scholarly journals Accounting estimates in financial statements and their disclosure by some South African construction companies

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 383-400
Author(s):  
Elsje Raubenheimer
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Fair Value ◽  
Construction Companies ◽  
Financial Reporting Standards ◽  
Estimation Uncertainty ◽  
Disclosure Requirements ◽  
Frequency Of Use ◽  
Accounting Estimates

Accounting estimates form part of the preparation of financial statements and should not affect faithful representation. The use of accounting estimates does not yield exact amounts, but, rather, amounts based on assumptions. The frequency of use of accounting estimates in financial statements depends on the measurement criteria prescribed by International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs). For example, in the absence of prices in an active market, and if measurement is at fair value, the fair value is based on assumptions. Disclosure of the assumptions on which accounting estimates are based enables the users of financial statements to judge if amounts are faithfully represented. The objective of the research on which this article is based was to establish what IFRSs require in terms of the disclosure of assumptions and estimation uncertainty and also if listed companies in the construction and materials sector comply with these disclosure requirements.

scholarly journals The Message Conveyed By IFRS-Compliant Information: A South African Perspective

2013 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 1041
Author(s):  
Pieter Van der Zwan ◽  
Nico Van der Merwe
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Professional Education ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Financial Information ◽  
Reporting Standards ◽  
Financial Reporting Standards ◽  
Accounting Practitioners ◽  
African Perspective

South African companies must prepare financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) or other reporting standards modelled on IFRS. Literature suggests that the complexity of IFRS, which stems from detailed rules-based principles in these standards, may harm the ability of users of financial statements to understand financial information in a meaningful way. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate whether selected users and preparers of financial statements in South Africa interpret selected IFRS-compliant information prepared in accordance with rules-based principles in the manner intended by the standard-setters. The results of the study, which are based on data gathered by administering a questionnaire that contained selected IFRS-compliant note disclosures to accounting practitioners, accountancy students, and non-accountants in business, suggest that the participants of the study did not understand such IFRS-compliant information as intended by the standard-setters. Additional disclosure, the adoption of a simplified accounting framework for Small and Medium-sized Entities (SMEs) and the use of an output-based continuing professional education (CPE) system are identified as areas that warrant further research to overcome the threats posed by rules-based principles in IFRS.

scholarly journals El modelo de valor razonable: La aproximación de las cifras contables a los valores de mercado (The fair value model: The aproach of the accounting figures to the market values)

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 41
Author(s):  
Eduardo Sosa Mora
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Theory Of The Firm ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Fair Value ◽  
Reporting Standards ◽  
Market Prices ◽  
Financial Reporting Standards ◽  
Market Values ◽  
Future Events ◽  
Value Model

<p>Desde hace muchos años, en el ámbito académico y en el profesional de la contabilidad, se debate acerca de la importancia de que los estados financieros presenten los activos y pasivos de acuerdo con sus valores de mercado, con el fin de lograr una mejor aproximación a los valores económicos de las empresas. Esto ha propiciado que, en las Normas Internacionales de Información Financiera (NIIF), haya adquirido relevancia el modelo del valor razonable, según el cual los activos y pasivos se miden por sus valores <br />de mercado. La adopción de este modelo significa la instrumentación de la teoría del valor de la empresa y una mayor aproximación de la contabilidad a la teoría de las finanzas, cuyos beneficios deben sopesarse con los riesgos asociados a la obtención de cifras contables a partir de precios de mercado y de supuestos acerca de eventos esperados en el futuro. Este artículo expone los alcances de la adopción de ese modelo en el esfuerzo por lograr que los estados financieros representen fielmente las realidades económicas de las empresas.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Abstract </strong></p><p> </p><p>Since many years ago in the Accounting academic and professional circles there is a debate about the importance that the financial statements represent the assets and liabilities according with their market values, in order to get a better approximation to the economic values of the enterprises. Because of this the fair value model has gained relevance in the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). According with this model, the assets and liabilities are measured by their market values. The adoption of <br />this model means the implementation of the theory of the firm and a greater approximation the Accounting to the Financial Theory, whose benefits must be weighted with the risks of getting accounting figures by using market prices and assumptions about future events. This paper expounds the scopes of adopting this model in the effort to assure that the financial statements represent faithfully the economic realities of the enterprises.</p>

scholarly journals A critical analysis of the contents of the IFRS for SMEs - a South African perspective

2011 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 188-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Petrus Schutte ◽  
Pieter Buys
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Financial Reporting Standards ◽  
Accounting Practitioners ◽  
African Perspective ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
Different Levels

The International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) was developed to address the reporting needs of SMEs worldwide. Furthermore, SMEs from different parts of the world are exposed to different conditions and environments. Although the IFRS for SMEs was not intended for a specific user group,the majority of the respondents to the Exposure Draft on IFRS for SMEs were from Europe and other developed countries while only limited respondents from Africa and developing countries were involved.  This study considered the relevance of the contents of the IFRS for SMEs in the South African environment based on user requirements. Since SMEs do not necessarily have functional accounting departments and because they rely on external accountants to compile financial statements, we included accounting practitioners and trainee accountants from the SME sector in our survey. As a result we classified the contents of the IFRS for SMEs, from a South African perspective, into different levels of importance or relevance.

scholarly journals An analysis of the financial reporting compliance of South African public agricultural companies

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 833-853 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingrid Baigrie ◽  
Danie Coetsee
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Voluntary Disclosure ◽  
Fair Value ◽  
Agricultural Activities ◽  
Voluntary Disclosures ◽  
Public Companies ◽  
Financial Position ◽  
Disclosure Requirements ◽  
Research Findings

This article assesses the extent to which South African public companies that are engaged in agricultural activities are complying with the compulsory recognition and measurement and compulsory and voluntary disclosure requirements of IAS 41 Agriculture. Sixteen large South African public companies with material holdings of biological assets in their statements of financial position were selected for analysis. The results of the analysis show that the majority of South African agricultural companies are using fair value to measure their biological assets at initial recognition as well as at the end of each reporting period. Most of these companies are complying with the compulsory disclosure requirements of IAS 41, and are also providing certain of the recommended voluntary disclosures listed in IAS 41. The study concludes that the measurement methods used by companies to value their biological assets and the nature and extent of both compulsory and voluntary disclosures of these assets are sector-specific. This is consistent with previous research findings. This study contributes to the existing literature by providing a baseline on the financial reporting of agricultural entities in South Africa prior to the implementation of IFRS 13.

scholarly journals International Real Estate Review

2012 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 347-372
Author(s):  
Robert Edelstein ◽  
◽  
Steve Fortin ◽  
Desmond Tsang ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Real Estate ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Fair Value ◽  
Real Estate Industry ◽  
The Real Estate ◽  
Reporting Practices ◽  
Financial Reporting Standards ◽  
Market Values ◽  
Alternative Metrics

The adoption of the new International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), by allowing the option of fair value accounting for real estate investment properties, has dramatically altered the landscape of financial reporting for real estate firms worldwide. In this exploratory study, by examining the financial statements and disclosures of 45 international real estate firms, we demonstrate that the implementation of IFRS has affected financial reporting practices in the real estate industry. We find that under the IFRS, companies place emphasis on market asset valuations, vis-a-vis alternative metrics for current performance. We also find that most real estate firms in our sample choose to report fair values for investment properties in their financial statements rather than the notes to the financial statements. Finally, there is a wide variation in firm disclosures with regards to the determinants of fair market values.

scholarly journals Disclosure of Subsidiaries with Non-controlling Interest in Accordance with IFRS 12: Case of Materiality

2016 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 275-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tereza Gluzová
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Value Relevance ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Parent Company ◽  
Reporting Standards ◽  
Consolidated Financial Statements ◽  
Financial Reporting Standards ◽  
Disclosure Requirements ◽  
Definition Of

Consolidated financial statements present aggregated information for parent company and its subsidiaries. For non-wholly owned subsidiaries, International Financial Reporting Standards require non-controlling interest to be presented within consolidated equity to distinguish it from the amount of equity attributable to the shareholders of the parent. Since 2014, new standards on consolidation introduced broadened disclosure requirements for subsidiaries with material non-controlling interest. Definition of material non-controlling interest however is not included in the standards. The article provides the analysis of the financial statements published by companies listed on Prague Stock Exchange. Main focus is given to assessment criteria applied to identify material non-controlling interest. Consequently, study of compliance with the disclosure requirements for selected companies has been undertaken. The results of the analysis indicate whether value relevance of financial statements has been improved as a result of the new disclosures.

Unfinished Accounting Issues: Incorporating Fair Value and Prudence in Accounting Theory

2006 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 271-290
Author(s):  
A. Asher
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Value Creation ◽  
Accounting Standards ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Fair Value ◽  
International Accounting Standards ◽  
Financial Reporting Standards ◽  
Considerable Debate ◽  
Accounting Theory ◽  
Single Set

ABSTRACTThe International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) is introducing new International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) which aim to make financial statements more useful. The process has generated considerable debate. This paper is a contribution to the debate, in the particular context of insurance accounting, and attempts to provide a coherent framework for accounting theory which makes a clear distinction between retrospective statements required for administrative accountability, fair value for current market transactions and to measure value creation, and a prospective prudence required to protect policyholders, depositors and other creditors. It is argued that the IASB's founding purpose to provide a single set of accounts is therefore incoherent; different purposes require different numbers. This also implies that fair value accounts should attempt to value intangible assets. In this context, actuarial analyses of surplus would greatly assist in measuring whether model assumptions are appropriate.

scholarly journals Does the Mark-to-Model Fair Value Measure Make Assets Impairment Noisy?: A Literature Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 1504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tadeusz Dudycz ◽  
Jadwiga Praźników
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Fair Value ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Financial Reports ◽  
Financial Reporting Standards ◽  
Asset Impairment ◽  
Accounting Model ◽  
Anglo American

With the purpose of reporting high-quality, transparent, and comparable information in financial statements, there is a strong, visible trend towards the implementation and use of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), which represent the Anglo-American accounting model. According to IFRS, the fair value has become a dominant measurement paradigm. The purpose of this paper is to examine the implications of the implementation of the mark-to-model fair value measures for asset impairment tests on the relevance and reliability of information presented in financial reports. Among the three levels of the fair value hierarchy, mark-to-model is most controversial because it is susceptible to manipulation and has poor verifiability. After a systematic literature review and a synthesis of high-quality contributions in this field, we conclude that the implementation of asset impairment tests, that use the mark-to-model fair value measures, is not promising for increasing the quality and reliability of the information presented in financial statements. Unfortunately, research has shown that companies are using that tool to manage their earnings and promote managers’ unethical behaviour. Furthermore, capital markets’ reaction to asset impairment announcements is negative. Performed analysis can provide valuable pointers for standard setters, accounting policy makers, and researchers.

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.

scholarly journals KONVERGENSI INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL REPORTING STANDARDS (IFRS) DAN MANAJEMEN LABA DI INDONESIA

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yona Octiani Lestari
Keyword(s):  
Earnings Management ◽  
Information Asymmetry ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Accounting Standards ◽  
Reporting Quality ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Fair Value ◽  
Financial Reporting Quality ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
Financial Reporting Standards

<p><em>The existence of</em><em> convergence of accounting standards to IFRS create a new paradigm in the accounting world. This requires the convergence of IFRS accounting standards that have been used to adopt new accounting standards with IFRS</em><em>. The convergency accounting standards to IFRS increase a variety of influences, in accordance with IFRS characteristics such as : principle based, the use of fair value and more disclosure. Principle Based Standards require more judgment in its application, while the used of fair value items make the financial statements are presented with the actual values, more disclosure would reduce the level of information asymmetry. Convergence of IFRS is expected increasing financial reporting quality, such as, increased camparability and transparency of financial statements. Thus, with the convergence to IFRS expected reduce earnings management opportunities.</em></p>

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document