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Of what value is a common set of standards in financial accounting and reporting?

Short Answer

Expert verified

Financial statements prepared in accordance with the accepted accounting standards help in contributing to the comparability of accounting information.

Step by step solution

01

The objective of financial reporting

The objective of financial reporting is to provide financial information about the reporting entity that is useful to the users of this accounting information regarding the provision of resources to the entity.

02

Setting of standards in financial accounting and reporting

Accounting standards are generally accepted accounting principles that provide the basis for accounting policies and the preparation of financial statements.

The objective of these standards is to provide uniformity in financial reporting and ensure consistency and comparability of the information provided by the business enterprises.

Therefore, the standards set must be easily understandable and acceptable by all and significantly reduce the manipulation of information in the books of accounts.

Thus, accounting standards provide useful information to the users to interpret published reports. It provides information about the basis on which accounts have been provided, and the rules followed while preparing financial statements.

03

The value in a common set of standards in financial accounting and reporting

In the absence of the unified set of accounting standards the entities would prepare their financial statements in accordance with their needs and requirements. This would result in very diverse and therefore incomparable statements.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

CA 1-4 (Financial Accounting) Omar Morena has recently completed his first year of studying accounting. His instructor for next semester has indicated that the primary focus will be the area of financial accounting.

Instructions

  1. Differentiate between financial accounting and managerial accounting.
  2. One part of financial accounting involves the preparation of financial statements. What are the financial statements most frequently provided?
  3. What is the difference between financial statements and financial reporting?

Question: CA1-17 GROUPWORK (GAAP and Economic Consequences) The following letter was sent to the SEC and the FASB by the leaders of the business community.

Dear Sirs:

The FASB has been struggling with accounting for derivatives and hedging for many years. The FASB has now developed, over the last few weeks, a new approach that it proposes to adopt as a final standard. We understand that the

Board intends to adopt this new approach as a final standard without exposing it for public comment and debate, despite the evident complexity of new approach, the speed with which it has been developed and the significant changes to the exposure draft since it was released more than one year ago. Instead, the board plans to allow only a brief review by selected parties, limited to issues of operationality and clarity, and would exclude questions as to the merits of the proposed approach.

As the FASB itself has said throughout this process, its mission does not permit it to consider matters that go beyond accounting and reporting considerations. Accordingly, the FASB may not have adequately considered the wide range of concerns that have been expressed about the derivatives and hedging proposal, including concerns related to the potential impact on the capital markets, the weakening of companies` ability to manage risk, and the adverse control implications of implementing costly and complex new rules imposed at the same time as other major initiatives, including the year 2000 issues and a single European currency. We believe that these crucial issues must be considered, if not by the FASB, then by the Securities and Exchange Commission, other regulatory agencies, or Congress.

We believe it is essential that the FASB solicit all comments in order to identify and address all material issues that may exist before issuing a final standard. We understand the desire to bring this process to a prompt conclusion, but the underlying issues are so important to this nation`s businesses, the customers they serve and the economy as a whole that expediency cannot be the dominant consideration. As a result, we urge the FASB to expose its new proposal for public comment, following the established due process procedures that are essential to acceptance of its standards, and providing sufficient time to affected parties to understand and assess the new approach.

We also urge the SEC to study the comments received in order to assess the impact that these proposed rules may have on the capital markets, on companies` risk management practices, and on management and financial controls. These vital public policy matters deserve consideration as part of the Commission`s oversight responsibilities.

We believe that these steps are essential if the FASB is to produce the best possible accounting standard while minimizing adverse economic effects and maintaining the competitiveness of U.S businesses in the international market

place.

Very truly yours, (this letter was signed by the chairs of 22 of the largest U.S companies.)

Instructions

Answer the following questions.

(a) Explain the "due process" procedures followed by the FASB in developing a financial reporting standard.

(b) What is meant by the term "economic consequences" in accounting standard-setting?

(c) What economic consequences arguments are used in this letter?

(d) What do you believe is the main point of the letter?

(e) Why do you believe a copy of this letter was sent by the business community to influential members of the U.S. Congress?

For what purposes did the AICPA create the Accounting Principles Board?

Some individuals have indicated that the FASB must be cognizant of the economic consequences of its pronouncements. What is meant by โ€œeconomic consequencesโ€? What dangers exist if politics play too much of role in the development of GAAP?

Question: What is the benefit of a single set of high-quality accounting standards?

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