Financial Reporting Objectives and Enforcement

CFA Level 1 - Financial Statements

I. Financial Reporting Objectives

There are six steps in completing the financial analysis framework:

1. The first step is to determine the scope and purpose of the analysis. When stating the objective and context, definitive goals should be stated as well as what form the analysis will take and what resources will be required to complete it.
2. In order to complete the analysis the analyst must gather data. In addition to the financial data, a physical inspection should be completed and company stakeholders should be interviewed, if applicable.
3. Analysts must then process the data and make adjustments to the financial statements, to assumptions or estimates, and any other necessary calculations.
4. Once the data has been reviewed and updated then the analyst must analyze and interpret it to determine if the analysis achieves the original goals that were set in the first step.
5. Once the analysis has been completed then the analyst must report the conclusions or recommendations and communicate it to the appropriate audience.
6. Since the factors and assumptions made in the analysis are subject to change over time, the analyst should update the analysis periodically, to see if the conclusions or recommendations change.

Objectives of Financial Reporting
Objectives of financial reporting identified in SFAC 1 are to do the following:

• They are to provide information that is useful to present and potential investors and creditors and other users in making rational investment, credit, and similar decisions. (Note the FASB's emphasis on investors and creditors as primary users. However, this does not exclude other interested parties.)
• They are to provide information to help present and potential investors and creditors and other users in assessing the amounts, timing and uncertainty of prospective cash receipts from dividends or interest and the proceeds from the sale, redemption or maturity of securities or loans. (Emphasize the difference between the cash basis and the accrual basis of accounting.)
• They are to provide information about the economic resources of an enterprise, the claims on those resources and the effects of transactions, events and circumstances that change its resources and claims to those resources. 

The main barrier to convergence or one universally accepted set of financial standards is the fact that the international boards that set standards cannot agree on the best way to deal with particular issues or situations affecting the preparation of financial statements. Different local issues often take priority over determining ways to deal with international accounting problems. The political environment and the resultant political pressure on governmental standards authorities also create an impediment to a global standards framework.

The major standard setting authorities such as the International Accounting Standards Board and the U.S. Financial Accounting Standards Board, the International Organization of Securities Commissions, the U.K. Financial Services Authority, and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission all have their own projects to solve domestic financial accounting and performance reporting issues. However, international convergence has become a greater priority as more foreign companies become available for investment

II. Enforcing and Developing U.S. GAAP

FASB Role in Enforcing and Developing U.S. GAAP
The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) is a nongovernmental body. This board sets the accounting standards for all companies that issue audited U.S. GAAP-compliant financial statements. 

Both the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) and American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) recognize that the Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) statements as authoritative. 

GAAP comprises a set of principles that are patterned over a number of sources including the FASB, the Accounting Principles Board (APB) and the AICPA research bulletins.   

Prior to the creation of the FASB, the Accounting Principles Board (APB) set the accounting standards. As a result some of these standards are still in use.

SEC Role in Enforcing and Developing U.S. GAAPThe form and content of the financial statements of public companies are governed by the SEC. Even though the SEC delegates most of the authority to the FASB, it frequently adds its own requirements, such as the requirement for a company to provide a management discussion and analysis with its financial statements, quarterly financial statements (10-Q) and current reports (8-K). These discussions indicate things like changes in control, acquisition and divestitures, etc.) 

Accounting Pronouncements Considered AuthoritativeAccounting pronouncements are segmented into four categories. Category A is the most authoritative, and Category D is the least authoritative:
Category (A)
 - FASB Standards and Interpretations
 - APB Opinions and Interpretations
 - CAP Accounting Research Bulletins
Category (B)
 - AICPA Accounting and Audit Guides
 - AICPA Statements of Position
 - FASB Technical Bulletins
Category (C)
- FASB Emerging Issues Task Force
- AICPA AcSEC Practice Bulletins
Category (D)
- AICPA Issues Papers
- FASB Concepts Statements
- Other authoritative pronouncements

| | Print This! | No comments

Do you like this post?