Conceptual Framework in Accounting: RIO TINTO and Glen Core Analysis

This report critically examines the application of the Conceptual Framework (CF) in financial reporting, focusing on two companies: RIO TINTO (Australian) and Glen Core PLC (South African). Section A reviews the history and development of the CF, addresses concerns from the Australian accounting profession and academics, and explains how RIO TINTO applies the CF in its financial statements, including recognition principles, measurement bases, and qualitative characteristics of information. Section B compares sustainability reporting guidelines with the International Integrated Reporting Framework, evaluates the strengths and limitations of conventional accounting based on the CF, discusses the applicability of theories to explain sustainability and integrated reports, and presents an index of integrated report components, assessing Glen Core PLC's disclosures against these criteria. The report concludes with a comparison of RIO TINTO's reporting practices with the index and Glen Core PLC's integrated reporting practices.

Running head: CONTEMPORARY ACCOUNTING THEORY
Contemporary Accounting Theory (Part A and B)
Student’s Name
Institution Affiliation
Date
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CONTEMPORARY ACCOUNTING THEORY
1. Executive Summary
The main rationale behind the creation of the Conceptual Framework in the
accounting sector is the aim to identify fundamental concerns; which are relevant when
evaluating financial statements. As such, the framework enables the firm’s managers to
evaluate their financial health hence assuring the company’s profitability. In that regard, this
paper will critically consider applying the framework on an Australian company: RIO
TINTO, which further explains, in section A, how the selected company applies this
framework when selecting financial statements, key concerns and events. In section B, a
comparison of the sustainability reporting and the international integration reporting
framework will be evaluated. Moreover, this segment includes an evaluation of the strengths
and limitations of financial statements considering the conceptual framework. To critically
evaluate the rationale intended by the section B, a South African Country named Glen Core
PLC will be used, based on a provided index of components available in an integrated report.
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Table of Contents
1. Executive Summary.......................................................................................................................2
2. Introduction...................................................................................................................................4
3. Part A.............................................................................................................................................4
a) Review of the history and development of the Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting
4
b) Explanation of Australian accounting profession’s concerns regarding Conceptual Framework
5
c) Discussion of academic’s concerns about the quality (potential benefits and limitations) of
the Conceptual Framework...............................................................................................................6
d) Explanation of how the conceptual framework has been applied by the selected Australian
Company...........................................................................................................................................7
i. How many statements/reports have been prepared as per the Conceptual Framework and
what are their major components...................................................................................................7
ii. Which recognition principles and measurement bases have been applied for revenue, assets
and liabilities.................................................................................................................................9
iii. What qualitative characteristics of information exhibit in company’s various financial
reports?........................................................................................................................................10
4. Part B...........................................................................................................................................11
a) Comparison of Sustainability Reporting Guidelines and International Integrated Reporting
Framework......................................................................................................................................11
b) Rigour (strength & limitations) of the conventional accounting, based upon the Conceptual
Framework for contents of sustainability as well as integrated reports..........................................12
c) Applicability (usefulness of limitations) of the theories to explain contents of sustainability as
well as integrated reports................................................................................................................14
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)...............................................................15
e) Comparison of Australian company’s reporting practices with the index and the integrated
reporting practices in the selected South African Company............................................................17
5. Conclusion...................................................................................................................................19
References...........................................................................................................................................20
Appendix.............................................................................................................................................23
List of Abbreviations........................................................................................................................23
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CONTEMPORARY ACCOUNTING THEORY
2. Introduction
The Conceptual Framework (CF) is essential for the formulation of standardized
financial protocols that enable auditors and accountants to determine and monitor the
company’s financial statements, which is significant for evaluating the company’s
profitability. Thus, the financial statements are applicable by company’s users and the
relevant key stakeholders to fundamentally create the conceptual framework, which aid in the
purposes of evaluating the company’s finances. This paper considers approaching the thesis
on CF application on two companies: RIO TINTO and the Glen Core PLC. The International
Accounting Standards Board (IASB) plays a significant mandate in the formation of
standardize and revised financial guidelines that also play a crucial obligation to help analysts
to managing and solving financial issues. In that case, the framework enables managers to
make the necessary decisions, which are in compliance with specific protocols.
3. Part A
a) Review of the history and development of the Conceptual Framework for
Financial Reporting
According to literature review concerning the history and development of the
Conceptual Framework for financial reporting, in reference to IASB denote that there is a
standardized purpose, which contribute to the introduction of the CF for financial reporting
by businesses in United Kingdom (UK), United States (US), Australia, among other nations.
According to Ehoff (2010), the CF was formulated by the AASB dated from 1985 to 1995.
The accounting concepts considering the financial statement had been delivered before 2002,
the moment when FRC decide to implement the International Accounting Standard in
Australia (Ehoff, 2010). The accounting statements included c1, 2, 3 and 4 Romolini, Fissi &
Gori, 2017). Following the joint project in 2004, the accounting bodies agreed to include
respective key components and concerns as an interlinked project to formulate a single
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CONTEMPORARY ACCOUNTING THEORY
Conceptual Framework. This initiative as governed and established based on the original
IASB conceptual framework (Timbate & Park, 2018). All the two boards utilized the
developed framework as a foundation of their accounting standards for financial reporting.
b) Explanation of Australian accounting profession’s concerns regarding
Conceptual Framework
The introduction and implementation of the conceptual framework for financial reporting has
presented some concerns denoted by the Australian profession (Aasb.gov.au, 2019). These
profession’s concerns include:
 Unpredictability concerning the standardized value measurement introduced on
assets, liabilities and revenue. This is a major concern presented by the accounting
profession in Australia concerning the conceptual framework. Moreover, the
emphasis on valuation of intangible company’s assets has also been reconsidered as a
concern by the relevant stakeholders when it comes to fair value determination
(Aasb.gov.au, 2019).
 The negative implications relating to the introduction of the IASB conceptual
framework for financial reporting is another concern expressed by the Australian
accounting profession. This concern relates to the measuring and recognition of assets
and liabilities of businesses. Indeed, this is a significant concern to consider because
businesses are subjected to negative economic effects due to rapidly transforming
measurement and recognition criteria of assets, liabilities and revenue (Graymore,
2014)
 The introduction and implementation of the conceptual framework for financial
reporting affect non-profit businesses in Australia, which presents another concern for
the Accounting profession. It is significant to note that the conceptual framework of
the IASB was introduced and implemented for profit organization; however, there is a
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legal necessity to separate the financial guidelines for various companies in Australia
(Timbate & Park, 2018).
c) Discussion of academic’s concerns about the quality (potential benefits and
limitations) of the Conceptual Framework
The CF has potential benefits and limitations to consider as an academic concern.
Academic are concerned with accounting logic and consistency, which implies that
accounting standards established following the application of CF should be logical and
consistent (Ehoff, 2010).
Potential benefits include:
 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 (Prosic, 2015). 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. CF provides the global fundamentals of accounting systems. In that case,
the standard-setters are expected to be accountable for all their financial decisions
(Romolini, Fissi & Gori, 2017). 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 (Crombie, 2012).
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CONTEMPORARY ACCOUNTING THEORY
 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 as
argued by (Molyneux & Wilson, 2017).
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 (Timbate & Park, 2018). Moreover, through the evaluation of financial
execution, CFs critically transits the consideration of financial analysts based on corporate
execution.
d) 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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CONTEMPORARY ACCOUNTING THEORY
Fig. 1: Consolidate Financial Statement Position of RIO TINTO
Conferring to the Fig. 1 above, the company has prepared 11 financial reports considering
the components in financial reporting based on the CF; the components include: assets,
liabilities, and equity.
Information retrieved from the "Global home" (2019), published in 2018, signify the
obligation of RIO TINTO to prepare its consolidated accounts considering the conceptual
framework under the Australian business laws. The financial reports, especially the 2018
statements disclose the implication of adjusting the company’s consolidated revenues, assets
and liabilities as shown in page 149. The valuations, as organized under the IFRS would
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CONTEMPORARY ACCOUNTING THEORY
necessitate the IFRS version applied in Australia, denoted as the Australian Accounting
Standard (AAS) (Carnevale & Mazzuca, 2012).
ii. Which recognition principles and measurement bases have been applied for revenue,
assets and liabilities
The recognition principle and measurement for assets, liabilities and revenue is based on
a criterion that focusses on recognizing if the benefits of sale or sure are likely (Hodge,
Rajgopal & Shevlin, 2009).
 Assets: The RIO TINTO recognizes its financial assets by evaluating them into
categories. Thus, the assets are now measured at a fair valuation through
comprehensive income Fair Value through Other Comprehensive Income (FVOCI),
including the one help at an amortised cost. The recognition principle and
measurement for this case depends on the company’s business model that signifies the
management of contractual agreements and financial assets of cash flows. The
management obligation controls the categorization of financial assets upon
recognition. As indicated in Note 30, the company clearly included the relevant
financial risk management frameworks following the recognition of the financial
statements.
 Liabilities: All the RIO TINTO’s financial liabilities and borrowings, which include
the trade payables, are recognized based on the principle of fair value and overall
amount of transaction recorded. These valuations are subsequently determined at an
amortized cost. The company also participates in supply chain financial management,
which enables vendors to elect to obtain payments from banks through factoring
receivables from the company. This form of arrangement does not modify the
agreement of initial liability, which imply that financial liabilities from the supply
chain can progressively be recognized under the categorization of trade payables.
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CONTEMPORARY ACCOUNTING THEORY
 Revenue: The RIO TINTO recognizes its revenue connected to the transfers of good
and services whenever the products pass to the clients. The valuation of these
revenues denoted reflect the deliberation to which the company is, including its state
it desires to entitle its exchange of products. Revenues are also recognizes under
individual sales whenever control is assigned to the clients. In most cases, the sales
revenues and control passes are recognizes when the goods and services are delivered
to client’s premises.
iii. What qualitative characteristics of information exhibit in company’s various financial
reports?
The qualitative characteristics of information exhibited in company’s various financial
reports include:
 Understandability: The RIO TINTO presents its financial statements, which are
readily understandable by its users. The company also ensured to clearly present its
data, including additional information supported by past financial reports and
reference documentation, which aid in clarification.
 Relevance: According to Crombie (2012), financial information must be relevant to
users especially when it significantly impact the financial decision of the company’s
users. In that case, the RIO TINTO ensures to report on particular relevant financial
data, or information whose misstatement and omission might have a significant
impact on economic planning of users.
 Reliability: Financial information has to be free from bias and material errors. In that
case, the company ensures that the data released is not misleading and faithfully
presented of its financial statements and transactions. The valuation of statements for
this case ensures that information consider underlying events, uncertainties and
estimates in appropriate disclosure.
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CONTEMPORARY ACCOUNTING THEORY
 Comparability: According to Alfiero, Cane, Doronzo & Esposito (2018), an entity’s
information must be comparable to financial data retrieved from other consecutive
financial periods. The RIO TINTO’s users are able to identify the performance trends
of the company since the company considers evaluating the past financial reports
when preparing new reports.
 Timeliness: Financial information must be produced within the scheduled time span
(Mostyn, 2012). RIO TINTO’s disclosures are produced in time and not delayed,
since the information is relevant for users to make the necessary decisions about
profitability or sustainability.
4. Part B
a) Comparison of Sustainability Reporting Guidelines and International Integrated
Reporting Framework
There has been a significant inception of the sustainability reporting under the Global
Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the integrated reporting framework under the International
Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC), which can be evident for the aims of corporate social
responsibility of evaluating a company’s financial performance. Nonetheless, it is vital to
note that there are particular difference between the sustainability and integrated reporting as
analysed below:
Sustainability Reporting
The Sustainability Reporting Guideline presents the relevant standards, under the GRI
applicable to the help companies to enhance competitive advantage (Ceulemans, Lozano &
Alonso-Almeida, 2015). Moreover, the component of environmental sustainability in the
guideline is critically recommended for firms to apply the world today. However, this form of
reporting concentrates more on a selected segment of the entity’s status but unable to
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indicated the specific and relevant climatic transitions and environmental factors (Crombie,
2012). Apart from that sustainability reports do not effectively indicated financial information
relevant for evaluating the opportunities and risks of an entity.
International Integrated Reporting
On the other hand, International Integrated Reporting Framework, under the IIRC,
improves the corporation’s reputation; thus, the profitability of the firm can be evaluated
based on global norms and laws (Messner, 2010). 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 evaluators (Soyka, 2013). With the expanding significance and spread of integrated
detailing, banters about the advantages and issues experienced in the readiness expanded. In
this investigation, the followings are clarified: the terms of monetary announcing,
sustainability analysis, and accounting detailing; the development of these terms; advantages
of integrated revealing and issues that might be experienced while readiness; and the
connection between budgetary announcing and integrated detailing.
b) Rigour (strength & limitations) of the conventional accounting, based upon the
Conceptual Framework for contents of sustainability as well as integrated
reports
Strengths
The Convectional Accounting is a significant tool that is applicable in the management of
businesses today (Graymore, 2014). The conventional accounting, centred on the CF provides
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