preview

Summary of Research for Accounting Changes and Error Analysis

Good Essays

Summary on Research for Accounting Changes and Error Analysis

Companies have always faced issues of how to reflect changes in accounting methods and error corrections in financial statements. A change in accounting principle results when an entity adopts a generally accepted accounting principle different from the one it used previously (Hall 2007). A presumption exists that an accounting principle once adopted shall not be changed in accounting for events and transactions of a similar type (Financial Accounting Standards Board). It is preferred that consistent use of the same accounting principle from one accounting period to another is used because it enhances the utility of financial statements for users by facilitating analysis …show more content…

However, FASB rejected these notions and instead seemed more concerned about the consistency between accounting periods and the comparability of financial statements among different companies. FASB said the improved consistency and comparability would enhance the usefulness of financial information by facilitating the analysis and understanding of more comparative accounting data (Hall 2007). FASB argues that this approach provides financial statement users with more useful information. The retrospective approach eliminates all cumulative effect adjustments to current income and should greatly enhance the consistency and comparability of financial information over time and between companies (Hall 2007).
While there are similarities between IFRS and GAAP in accounting for accounting changes and errors, there are some differences. One difference concerns the addressing of indirect effects to the change in accounting principles. An indirect effect is any change to current or future cash flows of a company that result from making a change in accounting principle that is applied retrospectively. GAAP has a detailed guidance on these effects. IFRS does not specifically address the accounting and reporting for indirect effects of changes in accounting principles. However, GAAP requires that indirect effects do not change prior period amounts (Financial Accounting Standards Board). An example of this can be seen in a profit sharing plan when a company changes

Get Access