Extreme Estimation Uncertainty in Fair Value Estimates: Implications for Audit Assurance

2012 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 127-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brant E. Christensen ◽  
Steven M. Glover ◽  
David A. Wood
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Balance Sheet ◽  
Fair Value ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Net Income ◽  
Public Companies ◽  
Estimation Uncertainty ◽  
Income Statement ◽  
Auditing Standards

SUMMARY The overall complexity and estimation uncertainty inherent in financial statements have increased in recent decades; however, the related reports and services have changed very little, including the format of the balance sheet and income statement, the content in the auditor's report, and the level and nature of assurance provided on estimates. We examine estimates reported by public companies and find that fair value and other estimates based on management's subjective models and inputs contain estimation uncertainty or imprecision that is many times greater than materiality. Importantly, changes in the estimates often impact net income; consequently, the extreme estimation uncertainty also resides in measures such as earnings per share. We do not question the value audits provide to the marketplace, the importance of fair value reporting, or the ability of auditors to deploy up-to-date valuation and auditing techniques. Rather, we suggest that the convergence of relatively recent events is placing an increasingly difficult, and perhaps in some cases unrealistic, burden on auditors. We consider whether the convergence of events in regulation and standard setting may have outstripped auditors' ability to provide the level and nature of assurance currently required on estimates with extreme estimation uncertainty by auditing standards and regulators. We discuss potential changes to financial reporting and auditing standards that may improve the information provided to users and also address the concerns we raise. Finally, we suggest avenues for future research that may be fruitful in addressing how changes to standards would influence the behavior of preparers, auditors, and users. JEL Classifications: M4; M40; M41; M42. Data Availability: All data are publicly available.

scholarly journals Extreme Estimation Uncertainty and Audit Assurance

2013 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. P36-P42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brant E. Christensen ◽  
Steven M. Glover ◽  
David A. Wood
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Fair Value ◽  
Public Companies ◽  
Estimation Uncertainty ◽  
Auditing Standards

SUMMARY The overall uncertainty inherent in financial statements has increased in recent decades, but the related reports and required level of audit assurance have changed very little. In our study, “Extreme Estimation Uncertainty in Fair Value Estimates: Implications for Audit Assurance” (Christensen et al. 2012a), we examine estimates reported by public companies and find that estimates based on management's subjective models and inputs contain estimation uncertainty that is many times greater than typical audit materiality. We do not question the value that audits provide to the marketplace or the ability of auditors to deploy up-to-date auditing techniques. Rather, we suggest that the convergence of relatively recent events is placing an increasingly difficult and perhaps, in some cases, unrealistic burden on auditors. We discuss potential changes to financial reporting and auditing standards that may improve the information provided to users, and also address the concerns raised in our study.

Analyzing Two Investments—An Instructional Case to Introduce Basic Financial Accounting Concepts

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 47-56
Author(s):  
Wendy J. Bailey ◽  
Janet A. Samuels
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Business Students ◽  
Balance Sheet ◽  
Cash Flows ◽  
Legal Aspects ◽  
Financial Accounting ◽  
Net Income ◽  
Income Statement ◽  
Orientation Session ◽  
Statement Of Cash Flows

ABSTRACT This case introduces basic financial accounting concepts to graduate business students in an accounting orientation session (i.e., “boot camp”). Students assume they have invested in two cupcake businesses in Paris and they now want to determine which business performed best. Instructors can use this case, which provides students an opportunity to compare two businesses, to achieve several learning objectives including those related to accrual accounting (i.e., when to record transactions), the legal aspects of business (i.e., company structure, stock ownership, international accounting), and the use of estimates in financial reporting (i.e., depreciation, bad debts). This case also introduces students to the three basic financial statements (i.e., balance sheet, income statement, statement of cash flows), and the evaluation of financial results (i.e., net income versus cash flow, ratios). We have found that this simple, straightforward case helps students feel more confident when working with basic financial accounting concepts.

scholarly journals Applicative aspects of bank′s financial reporting: Analytical framework of a single banking report

2003 ◽  
Vol 46 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 73-110
Author(s):  
Sinisa Ostojic
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Balance Sheet ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Bank Performance ◽  
Net Income ◽  
Small Community ◽  
Bank Profitability ◽  
Banking Organization ◽  
Income Statement

This paper introduces financial statements of commercial banks and presents a procedure for analyzing bank profitability and risks using historical data. The procedure involves decomposing aggregate profit ratios into their components to help identify key factors that influence performance. This paper presents a procedure for analyzing bank performance using periodic balance sheet and income statement data. It describes the components of financial statements, provides a framework for comparing the trade-off between bank profitability and risk, and compares the performance of a small community bank with that of a large super regional banking organization. It uses data presented in a banks Uniform Bank Performance Report (UBPR) to demonstrate the analysis. Many banks experience dramatic changes in profits from one period to the next or relative to what stock analysts expect. In many cases, profits are lower because of unanticipated loan losses. In other cases, profits are higher because of extraordinary growth in noninterest income. A key point is that it is becoming increasingly difficult to evaluate performance by looking at reported balance sheet and income statement data. Net income can be managed, or manipulated, by bank managers to disguise potential problems. In this paper I examine how banks, the most important of all the financial intermediaries, operate to earn the highest profits possible: how and why they make loans, how they acquire funds and manage their assets and liabilities (debts), and how they earn income.

scholarly journals Pandangan Pengguna Penyata Kewangan terhadap Kepentingan Item di dalam Indeks Pelaporan Kewangan Menerusi Internet di Malaysia

2013 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohd Noor Azli Ali Khan ◽  
Noor Azizi Ismail
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Annual Report ◽  
Balance Sheet ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Financial Statement ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Income Statement ◽  
Future Research Directions ◽  
Pdf Format

This study investigates the perceptions of users of financial statement regarding the importance of items in indices of internet financial reporting (IFR). This study adopts the questionnaire survey method in order to seek the view of users of financial statement, particularly on the importance of items that to be included in the checklist of IFR indices. From a comprehensive review of the IFR literature, the level of IFR in this study can be categorized into two dimensions namely the ‘content’ and ‘presentation’. The findings show that the five most important items which are income statement of current year, cash flow statement of current year, balance sheet of current year, annual report of current year (full text), and auditor report of current year  can explain the dimension of content. Meanwhile, the five most important items for the dimension of presentation which are annual report in PDF format, loading time of the website, link to homepage, hyperlinks inside the annual report, and link to table of contents. Results of the study also provide empirical evidence that 144 disclosure items can be used for the checklist of IFR indices to measure the level of IFR. The finding provides an insight into the IFR practice in Malaysia. Implications of these findings and future research directions are also discussed in this study.

Recognition versus Disclosure of Fair Values

2015 ◽  
Vol 90 (6) ◽  
pp. 2411-2447 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maximilian A. Müller ◽  
Edward J. Riedl ◽  
Thorsten Sellhorn
Keyword(s):  
Information Processing ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Balance Sheet ◽  
Fair Value ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Equity Prices ◽  
Analyst Following ◽  
Financial Reporting Standards ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Prior Literature

ABSTRACT This paper examines pricing differences across recognized and disclosed fair values. We build on prior literature by examining two theoretical causes of such differences: lower reliability of the disclosed information, and/or investors' higher related information processing costs. We examine European real estate firms reporting under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), which require that fair values for investment properties, our sample firms' key operating asset, either be recognized on the balance sheet or disclosed in the footnotes. Consistent with prior research, we predict and find a lower association between equity prices and disclosed relative to recognized investment property fair values, reflecting a discount applied to disclosed fair values. We then predict and find that this discount is mitigated by lower information processing costs (proxied via high analyst following), and some support that it is also mitigated by higher reliability (proxied via use of external appraisals). These latter results are documented using subsample analyses to test one attribute (either information processing costs or reliability) while holding the other constant. Overall, these findings are consistent with fair value reliability and information processing costs providing complementary explanations for observed pricing discounts assessed on disclosed accounting amounts. Data Availability: Data are available from public sources identified in the manuscript.

Accounting for Market Equilibrium – Comparing the Revenue-Expense to the Balance-Sheet Approach

2019 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eduard Braun
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Market Equilibrium ◽  
Balance Sheet ◽  
Fair Value ◽  
Financial Accounting ◽  
Market Process ◽  
Net Income ◽  
Fair Value Accounting ◽  
Suitable Framework ◽  
Value Measurement

AbstractThis paper combines the market process approach developed by the Austrian School of Economics with the theory of capital as worked out by the Historical School in order to provide a suitable framework for discussing the two competing approaches to financial accounting. Within this framework, it becomes clear that the revenue-expense approach with its emphasis on actually realized, historical transactions plays an important role in creating a tendency towards market equilibrium. Net income determined according to this approach provides information to the market on where there are gaps in the price structure. The balance-sheet approach, on the other hand, and particularly fair value measurement take market equilibrium for granted. Based on fair value accounting, an equilibrium could never be accomplished in the first place. Ironically, in order to be applicable, the balance-sheet approach presupposes the perfect working of the market process, including financial reporting based on the revenue-expense approach.

scholarly journals THE VALUE RELEVANCE OF INTERNATIONAL ACCOUNTING STANDARD IMPLEMENTATION AND AUDIT QUALITY

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 801
Author(s):  
Hanifa Zulhaimi ◽  
R. Nelly R. Nelly Nur Apandi
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Stock Price ◽  
Audit Quality ◽  
Value Relevance ◽  
Balance Sheet ◽  
Fair Value ◽  
International Accounting ◽  
Net Income ◽  
Comprehensive Income ◽  
Other Comprehensive Income

The implementation of international accounting standards in Indonesia has significantly affected financial reporting. It increases information relevance for the investors because a fair value comprehensively represents assets and liabilities of an entity as of the balance sheet date. However, this triggers polemics over the value relevance of International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS). This can be seen from stock price decline. This study aims to find out the effect of net income and other comprehensive income on stock price and to observe the effect of other comprehensive income moderated by audit quality. Furthermore this study also aims to find out the effect of  the subjectivity of OCI components. Using a sample of 79 companies, the writer analyzes 2014 financial statements derived from Indonesia Stock Exchange. Based on the result, the predetermined hypotheses are unable to prove. Net income is the only variable that affects stock return. Thus it can be concluded that net income has a value relevance for the investors in making economic decisions.

scholarly journals Comments of the Auditing Standards Committee of the Auditing Section of the American Accounting Association on PCAOB Staff Consultation Paper, Auditing Accounting Estimates and Fair Value Measurements

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. C1-C11 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Abernathy ◽  
Karl E. Hackenbrack ◽  
Jennifer R. Joe ◽  
Mikhail Pevzner ◽  
Yi-Jing Wu
Keyword(s):  
Fair Value ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Public Companies ◽  
The Public ◽  
Auditing Standards ◽  
Accounting Estimates ◽  
Fair Value Measurements ◽  
Consultation Paper

SUMMARY Recently, the Public Companies Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) solicited public comments on its Staff Consultation Paper Auditing Accounting Estimates and Fair Value Measurements. This commentary summarizes the contributors' views on the various questions asked in the PCAOB Staff Consultation Paper. Our comments submitted to the PCAOB appear below. Data Availability: The invitation to comment (which invited comments through November 4, 2014), with links to the consultation paper, is available at: http://pcaobus.org/Standards/Pages/SCP _ Accounting _ Estimates _ Fair_Value.aspx

scholarly journals Perceptions of Auditors in Malaysia on the Important Items of Internet Financial Reporting

2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 146-158
Author(s):  
Mohd Noor Azli
Keyword(s):  
Cash Flow ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Annual Report ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Balance Sheet ◽  
Financial Analysts ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Income Statement ◽  
Pdf Format

This study investigates the perceptions of auditors regarding the important items in the disclosure of content and presentation dimension that can be used to describe the level of internet financial reporting (IFR). Questionnaires were distributed to 100 auditors. A total of 40 questionnaires were completed and returned, giving a response rate of 40 percent. From the survey, it was found that the five most important items in the content dimension are income statement of current year, income statement of past years, cash flow statement of current year, notes to financial statements of current year and balance sheet of current year. Meanwhile, in the presentation dimension, five most items important to disclosure are loading time of the website below 10 seconds, annual report in PDF format, hyperlinks inside the annual report, ability to download reports and hyperlinks to financial analysts. Finally, the limitation of this study and future research will also be discussed.

scholarly journals Comments of the Auditing Standards Committee of the Auditing Section of the American Accounting Association on International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board Exposure Draft, Proposed International Standard on Auditing 315 (Revised): Identifying and Assessing the Risks of Material Misstatement and Proposed Consequential and Conforming Amendments to Other ISAs

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. C1-C9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veena Looknanan Brown ◽  
Paul J. Coram ◽  
Sean A. Dennis ◽  
Denise Dickins ◽  
Christine E. Earley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Professional Skepticism ◽  
International Standard ◽  
Auditing Standards ◽  
Explicit Recognition ◽  
Automated Tools ◽  
Tools And Techniques

SUMMARY On July 16, 2018, the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (the Board or IAASB) issued a request for comment on its Exposure Draft, Proposed International Standard on Auditing 315 (Revised): Identifying and Assessing the Risks of Material Misstatement and Proposed Consequential and Conforming Amendments to Other ISAs (ED-315). Major enhancements proposed include explicit recognition of the auditor's use of automated tools and techniques, requiring an understanding of an auditee's use of information technology relevant to financial reporting, acknowledging the influence of an entity's complexity on the audit plan, and increasing the emphasis on the need for professional skepticism. The comment period ended on November 2, 2018. This commentary summarizes the participating committee members' views on selected questions posed by the IAASB. Data Availability: ED-315, including questions for respondents, is available at: https://www.ifac.org/publications-resources/exposure-draft-isa-315-revised-identifying-and-assessing-risks-material.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document