of qualitative characteristic of financial statements that make financial information helpful to the users like investors, creditors and many others (Carey, Potter and Tanewski 2014). According to the conceptual framework of Australian Accounting Standard Board (AASB), Relevance and Faithful Representation are the fundamental qualitative characteristics of financial statements; and Comparability, Verifiability, Timeliness and Understandability are the enhancing qualitative characteristics of financial reporting (Carey, PotterandTanewski2014).Thefollowingdiscussionshowsthecertainqualitative characteristics that are missing in the financial statements of IFRS: Statement of Geoff Roberts:It can be seen from the comment of Mr. Roberts, Former Head of Finance of AXA, that the fund managers or the financial analysts have not raised any question related to the quality of financial information obtained from the financial statements developed as per the regulations of IFRS (Weil, Schipper and Francis 2013). It implies that they can compare the financial information with the other companies and can obtain understanding about the financial position of the companies from accessing the financial reports developed as per IFRS. This aspect aims towards two enhancing qualitative characteristics of financial reporting; and they are comparability and understandability (Weil, Schipper and Francis 2013). The presence of these two characteristics is necessary in order to make the financial information more
2ADVANCED FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING purposeful to the users of the financial information. However, in the recent years, there have been major concerns related to the quality of financial information from the financial statements developed as per IFRS. This, Mr. Roberts hints towards the fact that the current reporting standard of IFRS lacks both comparability and understandability characteristics. Statement of Terry Brown: Opinion of David Craig:It can be observed from the statement of Terry Brown, Finance Director of Wesfarmers, that there is a chance of misinterpretation of the notes to the financial statements under the financial reporting of IFRS in case the financial analysts attempt to interpret these notes in the absence of effective technical knowledge in finance (Kimet al.2016). Verifiability is considered as an important qualitative characteristic of financial reporting that provides the users with the scope to apply their knowledge and observation in order to understand the essence of the financial position of the companies from the notes to the financial statements (Kimet al.2016). The statement of Mr. Brown aims towards the concern that some of the users of the financial statements are not able to verify and understand the notes of financial statements in the presence of their limited technical knowledge in finance. Hence, this whole aspect indicates towards the absence of both verifiability and understandability in the current financial reporting under IFRS. Statement of Financial Reporting:It can be seen from the statement of David Craig, Chief Financial Officer of Commonwealth Bank, that the investors of the companies are started to ignore the financial information from the reports of IFRS in the presence of the fact that they are failing to assist in depicting the correct financial standings of the business organizations. It needs to be mentioned that this aspect is only possible in case the financial information is not relevant and the financial statements are not presented faithfully (Müller 2014). Relevance and faithful representation are two major fundamental qualitative characteristics of financial statements. The
3ADVANCED FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING investors become able to take correct investment decision in case the financial information is relevant and they are presented faithfully.Hence, according to the above discussion, it can be said that the current financial reporting framework of IFRS lacks both relevance and faithful representation characteristics. Lastly, it is required to be mentioned that to provide correct and relevant financial information for showing the correct financial performance and financial position of the entities is the main objective of general purpose financial reporting and it is not possible to satisfy when the above qualitative characteristics lack (Carey, Potter and Tanewski 2014). Part B In2006,theAustraliangovernmenttookonemajordecisionnottoamendthe Corporations Act with the introduction of any regulations in order to add the social and environmental responsibilities. Instead of this, the government leaves the matter on the market force to handle this. This decision of the government can be evaluated in the lights of three major theories of regulation; they are Public Interest Theory, Capture Theory and Economic Interest Group Theory of Regulation. Public Interest Theory Public interest theory is considered as a major theory of regulation that focuses towards the introduction of regulations in order to fulfill the interest of the public. As per the principle of this theory, regulations have an important role to play in the promotion of the general welfare of the public rather than the specific interest of the well-organized stakeholders (Boswell 2013). It also needs to be mentioned that there is not any role of the market forces for fulfilling the interests of the public. One of the major parts of this theory is the intervention of the government
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4ADVANCED FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING in the market in order to address the issues of market failure of market imperfection (Boswell 2013). The principles of this theory can be applied in the provide situation for the evaluation purpose. Public interest considers the decision of the Australian government not to introduce any regulation as a wrong decision due to the fact that regulations ensure the welfare of the public. Apart from this, the intervention of the Australian government would be helpful in the promotion of the social and environmental responsibilities for the companies. For this reason, it would be possible to address the market imperfection related to the Corporations Act in a better manner. Hence, it was required to introduce regulation in the Corporations Act (Boswell 2013). Capture Theory Capture theory is considered as a major theory of regulation that does not support the introduction of regulations for fulfilling the interests of the public. According to the major principle of this theory, the regulators do manipulation with the regulations so that they can fit the requirements of the affected part by the regulations (Berman 2017). For this reason, the application of this theory helps in the identification of the affected parties by the introduction of any specific revulsion. As per this theory, the regulators want to include themselves in the development process of the regulations in order to satisfy their interests with the regulations. For all these reasons, capture theory supports the role of market forces for tackling imperfection in the market (Berman 2017). The principle of this theory can well be applied in this situation. As per the principle of capture theory, the Australian government took the correct decision of the not introduction of anyregulationinCorporationsActforthepromotionofsocialandenvironmental
5ADVANCED FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING responsibilities. In the absence of any regulation, there will not be any opportunity for the regulators to use the regulations in order to satisfy their interests (Berman 2017). In the absence of any regulation, the market forces will be active to fulfill the social and environmental responsibilities. Economic Interest Group Theory of Regulation Another major theory of regulation is the economic interest group theory of regulation. This theory indicates towards the fact that the industries are the developers of the regulations and the main aim behind the development of regulation is to make the industries advantageous. This theory can be applied in the present situation (Seidman 2016). Thus, as per this theory, it was required for the Australian government to introduce regulation in the Corporations Act for the industries. The introduction of this regulation would put an obligation on the business industries to comply with the regulations of social and environmental responsibilities. Part C As per the United States, Financial Accounting Standard Board (FASB) Statement No. 144Accounting for Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, there is not any requirement for the US business entities to do the revaluation of their non-current assets based on fair value; but the requirement is to take into consideration the impairment costs that is associated with those non-current assets (Paik and Lee 2013). This particular regulation has some major implications related to the relevance and faithful representation of the US corporate financial statements and they are discussed below 1.With the assistance of the above-mentioned regulation for asset revaluation, it is possible for the users of the financial information to identify the major differences as well as the
6ADVANCED FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING similarities in the accounting of asset revaluation that helps in showing the correct asset position of the business entities (Gordon and Hsu 2017). 2.There are many accounting models can be seen for the accounting treatment of non- current assets and the companies have to face complexities while complying with the regulations of all these accounting models. However, the introduction of the above- mentioned asset revaluation related rule of FASB is a major help for the accountants for thereductionofcomplexitiesandinconsistencieswhilehandlingmorethanone accounting model for asset revaluation (Banker, Basu and Byzalov 2016). 3.Apart from the above, the accountants of the business organizations have to handle some of the major difficulties while conducting the accounting treatments related to the implementation of the non-current assets. However, the introduction of this regulations makes the job easier for the companies as it ensures the compliance with the required standards and regulations for asset revaluation accounting (Zhang 2013). 4.Most importantly, it needs to be mentioned that the above-mentioned regulation of FASB for asset revaluation is majorly helpful for developing a single framework to conduct the accounting transactions related to the revaluation of non-current assets (Damasceno 2014). Part D Requirement [a] Some major factors motivate the directors not to revaluate the property, plant and equipment. They are discussed below:
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7ADVANCED FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING 1.In the process of asset revaluating, business entities are required to carry on the revaluation process of their property, plant and equipment. For this reason, the directors can obtain the latest total value of property, plant and equipment (Wali 2015). 2.At the time of merger and acquisition, the directors are required to know the fair value of property, plant and equipment so that they can negotiate the prices of these assets. The asset revaluation process makes it possible for the directors by providing them the fair value of the assets (Szczesny and Valentincic 2013). 3.In the process of the revaluation of property, plant and equipment, the directors are required to carry out the revaluation process frequently. For this reason, the directors of the business organizations can obtain the actual rate of return on the capital employed (Szczesny and Valentincic 2013). Requirement [b] Apart from the above, the decision of the directors not to do the revaluation of the assets has some major effects on the financial statements of the companies. In the absence of the process of revaluation of assets, there will not be any increase or decrease in the asset value of the companies (Bradbury 2015). Due to this reason, the companies have to face abnormal amount of profit or loss at the time to sell the assets. In case, there is huge loss at the time of selling, there will be major decrease in the company earnings. These are the major effects on the financial statements (Bradbury 2015). Requirement [c] The wealth of the shareholders will be affected with the decision not to do the revaluation of the assets. It will not be possible for the shareholders of the companies to get their desired return on the investment when there is a decrease in the earnings of the companies due to the
8ADVANCED FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING absence in the asset revaluation process. For this reason, there will be decrease in total wealth of the shareholders (Choiet al.2013).
9ADVANCED FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING References Banker, R.D., Basu, S. and Byzalov, D., 2016. Implications of Impairment Decisions and Assets' Cash-Flow Horizons for Conservatism Research.The Accounting Review,92(2), pp.41-67. Berman, A., 2017. Industry, Regulatory Capture and Transnational Standard Setting.AJIL Unbound,111, pp.112-118. Boswell, J., 2013.Community and the economy: the theory of public co-operation. Routledge. Bradbury, M., 2015. Capital maintenance in a contemporary context. Carey, P., Potter, B. and Tanewski, G., 2014. Application of the reporting entity concept in Australia.Abacus,50(4), pp.460-489. Choi, T.H., Pae, J., Park, S. and Song, Y., 2013. Asset revaluations: motives and choice of items to revalue.Asia-Pacific Journal of Accounting & Economics,20(2), pp.144-171. Damasceno, F., 2014. Valuing the Impairment Reverse Loss Effect on Firm's Debt Financing. Gordon, E.A. and Hsu, H.T., 2017. TangibleLong-LivedAsset Impairmentsand Future Operating Cash Flows under US GAAP and IFRS.The Accounting Review,93(1), pp.187-211. Kim, J.B., Li, L., Lu, L.Y. and Yu, Y., 2016. Financial statement comparability and expected crash risk.Journal of Accounting and Economics,61(2-3), pp.294-312. Müller, J., 2014. An accounting revolution? The financialisation of standard setting.Critical Perspectives on Accounting,25(7), pp.539-557.
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10ADVANCED FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING Paik, D.G. and Lee, B., 2013. The Association between Market Returns and Long-Lived Asset Impairment under US GAAP and IFRS.Pan-Pacific Journal of Business Research,4(2), p.35. Seidman, S., 2016.Contested knowledge: Social theory today. John Wiley & Sons. Szczesny, A. and Valentincic, A., 2013. Asset Write‐offs in Private Firms–The Case of German SMEs.Journal of Business Finance & Accounting,40(3-4), pp.285-317. Wali, S., 2015. Mechanisms of corporate governance and fixed asset revaluation.International Journal of Accounting and Finance,5(1), pp.82-97. Weil, R.L., Schipper, K. and Francis, J., 2013.Financialaccounting:an introductionto concepts, methods and uses. Cengage Learning. Zhang, G., 2013. Accounting standards, cost of capital, resource allocation, and welfare in a large economy.The Accounting Review,88(4), pp.1459-1488.