...Accounting System Overview: FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING: financial accounting is a financial information system that tracks and records an organization’s business transactions and aggregates them into reports for decision makers both inside and outside the business. Note: transaction is an event that has consequences for business’ financial conditions. Introduction of Concepts (1-5): 1 ENTITY: The entity concept is the most basic accounting concept. It states that accounts are kept for an entity as distinct from the people who own, run or do business with the entity. 2 MONEY MEASUREMENT: The money measurement concept states that financial accounting deals only with things that can be represented in monetary terms. 3 GOING CONCERN: Going concern is accounting's way of saying that an entity is expected to remain in operation for the indefinite future. 4 CONSISTENCY: The consistency concept states that an entity should use the same accounting methods and procedures from period to period unless it has a sound reason to change methods. Note: the consistency concept does not forbid a switch in accounting procedures. Note: in context of accounting concepts, consistency means consistency over time. 5 MATERIALITY: The materiality concept states that an entity need only apply proper accounting to items that are material, i.e., significant to potential users of the financial statements. This concept allows the accountant to be practical in choosing the appropriate...
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...Rules vs. Principles Based Accounting Standards in the United States Elsie M. Powell Liberty University Online ACCT 301-D01 December 7, 2014 Rules vs. Principles Based Accounting Standards The United States of America is under a great decisional debate, should the United States adopt a more principles-based accounting standard or stay with the more rules-based standard that is currently used. The two standards offer differing views on how a company should approach their accounting needs. The United States continues its discussion about whether to change from the U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (U.S. GAAP) to the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and with the recent accounting scandals, the debate has become a heated topic. The key issues of the argument relates to a variety of moral issues and cost of transitioning from GAAP to IFRS. The question remains, should the United States replace the current rules-based accounting standards with a more relaxed principles based accounting standard. The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) is a “designated organization in the private sector for establishing standards of financial accounting that govern the preparation of financial reports by nongovernmental entities. Those standards are officially recognized as authoritative by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) (Financial Reporting Release No. 1, Section 101, and reaffirmed in its April 2003 Policy Statement) and the American Institute...
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...IFRS vs. GAAP: Same or Different ACC407 January 27, 2013 Catherine McBride IFRS vs. GAAP: Same or Different The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) are working on nearly a dozen joint projects designed to improve both U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (US GAAP) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), and ultimately make the standards fully compatible. But in the mean time, the two predominant accounting standards to this day are the U.S. GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) and IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards). These two standards have several differences because they both take a completely different approach to their methodology. The U.S. GAAP is more rule-based, where IFRS is principal-based. With IFRS's principal-based approach, a lot of room was left open for interpretations for similar transactions. It gives room for second guessing, debate and conjecture. Anytime you have a fundamental system that can be debated you create a forum of uncertainty that then requires an arbitrator who can settle the dispute. This arbitrator is called the standards setting board, and it provides fewer exceptions than a rule based system (Parrott, 2008). With the U.S. GAAP you have a rule-based system. This is a more clear approach that distinguishes between what seems correct and what is correct. There is no room for interpretation. Each process has a set...
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...GAAP vs. IFRS Principles Based vs. Rules Based A major difference between GAAP and IFRS is that GAAP is rule-based, whereas IFRS is principle-based. With a principle based framework there is the potential for different interpretations of similar transactions, which could lead to extensive disclosures in the financial statements. Although, the standards setting board in a principle-based system can clarify areas that are unclear. This could lead to fewer exceptions than a rules-based system. Another difference between IFRS and GAAP is the methodology used to assess an accounting treatment. Under GAAP, the research is more focused on the literature whereas under IFRS, the review of the facts pattern is more thorough. Some Examples of Differences Between IFRS and U.S. GAAP * Consolidation — IFRS favors a control model whereas GAAP prefers a risks-and-rewards model. Some entities consolidated in accordance with FIN 46(R) may have to be shown separately under IFRS. * Statement of Income — Under IFRS, extraordinary items are not segregated in the income statement. With GAAP, they are shown below the net income. * Inventory — Under IFRS, LIFO cannot be used, but GAAP, companies have the choice between LIFO and FIFO. * Earning-per-Share — Under IFRS, the earning-per-share calculation does not average the individual interim period calculations, whereas under GAAP the computation averages the individual interim period incremental shares. * Development costs —...
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...2/11/14 ACCM 5020 Topical Paper #2: Rules-based vs. Principles-based Accounting Standards Convergence efforts in international accounting and the prevalence of globalization in the world markets has continued to indicate that worldwide financial statement comparability will continue to become more necessary. In light of this, it’s important to determine whether a principles-based or rules-based system would be more appropriate for harmonization. Although most current accounting systems can be primarily defined as rules-based or principles-based, it appears that most of them encompass foundations from both. In other words, it’s apparent that the more successful accounting systems operate in some varying degree of ‘gray area’ between rules-based and principles-based. Therefore, although both types of system have benefits and challenges, any worldwide accounting standards would have to include elements of each. Primarily rules-based accounting systems such as U.S. GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) have both advantages and disadvantages in the creation and implementation of accounting standards. The major challenge for rules-based systems is that they are reactive and can allow for fraud because they dictate what can or cannot be done rather than what should or should not be done to preserve the ‘true and fair view’. In practice, this shows to be a problem because if the standard-setting body (FASB) reacts to accounting issues rather than being more prescriptive...
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...2006 doi: 10.1111/j.1468-4497.2006.00196.x ABACUS PRINCIPLES ORIGINAL ARTICLE 2 42 © 2006 0001-3072Publishing, Ltd. Abacus UK VERSUS RULES-BASED ACCOUNTING ABA Accounting Foundation, Unviersity of Sydney Oxford, Blackwell GEORGE J. BENSTON, MICHAEL BROMWICH AND ALFRED WAGENHOFER Principles- Versus Rules-Based Accounting Standards: The FASB’s Standard Setting Strategy In response to criticism of rules-based accounting standards and Section 108(d) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the SEC proposed principlesbased (or ‘objectives-oriented’) standards. We identify several shortcomings with this approach and focus on two of them. First, the format (type) of a standard is dependent on the contents of what the standard regulates. Given the asset/liability approach combined with fair values, we argue that the combination of this measurement concept with principlesbased standards is inconsistent because it requires significant guidance for management judgment. Second, we propose the inclusion of a trueand-fair override as a necessary requirement for any format that is more than ‘principles-only’ to deal with inconsistencies between principles and guidance. We discuss the benefits of this override and present evidence from the United Kingdom’s experience. Key words: Accounting standards; FASB; Principles; Rules; Rules-based. According to a widely-held view, U.S. accounting standards are more rules-based than principles-based.1 This observation stems in large part from the emphasis...
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... Foundational Accounting Principles and Terminology Shane R. Wagner TUI University Module 1 Case Study 29 August 2010 Abstract This paper will discuss the common fundamental accounting principles and analyze the financial statements of three major businesses. A basic understanding of the General Accepted Accounting Principles and the standards established within these practices, allow for investors to obtain an accurate snapshot of the financial health of a business. The different methods of documenting both current and future transactions, can have an impact on the information portrayed by the financial statements of an organization. In addition, the basic format of the financial statements can disclose additional considerations of the business, as will be discussed in the analysis of three major businesses within this paper. Information for the analysis portion was retrieved from the financial statements included in the assignment. Keywords: Accrual Basis Accounting; Cost Basis Accounting; Current Assets and Liabilities; Double Entry Accounting; Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB); General Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP); Historic Cost; Non-current Items; Security Exchange Commission (SEC); Financial Statements: Foundational Accounting Principles and Terminology Introduction The basic of understanding of an organizations financial statement requires one to be familiar with fundamental accounting principles. The financial...
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...Assignment Week 4 Code of Ethics Name Devry University Accounting 525 Veliota Drakopoulou, PhD 01/30/2016 Abstract The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) has made a Code of Professional Conduct that establish an ethical standard for public accountants in the US. The Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (US. GAAP) wants to collaborate with IFAC in order to resettle the principle accounting standards, but the rules and the ethics for professional and the financial reporting statements make a big difference. According to the article “It's Time for Principles-Based Accounting Ethics”, the American Institute of certified public accountants (AICPA) established standards that public accountants in the United States need to follow. The article argues for this code of conduct to be replaced with a code of ethics, which the authors believe to be superior to the rules-based standards currently in place, and attempts to present a solution by centering the AICPA code rules around different virtues such as objectivity, integrity, inquisitiveness, loyalty, and trustworthiness and analyzing the rules-based standards. This paper will argue whether the authors are correct in stating that a code of ethics should do more than establish minimum acceptable standards; describe the five cardinal virtues of professional accountants; differentiate between the rules-based and principles-based accounting standards; and finally compare and contrast the AICPA’s code...
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...IFRS vs. US GAAP Acct 522 Current Topics in Financial Reporting Zhipeng Cao CIN: 300443421 Introduction The most influential accounting reporting criteria today is the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) by and U.S Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (U.S. GAAP). These two different accounting standards have various emphases. In short, IFRS states principles and it leaves the decision-making in everyday questions for accountants, while US GAAP consists of very detailed measures. Under the globalization environment, many companies are operating under a global scale; however, each country has its own accounting standard which makes the translation more difficulty. So the demand for the convergence of the two most important standards comes out. (Accounting Reporting Criteria, 2009, March 23). In this paper, I will put more emphasis on the comparison of the detail differences between International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and U.S Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (U.S. GAAP). I will also pay attention to the convergence of the two accounting principles. Body 1 In this part, I will mainly discuss the difference between IFRS vs. US GAAP; the table below shows the brief summary of the major differences between IFRS vs. US GAAP. I would like to discuss some of them. General approach The most significant difference between IFRS and U.S. GAAP exist in the general approach. IFRS mostly provides the basic accounting principle with...
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...Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in Healthcare HCS/571 May 30, 2011 Generally Acceptable Accounting Principles in Healthcare Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) are used to regulate the process of financial accounting and the preparation of financial statements for organizations. GAAP are essentially a set of rules, established by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, that provide a framework for formalized accounting systems that keep track of the financial health and well-being of organizations such as private and publicly traded firms, non-profit organizations and not-for-profits such as healthcare organizations (Finkler, Kovner, & Jones, 2007). GAAP are comprised of a group of requirements and rules, used to prepare the four primary statements used in financial accounting: balance sheets, statements of operation, statements of cash flow, and statements of changes in net assets (Cleverly, Song, & Cleverly, 2011). These statements help organizations to report on their overall financial health and ability to exist as a viable financial entity. There are a number of basic financial principles that make up GAAP. These include: • Entity concept • Going-concern concept • Matching principle and cash vs. accrual accounting • Cost principle • Objective evidence • Materiality • Consistency • Full disclosure Entity Concept According to Cleverly, Song, & Cleverly...
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...min , 16 secs | Points Received: | 129 / 150 (86%) | | Question Type: | # Of Questions: | # Correct: | Essay | 7 | N/A | | | Grade Details | 1. | Question : | (TCO D) A classmate is considering dropping his accounting class because he cannot understand the rules of debits and credits. Explain the rules of debits and credits in a way that will help him understand them. Cite examples for each of the major sections of the balance sheet (assets, liabilities and stockholders' equity) and the income statement (revenues and expenses). | | | Student Answer: | | Debits and Credits are pretty simple. Everyone knows the famous saying " what goes up most come down." It's the same theory in that if you have a debit or credit, you will have the a debit or credit on the other end. Think as debit as when you use your debit card, you have money withdrawing from your personal checking; therefore you have money leaving the account. Credit is basically how the lenders give you money to use; therefore you have money coming in to your account. | | Instructor Explanation: | Accounting is based on the double-entry system. This system records the dual effect of each transaction in the appropriate accounts, thus keeping the accounting equation in balance. Each transaction is analyzed and recorded using this dual effect system. If you do not have this basic understanding, the remaining chapters will become increasingly more difficult. You will not have the ability...
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...IAS-how the US is adopting a principle-based approach Introduction International Accounting Standards, IAS, is a term used in reference of a set of principles, guidelines and standards prepared by the International Accounting Standards Committee for the purpose of assisting business entities in ensuring that the information captured in their financial information is accurate and reliable (Vincent et al, 2003). This is achieved by highlighting how various accounting/financial activities and transactions are to be reflected during the preparation and presentation of these statements (Schipper, 2008). Even though the IASC doesn’t have any legal authority to compel organizations to comply with these standards while they are preparing their accounts, reports and statements, it usually collaborates with the governments of many countries, such as that of U.S, to ensure the enforcement of these principles. The setting of the IAS takes a principle-based approach considering that instead of formulating stringent rules to be complied by all entities, IASC provides a conceptual framework that is to be followed by all accountants and auditors while they are purporting their undertakings (Schipper, 2008). The U.S government has been agitating all firms, especially public entities, to embrace the principle-based approach as opposed to the rules based standards considering that the latter compromises the ability of accountants to exercise their judgments while preparing financial statements...
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...com/locate/jaccpubpol On the global acceptance of IAS/IFRS accounting standards: The logic and implications of the principles-based system q Salvador Carmona *, Marco Trombetta IE Business School, Calle Pinar, 15-1B, 28006 Madrid, Spain a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t The widespread acceptance of International Accounting Standards (IAS)/International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) makes it timely to examine their technical determinants as well as their implications for the accounting profession and the process of accounting harmonization. In this respect, we suggest that the principles-based approach to the standards and its inner flexibility enables the application of IAS/IFRS to countries with diverse accounting traditions and varying institutional conditions. Furthermore, the principles-based approach involves major changes in the expertise held by accountants and, hence, in their educational background, training programs, and in the organizational and business models of accounting firms. Finally, we submit that the standards set by the IAS/IFRS constitute a step forward in the process of accounting harmonization, although there is still far to go in the comparability of accounting measures across countries and regions. Ó 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Keywords: Globalization Accounting harmonization Convergence Principles-based standards Rules-based standards 1. Introduction The harmonization of accounting standards has made considerable progress within...
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.... Introduction The harmonization of accounting standards has made considerable progress within a relatively short period of time (Camfferman and Zeff, 2006). In 1993, Daimler Benz AG aimed to list on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE); hence, it needed to reconcile its financial statements to comply with US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (US GAAP). Under German GAAP, the firm had re- ported a net income of 615 million Deutschmarks (DM) for the 1992 year, which turned into a net loss q We are grateful to Luis Fernández-Revuelta and Mikel Tapia for their helpful comments on earlier drafts of this paper. This project is partially funded by the Spanish Ministry of Education’s research Grant # SEJ2007-67582-C02-01. * Corresponding author. Tel.: +34 91 568 96 00; fax: +34 91 561 09 30. E-mail addresses: salvador.carmona@ie.edu (S. Carmona), marco.trombetta@ie.edu (M. Trombetta). 0278-4254/$ - see front matter Ó 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.jaccpubpol.2008.09.003  456 S. Carmona, M. Trombetta / J. Account. Public Policy 27 (2008) 455–461 of DM1, 839 million under US GAAP (see also Ball (2004)). On November 15, 2007, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) allowed the operation of foreign private firms using International Financial Reporting Standards1 on the NYSE without first reconciling their financial statements to US GAAP. The financial press enthusiastically greeted this move; on November 19, 2007, the Financial Times wrote: ‘‘The...
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...Comparing IFRS to GAAP Nicole A. Walker ACC/290 September 7, 2015 Linda Gandy Comparing IFRS to GAAP International Financial Reporting Standards or IFRS for short, is the standard method of accounting that is used in a little more than 110 counties in the world. US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, GAAP for short, is the method of accounting that is used regularly in the United States. International Financial Reporting Standards is more “principles based” method, while the US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles is more “rules based” accounting system. IFRS 2-1: In what ways does the format of a statement of financial position under IFRS often differ from a balance sheet presented under GAAP? IFRS guidelines do not specify a certain format. Companies usually report their assets in reverse order. IFRS financial statements have current and noncurrent assets and then current and noncurrent liabilities listed separately on their balance sheet. GAAP requires that accounts are ordered based on what could be liquidized first. Cash, assets, liabilities and equity in that order. (Epstein, 2013) IFRS 2-2: Do the IFRS and GAAP conceptual frameworks differ in terms of the objective of financial reporting? Explain. No, from what I have read about the IFRS and GAAP it seems to me that both authorities believe in reporting accurate and relevant information. The information is relevant in the eyes of a creditor or regulator and should be accurate to conform to either...
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