HA 3011 Advanced Financial Accounting Assignment

This assignment delves into impairment testing and lease accounting standards using Telstra Corporation as a case study. It explores the importance of accurate financial reporting and the impact of the new lease accounting standard on organizations and investors.

HA 3011 Advanced Financial Accounting
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Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Assessment task Part A..............................................................................................................4
Assessment task part B...............................................................................................................7
Conclusion................................................................................................................................12
References................................................................................................................................13
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Introduction:
This assignment is formed to gain insight into the accounting concepts. It will make a clear
interpretation of the impairment testing process and lease accounting standard. Impairment
testing process is done through a practical example of Telstra Corporation. Lastly, there is
also ascertainment about the impact of changed lease accounting standard. This is assessed by
referring the case study which contains the opinion of IASB chairman about the drawbacks of
the existing lease accounting standard and the changes brought in by the new lease
accounting standard. This is done so as to make better and effective economic reality.
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Assessment task Part A:
(i)
In accordance with the Annual report (2017) of Telstra Corporation, all the non-current
tangible assets such as and intangible assets are subject to testing for impairment. The
assessment is done to overview the difference in the value of carrying amount (presented in
the financial statement) of the asset.
(ii)
Impairment testing of non-current asset: The non-current tangible assets are subject to
impairment testing whenever it is assessed that the carrying value is not recoverable. For the
purpose of impairment testing, a small group of assets is considered which provides
independent inflows. Then the comparison is done of the recoverable amount with the fair
value in which cost of disposal and value of use is deducted. Whenever an impairment loss is
recognized, then the loss amount is presented as an expense in the profit and loss account
(Telstra Corporation, 2018).
Impairment testing of Goodwill and other intangible assets: the intangible assets are
tested by comparing the recoverable amount to the carrying value of the cash generating unit
(Telstra Corporation, 2018).
(iii)
Yes, the organization has mad impairment during the year. For the non-current assets, the
organization has impairment loss of $324 million. For goodwill, there was a record of $ 64
million as an impairment loss in the financial statement. Thus, these amounts were recorded
in the expenses in profit and loss account of the organization (Telstra Corporation, 2018).
(iv)
The organization makes the impairment testing by comparing the recoverable amount to the
fair value less cost of disposal and value in use. The concept of value in use represents the
current value of future arrival amount (net of outflow) with the constant use of asset and
disposal activity. The company makes major assumptions in ascertaining the calculations
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used in assessing value in use. The concepts like discount rates, terminal growth rates, and
cash flow forecasts (Telstra Corporation, 2018).
(v)
The impairment testing process of the company was quite subtle and to the point. Telstra
makes impairment testing of all of its non-current assets and intangible assets such as
goodwill, and of financial instruments (Ramanna, and Watts, 2012). The standard process of
testing the impairment is through assessing the recoverable amount and comparing with the
fair value of the asset. The key assumptions made by the company are in respect of value in
use amount of an asset. Thus, there is a clear description in the annual report regarding the
impairment process and the manner in which the organization conducts the impairment
process. Any form of the impairment loss is mentioned as an expense in the Profit and loss
account and is written off against profits of the organization (Ramanna, and Watts, 2012).
The subjectivity for the calculations is only in terms of calculation of “value in use” wherein
the organization makes assumptions regarding cash flow forecast, terminal rates, and
discount rates and calculates the value in use of an asset. Thus, this calculation involves
subjectivity which can influence the amount of the impairment loss or impairment calculation
(Telstra Corporation, 2018).
(vi)
Impairment testing is indeed a vital concept for the accurate and reliable ascertainment of
assets of an organization. With the passage of time, it happens that the value of asset tends to
distort but the company makes a record of the asset without considering the internal or
external source of information. Impairment testing is a process which provides an opportunity
to companies for re-assessing the value of their core assets and presents a more reliable and
accurate financial statement for the organization (Goncharov, et. al., 2014).
In case of Telstra Corporation, the difficult thing to ascertain is that though after making
multiple calculations and assumptions, impairment losses are ascertained for core assets these
are also subject to error. The calculation of value in use is based on a number of assumptions
(which are always subject to certain error) (Goncharov, et. al., 2014).
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Impairment is indeed a time-consuming activity which leads to change the profitability of the
organization and is also a method which is subject to the best judgment of respective
companies. Companies or organizations can also make wrong use of such concepts by
showing irrelevant loss or assumptions (Goncharov, et. al., 2014).
(vii)
Companies indeed use the concept of impairment testing for presenting the fair value of their
assets. Company’s presents number of non-current and intangible assets over their balance
sheet which must reflect true value otherwise would distort company’s worth (Telstra
Corporation, 2018).
The new insight which is gained is that companies must always make impairment testing
process to the best of judgment skill as otherwise would present wrong interpretation.
Companies can even make wrong assumptions for increasing accumulated impairment losses
and use for reducing the profitability and thus, taxation amount (Telstra Corporation, 2018).
(viii)
Fair value measurement can be ascertained as the value which is received when an asset is
sold. This can be understood as the market price which is received when made relevant and
fair market transactions. It is a quite important value which truly represents the fair and
honest value of organization’s current assets, non-current and intangible assets of the
company (Telstra Corporation, 2018).
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Assessment task part B:
(i)
Leasing is a term which denotes hiring an asset rather than purchasing those assets. There are
various factors which businessman considers before purchasing or leasing an asset such as
financial situation, off-balance sheet financing etc. The former lease accounting standard
includes operating lease standard and financing lease standard. Operating lease is a lease
whereby the ownership of the leased asset is not transferred to the lessee and also the running
cost is further added to the cost (Collins, et. al., 2012).
The chairperson of IASB has assessed that there are around millions of leases which are
taken by different industries mainly shipping industry and retail industry and airline industry.
These industries have taken a large amount of off-balance sheet debts which are not presented
in actual financial statements. Thus, despite large debts amount taken by firms, the financial
statements does not present true and fair view of company’s financial figures (Collins, et. al.,
2012).
Thus, it was administered by IASB’s chairman that the accounting statements do not reflect
economic reality. A large number of debts which were taken by companies are not reflected
and thus, the investors find it difficult in actual ascertainment of financial figures.
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(ii)
The major reason behind the occurrence of 66 times off-balance sheet lease liabilities than the
actual debt was due to the concept of operating lease. Operating lease is the leasing in which
the ownership of the leased asset is not transferred to the lessee and also, the asset is lastly is
kept with the lessor only and only presented in the off-sheet balance sheet. Thus, in operating
lease, there is no requirement to present the leased asset and lease liability on the balance
sheet of the company (Goncharov, et. al., 2014).
Thus, there is a high difference of the debt presented in the balance sheet and the actual debt
taken by the company. Majorly industries have taken high debts which have actually created
high debts. There was also lack of comparability among company’s financial statements due
to buying or hiring leases (Goncharov, et. al., 2014).
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(iii)
In accordance with the views of IASB chairperson, there were certain differences in the
airline's company’s financial statements presentation. Some of the airlines who actual
purchases (as per management decision) air fleet, presents higher debts and high assets. This
put an impression that the company has high debts and has a high financial obligation
(Altamuro, et. al., 2014).
While some of the companies take up air fleet through operating hiring. In operating hiring
process, the lessee does not get ownership of the asset and does not need to depict over the
financial statements and also there are few running costs which are also included in the lease
amount. Further, companies who actually purchases air fleets have different financial
statements (Altamuro, et. al., 2014).
Therefore, there remains no comparability among the financial statements of different
companies in the one industry. The company who have high off-balance sheet financing have
good financial statements and investors tend to get attracted towards such companies and
companies which clearly presents their debts does not present a clearer picture. Thus, it is
ascertained that there is no level playing field among companies in the same field (Altamuro,
et. al., 2014).
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(iv)
In accordance with the words of IASB chairperson, in the new accounting standard, in case of
the operating lease as well-leased assets have to be presented in the balance sheet and the
lease liability also has to be presented in the liability.
This would increase debts in the financial statements and all the details related to debts will
have to be presented in the financial statement which will make the annual presentation and
interpretation unfavorable (Collier, 2015).
The lease has always been one of the favorite sources of financing for businessmen and the
existing lease standard allows managers to preferably hire the asset in place of purchase of
the asset. The major benefits are that there is no need for the capital requirement, no
presentation of lease liability and lease asset, and thus, makes the financial statement more
preferable and an attraction for all. With the new lease accounting standard, lease wills no
longer a favorable source of funding for companies. Companies will have to present their
lease liabilities and lease assets will also be presented. Thus, it will lead to the unpopularity
of lease among investors and stakeholders (Collier, 2015).
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(v)
The new lease standard has been formulated with a view to eliminating the existing
drawbacks of the existing lease standard. With the existing operating lease standard,
businesses and industries do not tend to presents the actual value of debts and income flow of
the organization. There was the concept of the off-balance sheet which leads to
underestimation of debts and actual economic reality. This concept has led to increasing off-
balance sheet liabilities which eliminate the liabilities on the financial statements. As the
concept of airlines is discussed by the IASB chairperson, this leads to lack of comparability
and provides different visuals of financial figures to investors (Collier, 2015).
With the initiation of new lease accounting standard, a new equal platform would be created
for all companies. Management would put in more efforts to make “buy or lease” decision.
As in both the concepts, companies would have to present the asset value and the lease
liabilities will have also presented in the balance sheet (Collier, 2015).
Till, management takes up leasing as lease contracts have more attraction factor but with the
new accounting standard companies will exact values of debts and assets over balance sheet
which would communicate true and fair financial information to the investors (Collier, 2015).
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Conclusion:
Lastly, it can be ascertained that impairment testing process is important and is also subject to
organization choices which must be presented and clearly interpreted in the annual report.
Further, changed lease accounting standard is formed for beneficial organizations and also for
investors. With the new lease accounting standard, management would put in more efforts to
improve the management buy or lease decision and also investors would get more reliable
and relevant financial statements.
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References:
 Altamuro, J., Johnston, R., Pandit, S.S. and Zhang, H.H. (2014). Operating leases
and credit assessments. Contemporary Accounting Research, vol. 31(2), pp.551-
580.
 Collier, P.M. (2015). Accounting for managers: Interpreting accounting information
for decision making. John Wiley & Sons.
 Collins, D.L., Pasewark, W.R. and Riley, M.E. (2012). Financial reporting
outcomes under rules-based and principles-based accounting standards. Accounting
Horizons, 26(4), pp.681-705.
 Goncharov, I., Riedl, E.J. and Sellhorn, T. (2014). Fair value and audit fees. Review
of Accounting Studies, 19(1), pp.210-241.
 Ramanna, K. and Watts, R.L. (2012). Evidence on the use of unverifiable estimates
in required goodwill impairment. Review of Accounting Studies, 17(4), pp.749-780.
 Telstra Corporation. (2018). About us. [Online] Telstra.com. Available at:
https://www.telstra.com.au/aboutus. (Access as on: 26th January, 2018).
 Telstra Corporation. (2018). Business enterprise. [Online] Telstra.com. Available at:
https://www.telstra.com.au/business-enterprise. (Access as on: 26th January, 2018).
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