...FASB VS. IASB - Convergence Project Shenita Baker ACC541 November 15, 2011 Delphine Wolsker FASB VS. IASB - Convergence Project The Financial Accounting Standard Board (FASB) is located in the United States and was formed in 1973 as a private sector to establish guidelines for financial accounting. These standards command the arrangement of financial reports by nongovernment bodies. The Financial Accounting Standard Board has only 5 members. The FASB standards are known by The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Financial Accounting Standard Board encourages participation, stakeholder’s outlook, and the attention by the Financial Accounting Foundation’s Board of Trustees. The FASB also controls the FASB Accounting Standards Codification which acts as the connection of valid standards of accounting and reporting. The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) is a self-sufficient group that contains 15 members located in London. The International Accounting Standard Board ha experience in auditing, preparing, and using financial reports. The IASB also help decide accounting guidelines . The IASB is part of the IFRS foundation came about in 2001. The board is funded by major accounting firms and private financial institutions. The International Accounting Standard Board and the Financial Accounting Standards Board are currently working on a joint venture known as the convergence...
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... The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) first converged in 2002 following the Norwalk Agreement (Whittington, 2007). The convergence was inspired by the need of the boards to produce a solid infrastructure by uniting the two frameworks represented by each board in a bid to harmonize accounting practices worldwide (Whittington, 2007). Additionally, the convergence was also inspired by the need to attain improvement in accounting standards by achieving completeness, and improving coherence (Whittington, 2007). In the IASB framework for example, Bullen, and Crook (2005) note that there were specific areas of difficulty that benefited from the convergence. Some of these areas include the explicit meaning of what liability is, and the distinction between equity and liability. Joining Forces During the FASB/IASB convergence announcement in 2002, the two boards stated that they would work together to develop accounting standards for both cross-border and domestic financial reporting. They also stated that they would work toward making their respective standards compatible, and that future work programs would be done with the need to retain compatibility (Schroeder, Clark & Cathey, 2011). Another development in the FASB/IASB relationship took place in 2004 when the two bodies announced that they were working on two joint projects. The projects involved developing “an improved and common conceptual...
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...Financial Crisis Advisory Group July 28, 2009 To the Members of the International Accounting Standards Board and the US Financial Accounting Standards Board: On behalf of the members of the Financial Crisis Advisory Group (FCAG), we are pleased to present our report to the Boards about the standard-setting implications of the global financial crisis. We believe that confidence in the transparency and integrity of financial reporting is critically important to global financial stability and sound economic growth. We hope that our conclusions and recommendations will be helpful to the Boards as they work together to simplify and improve accounting standards on financial instruments and other key areas highlighted by the crisis. The FCAG will be meeting in December to review the progress that has been made. In the meantime, we are available to assist the Boards in their efforts. Sincerely, Harvey J. Goldschmid Co-chair Hans Hoogervorst Co-chair cc: Gerrit Zalm, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, International Accounting Standards Committee Foundation John J. Brennan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Financial Accounting Foundation Report of the Financial Crisis Advisory Group – July 28, 2009 Table of Contents Page I. INTRODUCTION _________________________________________________________________________ 1 II. PRINCIPLE 1: Effective Financial Reporting____________________________________________________ 3 Intersection of Prudential Regulation...
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...1. Convergence Project is undertaken by the IASB and the FASB jointly aiming at removing the differences between the two sets of accounting Standards, the GAAP and the IFRS. In other words, the main purpose of the project is to make the accounting standards of both the IASB and the FASB comparable so that there will be a global used accounting standard. (Deegan 2010, p49) This project will make international financial reports more comparable and more helpful for information users. The development of Conceptual Framework is a basic requirement for the changes of accounting standards. With the international convergence of financial framework, a more developed common framework is required to provide a basis for the IASB and the FASB to develop high quality common standards, to eliminate differences between the two sets of standards and to seek to replace weaker standards with stronger standards; Therefore the development of conceptual framework project is a basic need for the conducting of convergence project. In addition, the convergence project will lead professionals to realize the change of information demand and financial system. Because of these changes, the conceptual framework, being developed two decades ago, need to be evolved. (Deegan 2010, p49) Otherwise the current conceptual framework will not be helpful to issue a common set of principle-based standards. (IASB 2005) 2. TT * Limitation to meet current financial environment. The conceptual frameworks of...
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...Standard Board (IASB) and US national standard-setter, the Financial Accounting Standards Accounting (FASB). So far, IASB and FASB have created a uniform framework for how to measure fair value for entities around the world. By publishing IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement, the IASB established a single source of guidance under IFRS for all fair value measurements. After searching relevant sources from financial books and economic websites, some of the issues about fair value accounting have been clarified and analysed. This assignment provides a better understanding of the joint work between IASB and FASB, the definition of fair value under both standards, the relevant issue about IFRS 13 and why accounting differences exist. A. Explain the purpose of the Memorandum of Understanding between the IASB and the US national standard-setter, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). Theoretically, A Memorandum of Understanding is a document that involved a bilateral or multilateral agreement between parties (Wikipedia 2011). In this particular research essay, the Memorandum of Understanding is a convergence process that both the International Accounting Standard Board (IASB) and US national standard-setter, the Financial Accounting Standards Accounting (FASB) would take steps to balanced the reciprocal structural changes (Aicpa 2006). The purpose of this Memorandum of Understanding is to establish a collaborative, working relationship between the IASB and FASB, which (1) eliminate...
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...Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) first converged in 2002 following the Norwalk Agreement (Whittington, 2007). The convergence was inspired by the need of the boards to produce a solid infrastructure by uniting the two frameworks represented by each board in a bid to harmonize accounting practices worldwide (Whittington, 2007). Additionally, the convergence was also inspired by the need to attain improvement in accounting standards by achieving completeness, and improving coherence (Whittington, 2007). In the IASB framework for example, Bullen, and Crook (2005) note that there were specific areas of difficulty that benefited from the convergence. Some of these areas include the explicit meaning of what liability is, and the distinction between equity and liability. Joining Forces During the FASB/IASB convergence announcement in 2002, the two boards stated that they would work together to develop accounting standards that would be used for both cross- border, and domestic financial reporting. They also stated that they would work toward making their respective standards compatible, and that future work programs would be done with the need to retain compatibility (Schroeder, Clark & Cathey, 2011). Another development in the FASB/IASB relationship took place in 2004 when the two bodies announced that they were working on two joint projects. The projects involved developing...
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...Derek Seedorf Acct 450 Conceptual Framework Project Analysis Spring 2015 Directions Investigate the “Conceptual Framework Project” of the FASB and IASB. Answer the following: 1. When did the project begin? The in class text seems to suggest that the project initially started in October 2004 when the FASB and IASB decided to add to their agendas the joint project of developing an improved conceptual framework for both the IASB’s Preparation and Presentation of Financial Statements as well as the FASB’s Conceptual Framework Project (CFP). However, I thought the reading of the text was a little unclear, but I verified the information using an online source. Looking online it seems as though adjustments are still being made to the project to date so it is ongoing. 2. What has the progress been to date? a. What outputs have occurred? One of the achievements the CFP has made is deciding a recognized definition of an asset and a liability. The previous definitions were thought to have been flawed. While it seems unnecessary to list the definitions here, they can be found on pg. 69 of the text. In general the CFP has worked towards resolving differences between certain elements and their definitions. Also, the project has worked to revise recognition criteria and concepts in order to eliminate current differences and provide a basis for resolving such issues. The test gives an example of the derecognition and unit of account as...
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...International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) An AICPA Backgrounder 1 Table of Contents Get Ready for IFRS ........................................................................................ 2 Worldwide Momentum ................................................................................. 2 SEC Leadership in International Effort .......................................................... 3 The SEC Work Plan........................................................................................ 4 FASB and IASB Convergence Efforts............................................................. 5 AICPA Participation ....................................................................................... 7 Two Sides of the Story ................................................................................... 7 Differences Remain Between U.S. GAAP and IFRS ....................................... 8 What CPAs Need To Know ............................................................................ 8 Appendix ..................................................................................................... 10 Organizations Involved ................................................................................ 12 1 Get Ready for IFRS The growing acceptance of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as a basis for U.S. financial reporting represents a fundamental change for the U.S. accounting profession. The number of countries that require...
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...Recent Activities at the FASB Presentation Transcript 1. Recent Activities at the FASB Corporate Reporting and Governance Conference California State University, Fullerton September 2005 Katherine Schipper, Financial Accounting Standards Board The views expressed in this presentation are my own, and do not represent positions of the Financial Accounting Standards Board. Positions of the Financial Accounting Standards Board are arrived at only after extensive due process and deliberation. 2. Overview Financial reporting topics Exposure draft, Business Combinations (joint with the IASB) Exposure draft, Consolidated Financial Statements, Including Accounting and Reporting of Noncontrolling Interests in Subsidiaries (a replacement of ARB 51) Fair value measurement Proposals for optional fair value measurements Exposure draft, Accounting for Uncertain Tax Positions, an interpretation of SFAS 109 Performance reporting Share based payment (SFAS 123R) 3. Joint IASB-FASB project on business combinations Intent => replace SFAS 141 and converge with international standards Will include mutual enterprises Will include acquisitions of businesses through means other than a purchase of net assets or equity interests A separate project is addressing business combinations involving not-for-profit organizations General principle: recognize assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination at fair value Exceptions : income taxes, benefit plan obligations, operating...
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...| FASB Project | ACCT 495-6260 | | Mallory Taylor | 4/26/2013 | | U.S. GAAP and IFRS: History of Convergence The business environment today is one of a truly global perspective. There are few businesses left in this world that does not conduct business on an international basis. The need for a universal accounting system is a direct result of the magnitude of international business. Investors, managers, CEOs, and virtually all stakeholders need to understand the accounting information of the other businesses they interact with, regardless of the country or region of the world that business is located. “The effort to join the international financial community in a single set of standards has been in motion for over 40 years. The International Accounting standards Committee was formed in 1973. This committee evolved into the International accounting Standards Board (IASB) in 2001. International security regulators supported accounting regulators in the call for universal standards” (Thomas, 2009, p. 369). “The regulators in the U.S. have been slow to join the efforts for global convergence. In 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), which issues U.S. GAAP, and the International Accounting Standards Board entered into the Norwalk Agreement. This agreement acknowledges their commitment to high quality accounting standards for use domestically and across borders. This agreement aims to remove the differences between U.S. GAAP and IFRS standards...
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...November 16, 2011 OFFICE OF THE CHIEF ACCOUNTANT UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION This is a paper by the Staff of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Commission has expressed no view regarding the analysis, findings, or conclusions contained herein. TABLE OF CONTENTS I. II. Introduction..........................................................................................................................1 Methodology ........................................................................................................................2 A. Scope of the Analysis...............................................................................................2 B. MoU and Other Joint Projects..................................................................................3 C. SEC Rules and Regulations .....................................................................................8 D. General Observations and Clarifications .................................................................8 Comparison of Requirements ............................................................................................11 A. Accounting Changes and Error Corrections ..........................................................11 B. Earnings Per Share.................................................................................................13 C. Interim Reporting ......................................
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...“Discuss and explore issues surrounding the recognition of elements in financial statements” Contents Title: 3 Introduction & Objectives 3 Definitions 5 Recognition 5 Measurement 6 Discussion 6 Revenue Recognition (IAS 18) 6 Property, Plant and Equipment (IAS 16) 8 Xerox Revenue Recognition Scandal 9 Recognition in the Annual Statements 10 Conclusion 13 Bibliography 14 Appendices 17 Appendix 1 – Standards from IASB 17 Appendix 2 – Proposed plan for FASB and IASB 18 Appendix 3 – TUI Travel Plc Annual Statement 21 Appendix 4 – Thomas Cook Annual Statement 27 Appendix 5 – PSA Peugeot Citroen Annual Statement 31 Appendix 6 – Daimler AG Annual Statement 37 Appendix 7 – Xerox Annual Statement 42 Title: Discuss and explore issues surrounding the recognition of elements in financial statements Introduction & Objectives Accounting has many elements to producing an annual statement each fiscal year; these different elements have regulations in which organisations have to abide by. Regulations have three categories; legislation, accounting standards and stock exchange regulations (Melville, 2008). Legislation can differ from country to country, which is the same for accounting standard board as each country has individually developed their own standards (Accounting Standards Board for the UK, also, International Accounting Standards Board that is trying to consolidate standards, which can be accepted globally). Attempts by...
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...Project Summary Background The objective of this project is to provide guidance to entities on how they should measure the fair value of assets and liabilities when required by other Standards. This project will not change when fair value measurement is required by IFRSs. Discussion at the September 2005 IASB Meeting At the September 2005 meeting, the IASB added the Fair Value Measurements topic to its agenda. The aim of the project is to provide guidance to entities on how they should measure the fair value of assets and liabilities when required by other Standards. This project will not change when fair value measurement is required by IFRSs. Discussion at the November 2005 IASB Meeting The staff conducted an education session on the FASB's working draft of a final Statement on Fair Value Measurements. In addition, the staff reviewed the scope of FASB's Fair Value Measurements project as it relates to IFRSs and the issues and questions to be addressed in preparing an IASB Exposure Draft and related Invitation to Comment. No decisions were made. At a previous meeting, the Board decided to issue the FASB's final Statement on Fair Value Measurements as an IASB Exposure Draft with an Invitation to Comment. The appendices in the FASB document dealing with consequential amendments and references to US GAAP pronouncements will be replaced with proposed consequential amendments and references to IFRSs. The Board further decided that there should be limited changes to the FASB's...
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...International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) in 2001, SEC leaders have repeatedly indicated that the logical choice for globally accepted standards is the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) issued by the IASB. However, in line with other large economies, such as Japan, India and China, as of June 2012 the US had not adopted IFRS.1 This paper explores when and how, and indeed if, IFRS will become the basis for the financial reporting of domestic SEC registrants in the US. Readers are encouraged to first review Erchinger’s (2012) history of the SEC’s consideration of IFRS in the US included in this forum and especially Table 1 of this article, which provides a chronology of SEC releases regarding incorporation of IFRS into the US financial reporting model. This paper complements Erchinger’s by assessing approaches recently explored by the SEC for incorporating IFRS into the US financial reporting model. A decision can lead to correct or incorrect action. However, as articulated by many SEC constituents, uncertainty associated with repeated delays and hence ‘no decision’ by the SEC is clearly not in the best interest of investors and other financial statement users, registrants, auditors and students. Furthermore, as it considers various models for incorporation of IFRS into the US financial reporting model, the SEC and its constituents must understand that only if all countries, including the US, adopt IFRS as issued by the IASB will the SEC’s pursuit of global accounting...
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...decided that a new set of internationally recognized accounting standards would be used in all major capital markets. Convergence is described as making global accounting standards as similar as possible. All users of financial information should benefit from the increased comparability of the convergence of financial accounting standards. The FASB has always been on a mission to improve the financial accounting standards in the U.S. for the benefit of investors, lenders, creditors, and all other users of financial statements. They believe that pursuing convergence is compliant with that mission. In 2008, both the FASB and the IASB issued a memorandum of understanding on the convergence of accounting standards called the The Norwalk Agreement. It outlined the agreement made by both entities to address accounting practices that were considered to be deficient in the U.S., GAAP, as well as practices that were substandard within the international accounting standards. In The Norwalk Agreement, both boards have agreed that there are four major steps to achieving convergence. The first step was for the boards to undertake a short-term project designed to remove a variety of individual differences that existed between the International Financial Reporting Standards and the U.S. GAAP. Once...
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