Contemporary Accounting Theory

This assessment focuses on the implementation of the conceptual framework in financial accounting and its application in an Australian company (Cardno) and a South African company (Aspen Insurance Company). It critically evaluates the strengths and limitations of financial accounting rules based on the conceptual framework and compares global integrated reporting system with sustainable reporting rules. The assessment also discusses the history and development of the conceptual framework and its application in the selected companies.

Running Head: CONTEMPORY ACCOUNTING THEORY 1
Australian Company (Cardno) and South African Company (Aspen Insurance Company)
Assessment
Institution

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Executive Summary
The main notion behind the implementation of the conceptual framework (CF) in financial
accounting if centered on the need of identifying essential elements in the process of assessing
financial statements. The main objective of the conceptual framework is helping firms in
acquiring and assessing financial health status. Therefore, the prospective objective of this paper
will be assessing critically the conceptual framework and how it has been applied in an ASX
stock company: Cardno Company Limited (CDD) and how the company has employed the
framework in selecting financial events, statements and events. On the other hand, in section B
the paper will specifically entail contrast of global integrated reporting system over sustainable
reporting rules that entail critical analysis of the strengths and limitations of financial accounting
rules centered on the conceptual framework. Moreover, the paper will also assess the framework
against a South African Company (Aspen Limited Company), based on an index, against the
Australian company’s integrated report.

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Introduction
This paper is prospected to outline critical financial rules that are critical and underlie the
procedures used in assessing and laying down the two company’s financial statements and
economic valuation. Considering these financial statements is effectively applied by company’s
key shareholders in efficiently formulating the conceptual framework, which is relevant in
assessing both companies: Cardno and Aspen Company that is the Australian and the South
African companies precisely. Moreover, it is relevant for assessing the IASB in enactment of
revised and standardized accounting rules and procedures that are relevant for application of
financial statements in the two companies while application of financial protocols or solving
problems evident in the compliance of events to prospective accounting statements (Ahmad &
Arshad, 2014). Moreover, the paper will specifically evaluate the conceptual framework as
purposed in financial reporting and it relevancy and application in an Australian company
(Cardno Company). On the other the second section will be evaluating sustainability and
integrated reporting of the conceptual framework for the South African company (Aspen
Company).
Part A: Conceptual Framework
a. Review of the history and CF’s
The development of the conceptual framework in the US, UK, Australia was basically prescribed
by Moonitz and Sprouse considering the accounting methods and practices in context 1961 and
1962. In 1965, a theory was created by Grady centered on analysis of present accounting
practices which resulted to implementation of the Accounting Principles Board (APB). In the
long run, there was formation of a true blood committee in 1972 that formulated the True blood

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report (Bellantuono, Pontrandolfo & Scozzi, 2016). The major components of the report
included:
 An outline of the 12 objectives relating to accounting and 7 qualitative characteristics
possessed by financial data
 Objective 1: aimed at the needs of financial statements users.
 Objective 1: should cater for clients with restricted ability of requesting financial data.
On the other hand, in 1974 the Accounting principle board was replaced by the FASB that
directly focused on the conceptual framework project. Moreover, considering this about 6
statement of financial accounting concept was drafted from 1978 to 1985. Initially the first
SFACS was normative although SFAC was linked to the recognition and identification of vast
description of the present practices. Due to this there was much criticism, from 2005 the IASB
and merged with a specific objective of enhancing the revised CF which would be utilized by the
board entirely known as the convergence project. In 1976, UK initial moves considering the aims
and identification of users provided by the corporate reports. The report was specifically focused
in addressing the following:
• Addressing community’s rights and terms of accessing financial data
• In the end, content is entirely not acceptable by the accounting experts.
On the other hand, in 1991 there was adoption of the IASC’s in evaluating the conceptual
framework. The IASC framework was specifically incompliance with the US and Australian
framework consequently was known as an IASB framework. BROMWICH, MACVE &
SUNDER (2010), states that in Australia, the degree of progress is very slow. There are only
four statement of accounting concepts (SACs) that were released which include:

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SAC 1: explanation of entity reporting
SAC 2: General aim of financial reporting
SAC 3: various qualitative characteristics of financial data
SAC 4: various definition and recognition of financial elements
SAC 5: considering measurements that were not released.
Australian accounting systems had various similarities to that of the US conceptual framework
(Cantele, Tsalis & Nikolaou, 2018). In 2005, there was an adoption of the IASB conceptual
framework due to the decision executed by the financial reporting of the IAS and the IFRS.
b. Explanation of the Australian Accounting Profession
Actually quasi legislation symbolizes that the need of state-based conceptual in Australian
accounting system is not possible in making sure that the accounting frameworks are accurate
and consistent and have been enacted in a clear manner. In spite the fact that it might be
seemingly is inconvenient in assessing essentials of accounting considering the objectives of the
prospective accounting statements, scholars have claimed the ineffectiveness of the Australian
accounting standards has exhibited more accounting problems. In that case, the Australian
Accounting Profession is more concerned with evaluation the conceptual framework functions
instead of its objectives in the evaluation of an entity’s financial statements. This further implies
that the professions currently reject the reference and reasoning lines of conceptual framework
on the basis on accounting ’objectives’ in the evaluation of financial statements. The main reason
for this is that, the existence of the urged to establish the under-pinning accounting frameworks
falters short-term accounting objectives.

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c. Academic Concerns
The conceptual framework has potential benefits and limitations to consider as an academic
concern. In that case, here are the benefits evident following the introduction of the framework in
the accounting industry.
● Since many nations have established CF, which is similar globally (or might have
alternatively adopted the IASC frameworks), there is the need for countries to embrace
considerable global compatibility on the basic of various accounting standards. In that
case, academic’s concern on quality features on the standard’s comparability and
consistency over the global financial reporting (whereby professions argues that it is
relevant for the evaluation of foreign investment capitals and flows.
● Academic are concerned with accounting logic and consistency, which implies that
accounting standards established following the application of CF should be logical and
consistent.
● CF provides the global fundamentals of accounting systems. In that case, the standard-
setters are expected to be accountable for all their financial decisions. In case these
decisions are retrieved from key concerns evaluated in the CF, the accounting professions
expect the standards to be clear thereby necessitating more explanation prior the
implementation.
● The CF establishes an appropriate methodology of communicating the fundamental
concepts based on the present financial reports. Therefore, this framework provides the
best guidance for entities to reports on particular accounting standards and evaluation any
financial concern.

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● Accounting-setters will experience minimal political pressure during the formulation of
more accounting standards since the relevant concerns like the objectives of financial
reports, criterion to recognition have been considered following the establishment of the
CF.
A portion of the limitations that have been related to conceptual frameworks of bookkeeping
include:
● Conceptual frameworks are outrageous to formulate.
● The enhancement of the CF is affected by the governmental actions. With this, some
accountants present the concern that CFs is more inclined to political procedures.
● Linked to the limitation outlined above, whenever the CF considers involving accounting
concerns, there is always an issue of financial estimation of given assets
The CFs considers more on financial-related matters. In that case, this framework will consider
disregarding various execution segments such as ecological and social revealing components.
Moreover, through the evaluation of financial execution, CFs critically transits the consideration
of financial analysts based on corporate execution.
d. Application of the conceptual framework
a) Explanation of how the conceptual framework has been applied by the selected
Australian Company
(i) How many statements/reports have been prepared as per the Conceptual Framework and
what are their major components

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Fig. 1: Consolidate Financial Statement Position of CARDNO (CDD)
Source: (Cardno Annual report, 2018)
According to the Fig. 1 above, the company has prepared its financial data considering the
company’s consolidated financial statements, which only eliminated the investment subsidiary,
dividends, including profits and loss. The company has produced more than four reports having
major components evident in all. The Components include:
● The purposes of accounting reporting: FASB's first Announcement of financial and
Accounting Ideas (SFAC 1) (1978) distinguished the expansive destinations of
accounting evaluation. The first and broadest goal expressed in SFAC 1 is to give data
that is helpful to present and potential speculators and different clients in making the

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balanced venture, credit, and comparable choices. From this starting point in SFAC 1,
the CARDNO (CDD) communicated other progressively explicit targets.
● The Fundamental of Useful Financial Data: The second component in the conceptual
framework is the characteristics (or subjective attributes) that budgetary data ought to
have in the event that it is to be valuable in basic leadership. In SFAC 2, the FASB said
that data is helpful on the off chance that it is (I) important, (ii) dependable, and (iii)
tantamount (Ceulemans, Lozano & Alonso-Almeida, 2015). Data is pertinent on the off
chance that it can have any kind of effect in a choice. The data has this quality when it
enables clients to anticipate the future or assess the past and is gotten so as to influence
their choices.
● Financial Statement Elements: Another significant advancement in building up a
conceptual framework is to decide the components of budget reports. This includes
characterizing the classes of Cardno Company (CDD) data that ought to be contained in
monetary reports. FASB's exchange of fiscal summary components incorporates
meanings of significant components, for example, resources, liabilities, value, incomes,
costs, additions, and misfortunes.
Financial Measurement and Recognition: In SFAC 3, ‘Acknowledgment and Estimation in Fiscal
summaries of Business Ventures’, the FASB set up ideas for choosing when things ought to be
introduced (or perceived) in the budget summaries, and how to allocate numbers to (or measure)
financial items.
(ii) Which recognition principles and measurement bases have been applied for revenue,
assets and liabilities

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Generally, the FASB has said that things ought to be perceived in the fiscal summaries in the
event that they meet the accompanying criteria:
● Characterizations: The thing meets the meaning of a component of budget reports;
● Measurability: It has an important quality quantifiable with adequate dependability
● Position: The data about it is equipped for having any kind of effect on client choices;
and
● Dependability: The Cardno Company (CDD) data is illustratively resolute, irrefutable,
and impartial.
In SFAC 4, the FASB has expressed that a full arrangement of budget summaries should appear:
Money related position toward the finish of the period, Profit for the period and Exhaustive
salary for the period (Maj, 2018). This new idea is more extensive than profit and incorporates
all adjustments in proprietors' value other than those that came about because of exchanges with
the proprietors. A few changes in resource esteems are incorporated into this idea however are
barred from CARDNO (CDD) income.
(iii) What qualitative characteristics of information exhibit in company’s various financial
reports?
Quantitative characteristics of information shows by the company’s financial reports include:
Operationalization of the subjective attributes: To build an estimation apparatus, we use earlier
writing which characterizes money related detailing quality as far as the crucial and upgrading
subjective attributes fundamental choice convenience as characterized in the ED. The basic

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subjective attributes (for example significance and loyal portrayal) are most significant and
decide the substance of money related detailing data (Pérez-López, Moreno-Romero &
Barkemeyer, 2013). The improving subjective attributes (for example equivalence, understand-
ability, practicality and unquestionable status) can improve choice value when the crucial
subjective attributes are set up. Be that as it may, they cannot decide accounting detailing quality
all alone.
Importance: ‘Significance’ feature of the company refers to its capability to comprehend
various concerns raised by clients as suppliers of capital in the company. Considering the past
literature, the relevance of operationalized applying various accounting elements denotes
corroborative and prescient framework. As discussed earlier in this paper, accountants will
critically evaluate the quality of financial earnings instead of accounting reporting and its quality.
This aspect is restrained due to the fact that it ignores non-financial information and future
financial-connected data that is accessible by shareholders. In order to enhance the quality,
extend, extensive and prescient analysis of the Cardno (CDD)’s financial statement is required.
Part B: Integrated/sustainability reporting
a. Comparison of Sustainability Reporting Guidelines and International Integrated
Reporting Framework
Both the sustainability and international integrated reporting frameworks are applicable in the
business world today. The role of businesses in the society today is gradually increasing, as
compared its initial obligation of evaluating its profitability or recording its finances. The
Sustainability Reporting Guideline presents the relevant standards applicable to the help
companies to enhance competitive advantage. International Integrated Reporting Framework

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improves the corporation’s reputation; thus, the profitability of the firm can be evaluated based
on global norms and laws. The reporting necessitates investors to build the relationship with both
the accounting and non-accounting data analysts to be able to effectively evaluate potential risks.
Numerous organizations have energetically begun to get readily integrated reports in different
configurations and each report has been shaped as per the requirements of business properties.
Moreover, integrated announcing standards and rules have been distributed by the Worldwide
Integrated Detailing Board, so as to give direction to report regulators.
b. Rigour (strength & limitations) of the conventional accounting, based upon the
Conceptual Framework for contents of sustainability as well as integrated reports
Strengths
The conventional accounting, centred on the CF provides a firm foundation for formulating
future financial statement standards, which enhance the sustainability status of specific
companies. The strength evident in this framework is to permit the introduction of accounting
standards and international integrated reports, which clarify the key matters in financial
statements. Conventional accounting also evaluates key material concerns, i.e. both positive and
negative, in financial statements.
Limitations
Debilitated Basic leadership: Convectional accounting offers decision chiefs little data on an
association's specialties. This is on the grounds that the sort of use the planning procedure tasks
is theoretical and isn't solid for settling on specific choices. This powers chiefs in governments
and associations utilizing traditional planning strategies to change their arrangements regularly,
in order to reinforce their choices.

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c. Applicability (usefulness of limitations) of the theories to explain contents of
sustainability as well as integrated reports
Organization financial analysists around the globe utilize institutional theory or neo-institutional
theory in their exploration to demonstrate that establishments of monetary, social, instructive,
money related, and political nature keeps up a huge impact upon overall associations. Results
demonstrate that integrated revealing is exceedingly associated with the phase of monetary
improvement, national corporate duty, nations' qualities framework, worker's guilds, the private
use of tertiary training, proprietorship scattering. The policy makers neglected to demonstrate the
impact of the political factor, underlining the irregularity of information with respect to the years
for which data has been gathered, given the way that the examination does not think about the
assumption of significant changes in the political framework.
d. Preparation of an index (a table or checklist) of various components (criteria) of an
integrated report, and discussion of whether and how the selected South African
Company has disclosed information against each of those components (criteria)
The integrated reporting considers providing companies with the sufficient understanding of
liabilities and assets, and how they will utilize this data to enhance profitability (Soyka, 2013).
These capitals can be money-related, made, scholarly, human, and social and relationship, and
normal capital, yet organizations need not embrace these key components. Integrated announcing
is worked around the accompanying key segments, which are applicable in the Aspen Company
Limited
Table 1: Checklist of Key Components
Checklist No. Key Component

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#1 ● Environment
An integrated report includes the company’s summary of the relevant
compliance to environmental frameworks. These frameworks are
implemented and varied based on specific geographies to which the
company is found.
#2
● Socio-Political
The report should include the structure of the federal governance, which
enables the firms to create its anticipated value in the market.
#3 ● Production
Includes available opportunities and risks required for dealing with an
entity’s concerns on boosting its throughput.
#4 ● Financial Evaluation of Costs
This deals with the applied strategies and the means of allocating the
company’s resource for production.
#5 ● People
This aspect is critical for the achievement and performance of strategic

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aims to financial outcomes and periods. With the right people, an entity
is capable of establishing a competitive advantage.
#6 ● Health & Safety (H&S)
An integrated report includes the relevant regulations on Health and
Safety, which helps the company to control its strategies concerning the
mitigation of its strategies challenges on HS.
● Aspen Company has disclosed the six key components in the checklist, which underpins
all the activities undertaken in the company. Every pillar (Environment, Socio-Political,
Production, Financial Evaluation of Costs, People, and Health & Safety) defines the Key
Performance Indicator (KPI), including the fundamental targets set by the firm to
evaluate its accounting and non-accounting performance.
e. Comparison of Australian company’s reporting practices with the index and the
integrated reporting practices in the selected South African Company
Based on the index of key components (Environment, Socio-Political, Production, Financial
Evaluation of Costs, People, and Health & Safety) in an integrated report, it is evident that the
Aspen insurance company prepares an integrated report. All the key components have been
considered in the 2017 financial report shown in Figure 2 below. The integrated report presented
in 2017 was written basically for prospective and current stakeholders, who consider
demonstrating that the company has effective strategies that are capable of delivering and
optimizing production value (Timbate & Park, 2018). From 2017 until the present, Aspen

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Insurance Company has implemented targeted transitions to the relevant changes in its
accounting strategies to enhance sustainability within its competitive environment.
Figure 2: Consolidated Statements of Aspen Insurance Company Financial Position as at
31st Dec,
Source: (Aspen Annual report, 2018)
The transitional practice has resulted to firm and flexible management and evaluation of the
balance sheet. Considering this foundation, the company can focus of its development of
accounting value for review by its relevant shareholder in a responsible and sustainable manner.
As indicated throughout the integrated report published in 2018, the company’s management and
strategic practices to productivity has been signified by comprehensive gratitude of critical
resources and relationship, which Aspen Insurance Company relies to create its strategic
accounting valuation.

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In comparison to the reporting from the two companies (Cardno and the Aspen Insurance
Company) based on the provided index of key components, it is evident that the relative
strategies concerning corporate strategies, operating framework, opportunity analysis, and risk
management required thorough analysis. The annual reports of both companies cover the
obligation, including the financial operation, which have a fundamental control on business
processes. For instance, the Aspen Insurance Company report considers the Centurion corporate
management office, pharmaceutical operation and the marketing segment that the company
operates in.
Another significant practice evident from the companies is the evaluation of productivity, which
considers evaluating potential outcomes, opportunities and risks in the company’s operations.
The financial outcomes are helpful for the various stakeholders who need this information to
monitor their investment in the company (Pérez-López, Moreno-Romero & Barkemeyer, 2013).
The evaluation of potential and principle outcomes of the company’s obligations has been
evaluation in pages 10-11 for the Aspen Insurance Company. Moreover, the company has also
published the sustainability reports, Pharmaceuticals Report and the annual financial report. The
process of financial reporting for the two companies is government by the requirements and
principles in the IFRS, GRA framework and the JSE listing requirement based on key
components in an integrated report.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the conceptual framework addresses the central concern of accounting
professionals regarding the preparation and monitoring of financial statements. The founding
answer to academic’s concern is that this framework is effective for the provision of accounting
information for integrated and sustainability documentation, which is useful for potential lenders,

Contemporary Accounting Theory 18
investors and stakeholders. Resultantly, the framework presents the necessary data that can be
used as a basis for financial decision for companies since the information is relevant, applicable
and error-free. Thus, the financial frameworks have enabled the Cardno and Aspen companies to
enable its sustainability in the competitive world.
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Contemporary Accounting Theory 19
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