Case Study : Stagecoach Group Plc Essay

Despite those enormous advantages, it has been argued that IFRSS adoption lead to significant costs. The main argument is that IFRSs do not consider local needs and priorities as every country has their own ‘business environment, legal systems, cultures, language and political environment’ (Henderson and Peirson, 2000 cited from Malthus, S., 2004). However, to overcome this problem, IASB can accommodate flexible reporting standards that enable companies to choose alternatives that are more suitable for their external condition. It is opinion of some opponents of IFRS adoption that IAS is ‘insufficiently detailed’ (Uddin,M.S., 2005, p.4) that require accountants’ and auditor’ professional judgment. However, overly detail might be contra productive and not flexible in anticipating every changes and differences.

IFRS’s are a single set of accounting standards at a global level for all sectors. Accounting standards are trustworthy statements is the reflection of financial statements to be presented to the stakeholders . United kingdom has already adopted IFRS since 2005.I would be discussing on adoption of IFRS by United kingdom for this paper. The United

As stated earlier, the IASB arose from specific needs of the accounting industry and the public. As international trade has increased, the need for transnational accounting information has increased as well. This sparked the demand for development of international accounting standards to make financial data between countries more comparable. In 1973, the International Accounting Standards Committee (IASC) was formed to develop these international standards. The standards issued by the IASC, prior to 2001, were called International Accounting Standards (IASs). In 2001, the IASC made the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) the official international standard-setting body. The standards issued by the IASB are called International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) (Schroeder, Clark, & Cathey, 2011, p. 82-87).

With the growth of international business there is a need to standardize financial statements globally. Presently there are “approximately 120 foreign private issuers currently that report to the Commission using IFRS financial statements.” By standardizing accounting practices investors will be able to make informed decisions based on comparability and accuracy of financial statements. The SEC released this statement in 2008, “We believe that IFRS has the potential to best provide the common platform on which companies can report and investors can compare financial information.” The SEC has created a “Roadmap” or plan to convert US GAAP over to IFRS. According to The Committee of

This essay will critically evaluate the adoption of International Accounting Standards by UK companies. IAS (International Accounting Standards) created by IASC (International accounting standards committee) are a set of standards stating how particular types of transactions and other events should be reflected in financial statements. Since 2001 the IASB (International Accounting Standards Board) succeeded the IASC to create the IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) which are “a single set of accounting standards, developed and maintained by the International Accounting Standards Board (the Board) with the intention of those standards being capable of being applied on a globally consistent basis—by developed,

International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), represent the norms that were introduced by IASB. Being an independent organization that was not operational to earn profits, IASB, also known as, International Accounting Standards Board, incepted IFRS to facilitate public companies around the globe. IFRS presented a framework that served as a guide for these corporations directing them on preparation and disclosure of the financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards offered general guidance to the seekers concerning the financial statements. The standards never strived to set industry specific reporting principles or regulations.

Within the accounting profession, there have been challenges to develop a set of standards that are generally accepted and universally practiced. Thus far, the main debate in setting accounting standards is “Whose rules should we play by, and what should they be?” While the answer is unclear, users of financial statements and reporting must find methods that has an universal objective, that allows “Grapes for Grapes” comparisons that clearly, fairly, and completely prepares a company financial statements. For years GAAP has been the common set of standards and procedures for the U.S, the core for establishing a principle of reporting but now IFRS an international friendly financial reporting system has become popular for its use globally.

Stagecoach Group and FirstGroup plc are the leading transport operators in the UK and North America. However, the First Group’s business scale is 3 times as much as the Stagecoach with revenues of more than ￡6.7 million in 2013/14.

Over the last decade, the way in which financial reporting is carried out has seen some significant advancements. One of the most momentous changes has been the introduction of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), which have been adopted broadly throughout the world, with one major exception, the United States. Before accounting standards can be considered truly global, this exception has to be resolved. The prospect of such an occurrence took massive strides in 2002, when the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB); responsible for standard-setting in the US, announced their intention to work alongside the IASB in order to converge IFRS with US GAAP. For the first time, a truly global set of accounting standards seemed a

International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) are the most used set of accounting principles across the world. IFRS are issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), an independent, private-sector. Over 12,000 companies in more than 116 countries have adopted IFRS, and more countries are continuing to adopt the standards each year. (IFRS, 2015).

For decades, countries have designed their individual accounting standards principle-based, rules-based, tax-oriented, or business-oriented. Globalization has led to the greater needs with regards to harmonizing the standards (Kimmel, 2013). By late 1990’s the dominant standards were the IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) and U.S. GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles). Thus, both the standard setters namely; FASB (Financial Accounting Standards Board) and IASB (International Accounting Standards Board) launched a convergence project prior to the IFRS being essentially adopted by several countries. Measures are being taken to reduce likely impacts the frameworks would have on financial statement and reduction of last minute changes (Kimmel, 2013).

“International Standards on Auditing (ISA’s) have basic rules & needful procedures together with related instructions in the form of guiding and other material. It is bound to developing, in the public interest, a single set of merit, global accounting standards that require clear & equivalent information in

“International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) is a set of accounting standards developed by an independent, not-for-profit organization called the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB).” (IFRS 2011). IFRS establishes guidance for companies on how to prepare financial

- The standards and requirements that govern the preparation of the consolidated financial statements 2015 is International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). And it’s follow accounting policies.

Provides expert practical guidance on how groups should prepare their consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS. Comprehensive publication including hundreds of worked examples, extracts from company reports and model financial statements. IFRS Pocket Guide 2008 Provides a summary of the IFRS recognition and measurement requirements. Including currencies, assets, liabilities, equity, income, expenses, business combinations and interim financial statements.