Enhancing Financial Reporting through Conceptual Framework

The conceptual framework of accounting has been criticized for failing to provide a balanced approach between reliable and relevant disclosures. The framework's focus on historical data and its reliance on rule-based standards have led to complex and less meaningful financial reports. To address these limitations, it is recommended that the accounting standards be made more principle-driven rather than rule-driven, allowing for greater professional judgment in their application. Additionally, companies should adopt sustainable reporting practices to enhance the usefulness of financial information.

Conceptual FrameworK – A Critical analysis
NAME OF THE STUDENT

Executive Summary
This essay aims to evaluate the evolution of conceptual framework of accounting. The guiding
principle of the conceptual framework has been the achievement of objectives of the
framework. The current sample general purpose financial statement has been evaluated to
understand the implementation of the conceptual framework in existence in Australia through
AASB which is the IASB equivalent in Australia. The introduction of new concept of prudence in
the conceptual framework is explained in detail for its contribution to the overall objective of
the financial reporting. The various theories viz. the positive theory and normative theory has
been analyzed for its value-addition to the conceptual framework of accounting. The efficacy of
the local regulations in various countries and its impact on the overall objective of financial
reporting is analyzed. The limitation of the framework has been briefed with suitable
recommendations.
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Contents
Executive Summary....................................................................................................................... 1
Introduction...................................................................................................................................3
Analysis.......................................................................................................................................... 4
Objectives of the Conceptual Framework of Accounting...........................................................4
Evaluation of financial reporting of two listed entities..............................................................4
Overall Compliance with AASB framework:...........................................................................4
Whether the report a source of information for decision making?.......................................5
Impact of inclusion of Prudence in conceptual framework.......................................................7
Accounting Theories – POSITIVE / NORMATIVE.........................................................................8
Failure of Conceptual Framework..............................................................................................9
Is regulation the key to resolve issues?...................................................................................10
Recommendations.......................................................................................................................10
Conclusion................................................................................................................................... 11
References................................................................................................................................... 12
Appendix 1: Woolworth’s Analysis of financial performance......................................................14
Appendix 2: New Store Rollout Plans of Woolworths..................................................................15
Appendix 3: Performance Overview - Wesfarmers......................................................................16
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Introduction
The conceptual framework of accounting has been dynamic to the changes in the business
scenario. The recent change of inclusion of prudence in the overall framework aims to make the
financial reporting more neutral and reality based. This change is viewed as significant deviation
from the existing erred interpretation of the accounting framework to be conservative and
often imprudent. The neutral approach as supported by the prudence principle aims to
eliminate management’s bias in financial reporting thus adding to the overall usefulness of the
financial reporting.
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Analysis
Objectives of the Conceptual Framework of Accounting
The conceptual framework is in essence a theory of accounting principles to ensure that the
a. Financial statements remain useful to the end users of financial statements
b. characteristics are determined to make the accounting information useful
c. issues related to basic components of financial statements and it recognition and
measurement principles are addressed. (Ft.com, n.d.)
The objectives of the conceptual framework is summarized as below:
a. It should aid decision making of the primary users of financial statements viz. investors
and creditors
b. It should reflect a neutral depiction of entity’s financial performance and position
c. It should assist in prediction of future cash flows of the company
d. The reports should disclose the efficiency of business operations as well
(PWC, 2015)
Evaluation of financial reporting of two listed entities
The two company identified for analysis of the adherence to and the impact of conceptual
framework of accounting are Woolworths and Wesfarmers. We have chosen these companies
as they are the key competitors and operate within the same industry in Australia.
Overall Compliance with AASB framework:
The financial statements of both companies comply with the AASB standards requirements.
This disclosure has been made in the significant accounting policies section of the notes to the
financial statements in the annual reports. The specific representation made are reproduced as
below:
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a. Woolworth (Source: Annual Report, 2016, pg. 34.35)
b. Wesfarmers (Source: Annual Report, 2016, pg47)
Whether the report a source of information for decision making?
The financial reports of both the entities contain management assessment of the efficiency of
business operations. In addition to above, the report contains a standardized format of financial
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information in the form of statement of financial position, statement of profit and loss,
statement of other comprehensive income, statement of changes in equity and statement of
cash flows. In addition to these data the accounting policies and assumptions relied upon in the
preparation of financial statements have also been presented in the report. The relevant
extracts are as below.
The Wesfarmers index of the annual report presents link to the financial statements and the
relevant notes as under:
The Woolworths index also provides the link as below:
The investors needs to understand the relevance of the financial information in terms of
performance with the previous years and the reasons for the growth. Woolworths have
analysed the current year performance as depicted in Appendix 1. The company has also
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provided a glimpse of future scale of operations through new store roll out plans as per
Appendix 2.
Wesfarmers have provided the analysis of financial performance as per Appendix 3. However,
the reports of Wesfarmers does not include an estimation of future plan in terms of new stores
to be opened as highlighted by Woolworths.
Impact of inclusion of Prudence in conceptual framework
A financial statements must be prepared with due weightage to prudence. Prudence has been
one of the characteristics of the financial statements as required by the conceptual framework
of accounting until 2010. The International Accounting Standards Board has decided to
reintroduce the concept of prudence as one of the characteristics of financial statements. This
is to make the financial statements more useful the end users. Refer table below depicting the
inclusion and exclusion of the concept of prudence in the overall conceptual framework.
(Source: Investors’ Perspective, 2015)
The financial reporting is subject to bias by the management. Management tends to under-
report or over-report the financial performance to suit their incentive mechanism. This
variation in bias impact the neutrality characteristic of the financial statement. This difference
in bias reduces the comparability of financial information of two entities within the same
industry. Hence the concept of neutrality in addition to prudence is being propagated by IASB.
(PWC, 2015)
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The prudence principle is different from conservative approach to accounting. Conservative
approach encourages understatement of assets and overstatement of liabilities. The bias is
towards under reporting. This bias does not reflect the true picture of the underlying business
and economic environment. The degree of bias varies from one company to another and hence
renders the reporting and disclosure incomparable.
Neutral accounting on the other hand requires the management to publish the financial
information on as-is basis. There is no bias towards optimism or pessimism in financial
reporting. The absence of bias in the reporting will enable the readers to compare and assess
the financial information disclosure by the companies within the same industry. This would be
difficult if there is a presence of bias as the quantum of bias could not be estimated by the
investors.
The IASB exposure drafts has reintroduced prudence with a change in the definition of
prudence as well. Prudence is an extension of neutrality principle. Hence it deters
overstatement of assets as well as understatement of assets. This is because any under or over
statements in the current period gradually roll over to the future periods and impact the overall
valuation and measurement of assets and liabilities in the future period. (Cooper, 2015). Refer
below extract of the definition of prudence in the conceptual framework
(Source: Investors’ Perspective, 2015)
In summary, the reintroduction of prudence in the exposure draft is aimed to thwart
conservative approach to financial reporting. This would increase the quality of financial
reporting and will add to the relevance of the financial reports to the end users. This being the
eventual objective of conceptual framework of accounting, the prudence concept will provide
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the required clarity and boost to the neutrality concept of reporting. However, it may add to
the indecisiveness of current accounting experts. (FRC, 2015)
Accounting Theories – POSITIVE / NORMATIVE
The Conceptual framework of accounting rests on underlying accounting theories. These are
positive and normative. The positive theories relies on inductive reasoning whereas normative
theories relies on deductive reasoning.
Positive theories identifies the practical application and accounting of real world transactions.
The pattern of accounting and interpretation of the transaction over a period of time results in
induced accounting principle adhered to be the companies. These accounting methods are then
imbibed in the conceptual framework as principles. Normative theories on the other hand
focuses on the theoretical interpretation and application of accounting principles on the real
world transactions. The principles are established and the policies are put in place under the
overall framework.
Thus positive theories start from policies to induce principles whereas normative theories start
from principles to deduce theories. This essential nature of positive and normative theories
enable them to complement each other and aim to nullify any limitations in the individual
approaches.
Positive theories focuses on past events whereas normative theories enable company to form
policies for future transactions. A robust business model makes use of a combination of positive
and normative accounting theories. Modern conceptual framework emphasizes on normative
theories with a strong foundation of positive theories. (Brachmann, n.d.)
Failure of Conceptual Framework
The conceptual framework has been a trade-off between the essential qualitative characteristic
of financial statements and disclosures viz. reliability and relevance. Reliable disclosures are
presentation and analysis of historical data in the financial reports. Relevant disclosure are
presentation and analysis of data in a manner so as to support decision making in the future.
Relevant information relates to the most recent period and is prospective in nature. The
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conceptual framework has failed to identify the appropriate trade-off between reliable and
relevant disclosure. This is partly due to inability of the company and the management to verify
the relevant data. This makes it non-reliable.
As users become more used to the financial reporting, they may start to rely on it for financial
decisions. However, since the conceptual framework is more rule based, the resultant
disclosures have increasingly become more and more complex. This undermines the overall
objective of the conceptual framework of accounting. (Byron and Lawrence, 2012)
The focus of the reporting need to shift from mere profitability to the reliability and relevance.
The efficiency of business operations and its analysis with the industry best practices should be
included in the overall reporting to make it more meaningful for the end users.
Is regulation the key to resolve issues?
The conceptual framework is in principle applicable to the global accounting practices. However
various nations have specific regulations in place which slightly alter the implementation and
interpretation of the conceptual framework of accounting. These regulations are in place to
make the financial reporting more meaningful the economic environment of the country and
the investor’s expectation. Regulation at the micro level may seem appropriate as it enhance
the end-user value of the financial reporting. However, at the macro level the reporting would
not be comparable. The accounting standard used for reporting in Australia would slightly differ
from those applied in India. India is still in transition phase towards adoption of IFRS. Thus the
reports of two companies within these different regulatory framework would not be
comparable.
Recommendations
The objective of conceptual framework of accounting should be achieved by making the
financial reporting more relevant and reliable. The IASB has taken the right step in the direction
by reintroducing the concept of prudence with a bias towards neutrality. Another step to be
taken is to make the accounting standards more principle driven rather than rule driven.
Principle based accounting standards ensure exercise of appropriate professional judgement by
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the accounting profession globally. A rule based accounting standard may not consider a
particular characteristic of the transactions at the time of inception and might be rendered false
in its application. Hence a principle based approach to development of accounting standards is
recommended. Further, the companies should be proactive in adopting sustainable reporting
practices to value-add the usefulness of the financial information. The earlier concept of
conservative approach should not be encouraged or be allowed in the revised conceptual
framework as it will cause the benefits of neutral accounting to fade away.
Conclusion
The accounting framework has evolved over the period of time with the technological
innovations and increased investor’s expectation of the usefulness of the financial reporting.
The conceptual framework has been altered by the IASB to make it more meaningful to the
changing scenarios. It has done so to remove the limitations identified in the implementation of
the framework. The reintroduction of the concept of the prudence is viewed as a step in the
right direction. It aims to set correct the path for appropriate focus on the principle of
neutrality in the financial statements. The investor’s community has appreciated the removal of
conservative approach to the financial reporting as it has failed to add value to the
comparability aspect of the financial reporting. Investors feel that they have the right business
acumen to understand the as-is financial reporting by the management and feel no need for it
to be smoothened. This will reduce the effectiveness of the financial reporting.
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References
Brachmann S, n.d., Differences Between Positive & Normative Accounting, [Online], Available at:
< http://thefinancebase.com/differences-between-positive-normative-accounting-
1663.html >, [Accessed date: April 14, 2017]
Byron P and Lawrence C, 2012, An evaluation of the FASB's conceptual framework from a user's
perspective, [online], Available at: <
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/article/Academy-Accounting-Financial-Studies-
Journal/289620936.html >, [Accessed date: April 14, 2017]
Cooper S, 2015, A tale of ‘prudence’, [Online], Available at: < https://www.google.co.in/url?
sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiJ0t2sqqbT
AhXMNI8KHaSgBxEQFggoMAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ifrs.org%2FInvestor-
resources%2FInvestor-perspectives-2%2FDocuments%2FPrudence_Investor-
Perspective_Conceptual-
FW.PDF&usg=AFQjCNGkXf2BnOXSU4c57otOV6oclv6WHw&sig2=ShZpq77akEwjq9mOqc
WaXw >, [Accessed date: April 14, 2017]
FRC, 2015, UK FRC believes Conceptual Framework must 'embrace asymmetric prudence',
[online], Available at: < https://www.iasplus.com/en/news/2015/11/frc-cf >, [Accessed
date: April 14, 2017]
Ft.com, n.d., Definition of conceptual framework, [online], Available at: <
http://lexicon.ft.com/Term?term=conceptual-framework >, [Accessed date: April 14,
2017]
Pricewaterhouse Coopers, 2015, Exposure Drafts: Conceptual Framework for Financial
Reporting (ED/2015/3) and Updating references to the Conceptual Frameowrk
(ED/2015/4), [Online], Avaiable at: < https://www.google.co.in/url?
sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=16&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjWsqH79q
XTAhXHQo8KHePuChcQFgh7MA8&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pwc.com%2Fus%2Fen
%2Fcfodirect%2Fassets%2Fpdf%2Fcomment-letter%2Fproposed-revisions-iasb-
conceptual-
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66ixPtVw >, [Accessed date: April 14, 2017]
Pricewaterhouse Coopers, 2015, Prudence returns: new IASB exposure draft reintroduces
controversial term, [Online], Avaiable at: < http://www.pwc.com/gx/en/services/audit-
assurance/corporate-reporting/world-watch/iasb-prudence-conceptual-framework.html
>, [Accessed date: April 14, 2017]
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Wesfarmers, 2016, Annual Report 2016, [Online], Available at:
<http://www.wesfarmers.com.au/investor-centre/company-performance-news/
reports>, [Accessed date: April 14, 2017]
Woolworths, 2016, Annual Report 2016, [Online], Available at: <
http://www.woolworthsgroup.com.au/page/investors/our-performance/reports/
Reports/Annual_Reports >, [Accessed date: April 14, 2017]
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Appendix 1: Woolworth’s Analysis of financial
performance
(Source: Annual Report, 2016)
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Appendix 2: New Store Rollout Plans of Woolworths.
(Source: Annual Report, 2016)
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Appendix 3: Performance Overview - Wesfarmers
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(Source: Annual Report, 2016)
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