International Financial Reporting Standards And The International Accounting Standards Board

As the responsibilities of the global harmonization of accounting standards IFRS and GAAP transfer to IASB, FASB’s influence is waning. Advantages of the convergence include high quality financial reporting, which lowers cost of capital for investors and the cost of borrowing for companies. However, there are disadvantages to be noted, such as the costs of introducing IFRS to current and potential accountants and the risk of reducing the uniformity of financial reports due to the lax rulings of IFRS, which promotes earnings management amongst companies. Although arguments regarding the convergence remain prevalent, the completion of IFRS and GAAP is inevitable. Come year 2015, accountants, investors, and companies alike will discover whether or not the pros outweighed the cons; or vice versa.

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).

The IFRS is basically a set of accounting rules which are issued by the IASB based in London, UK. These accounting standards have originated from its predecessor IASC defining the term IAS, which occurred in the 70’s. it was only after 2000’s that the IASB took a strong hold under the label IFRS claiming to be a lot more independent even though pertaining to its predecessor, efficiently staffed and better funded. Caffermen and zeff (2006) discuss about the gradual spread of accounting has made a considerable progress over time, and with the adoption of IFRS worldwide, accounting procedures could be smoothened.

For nearly half a century, a movement has been underway to establish a high-quality, comprehensive set of international accounting standards, with the goal of facilitating international trade and investment. In the global capital market, differences in the rules of accounting for the purposes of recognition, measurement, and reporting of financial results have impaired the smooth transfer of information across borders. Given that it accounts for nearly a third of the global market, there is considerable pressure for the United States to conform to the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), as promulgated by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). While moving to a single set of accounting standards could create

International Reporting Standards (IFRS) are standards that are aimed as a global language that is common for affairs of business, to make sure that the accounts of the company can be understood and are of a certain standard that applies worldwide. IFRS are

But there a certain limit of flexibility of this international standards for cover with all the differences accounting standard or accounting practices in between country. The IFRS is to increase the comparability of annual financial reports no matter oversea or domestic. This only can be success when the new set of accounting standard published by IFRS and adopting by country when only the cultural, economics, politics and other factors within the country change (Chen, 2009).

IFRS is a set of accounting standards promulgated by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), an international standard-setting body based in London. It was designed as a common global language for business affairs so that company accounts are comparable and understandable across international boundaries (Ghosh, 2010). In June 2002, the European Union (EU) adopted an IAS Regulation requiring European companies listed in an EU/European Economic Area (EEA) securities market to prepare their consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS starting in 2005 (United Kingdom).

Political and economic forces shape accounting. The increased worldwide integration of politics and markets raises the necessity for integration of financial reporting standards. The integration is driven by the reductions in the costs of information processing and communication. International Financial Reporting Standards are a common business affair language in the globe for easier comprehension and comparison of company accounts across international boundaries (AICPA). The standards are issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. The IASB is a United Kingdom body that was established in 2001 and is based in London. The historical cost paradigm authorizes the IFRS except IAS 29 and AFRIC 7, which

The IFRS are made to be a common global language used for accounting and business in order for an organisations monetary situation is easily understood and interpretable between different countries (Eng, Sun & Vichitsarawong, 2014). For example, financial reporting in Saudi Arabia of an organisation may look more favourable than an Australian company, because of the different measures used by

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.

The international Accounting Standards Board (IASB) is an independent, private sector that develops and approves the body of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The IASB manages and controls the IFRS foundation. The IASB has a group of 14 members who operates and manages the IFRS through daily meetings, community engagements, and speeches about the IFRS. These members are experts in accounting standards, preparing, auditing, financial reporting, and accounting education. Each member of the IASB covers each geographical area including North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. IASB has been delegated many roles and responsibilities to operate the IFRS. They

“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 accounting profession worldwide has longed for the harmonisation of the various accounting codes practised by different countries. A set of international standards has been developed with help from the US, Britain, Ireland and the EU in general. International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) are a set of accounting standards developed by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) that is becoming the

With complete notion and awareness of how each country has their set of rules, “the goal of IFRS is to provide a global framework for how public companies prepare and disclose their financial statements” (Rouse, 2011). This view is meant to provide general guidelines, as well as international comparisons through conventional and edifying means. To bring broader and vivid objectives, IFRS replaced IAS, the older standards, in order to bring a more comprehensive and simplified accounting procedures.

The Integrated International Reporting Framework was introduced by the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) to guide the entire integrated reporting process and also to clearly define key ideas and concepts of this framework. Given some of the confusion surrounding this framework among companies and accountants in New Zealand with respect to what precisely the Integrated <IR> Framework is and how it might affect accounting practice, this essay purports to clearly explain the framework. Further, this paper will also critically examine the framework, highlighting some of the salient opportunities, benefits, challenges and limitations of this approach. Finally, it will briefly reflect upon the implication of the framework for accounting practice.