Besides these disadvantages, the historical background of countries also matters. “Colonial inheritance is probably the major explanatory factor for the general system of financial reporting in many countries outside Europe” (ACCA, 2011, p. 11). For instance, it is not difficult to predict how adaptation works in countries which were the former British colonies compared with Soviet countries. According to ACCA, experienced legal background and obtained cultural factors in the former countries accelerate the transition to the IFRS. Being under the control of the USSR for 70 years, the accounting and auditing system in Azerbaijan was also in the same situation as other Former Soviet Union countries: reports were prepared only for the purposes …show more content…
The introductions of the primary Accounting Law (1995) and the Banking Law (1996) and the establishment of the Chamber of Auditors of Azerbaijan Republic (CAAR) were the main consequences of the progress made by the government during its transition period. However, according to the diagnostic study by the Asian Development Bank (2002), principles and working environment were remaining unchanged, since the less effective and efficient USSR experience was still dominating in the country. Financial rearrangements were slow-tracked due to the shortage of qualified professionals, the unfamiliarity with international standards, and the deficiencies in the entire legal framework. Thus, adaptation to the IFRS was the only way to survive in this competitive …show more content…
The Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Azerbaijan prepared Five-year Plan, “The Development of National Accounting Standards for 2003-2007 aiming at the Introduction of the International Accounting Standards and the IFRS”. Furthermore, in order to increase efficiency in the reform process, The European Union supported Azerbaijan by means of TACIS (Technical Assistance to the Commonwealth of Independent States) Project. Main purposes of the program were to assist and encourage the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Azerbaijan to make a reform in its financial system (European Neighborhood Policy, 2005). TACIS provided four-phase strategic plan to introduce the International Accounting Standards (IAS) and develop the NAS of Azerbaijan that is based in the IAS. As a result of TACIS project, new Accounting Law (2004) substituted the old one of 1995. In general, Adaptation of the new Accounting Law 2004 brought the Azerbaijan’s accounting system closer to the IFRS. (Mehtiyeva, 2009). According to the Article 4 of the new Accounting Law
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.
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.
We now want to look into the International Accounting Standards Board and framework for the preparation and presentation of financial statements. The conceptual frameworks are split into five categories and are in the following order: the objective of financial statements; underlying assumptions; the qualitative characteristics that determine the usefulness of information in financial statements; the definition, recognition, and measurement of the elements from which financial statements are constructed; and the concepts of capital and capital maintenance (Ankarath 11). The standards under IFRS are beginning to become much more popular across the world for several different reasons. The International Financial Reporting Standards are currently being used by at the very least 100 countries and “[was] expected that by 2011, more than 150 countries [would] have adopted them” (Ankarath 1). We happen to find this important because it seems that a lot of countries are starting to adopt IFRS to report their financial statements. One of the reasons why many countries made the switch over to IFRS is because “the decision of the U.S. SEC to allow foreign private issuers to list their securities on U.S.
The field of accounting is constantly evolving. This is true not only for the theory of accounting itself but also the entities that govern its theory and practice. Presently, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) are faced with some of the biggest challenges to date. To understand the significance of these two boards, it is necessary to understand their histories, relations between the boards, and the standards that they set. Also how the knowledge of these boards and the field they lead, gained through the masters of science in accountancy
This research project will inform the reader of the difference between the United States accounting standards and International accounting standards. The United States uses the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) to issue financial reporting procedures. The International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) are issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). There are proposals for the United States to adopt the International standards. Financial reporting procedures are debated about the United States using the Generally Accepted Accounting Procedures (GAAP) or following the global procedures. This
A joint convergence committee created the members of (FASB) and (IASB). (IASB) is recognized as an independent accounting standard-setting body that is similar to (FASB) that joins (GAAP), and is governed by the (IFRS) foundation. Due to this convergence, (AICPA) believes U.S. adoption of a single set of high-quality, globally accepted accounting standards will benefit U.S. financial markets and public companies by enabling preparation of transparent and comparable financial reports throughout the world, (American Institute of CPAs, 2016). Secondly, (AICPA) is dedicated to supplying the whole accounting profession with information, tools and IFRS.com for instance to assimilate as well as implement a new set of standards. As the (AICPA) supports continual convergence of reliable accounting standards between (IFRS) and (GAAP) the mission of completion between (IASB) and (FASB) is prolonged. (AICPA) will always support funding mechanisms of the body-making
During the PRE-IFRS accounting system and where worldwide accounting diversity was widespread, a number of PRE-IFRS developmental factors were found to be the cause behind international differences in ownership and financing of companies and led to differences in the financial reporting practices of multi-national corporations (MNCs). This type of environment created extensive opportunities for corruption and poor performance and made it hard to compare global companies. The following four main PRE-IFRS development factors have the biggest impact on international business accounting practices: source of finance, legal system, taxation system and political and economic ties (Meek & Saudagaran, 1990). Even though the International Financial
Accounting has been playing a very important role in many places such as Australian accounting standards. Australian accounting standards is also developed by the Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB). This essay will firstly discuss what AASB is, the role and the functions of AASB. And then, following this, the other projects’ role such as Financial Reporting Council (FRC) and International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and the relationship between AASB, FRC and IASB.
This paper will be aimed at comparing and contrasting governmental (GASB) which is Governmental Accounting Standards Board and proprietary (FASB) which is Financial Accounting Standards Board accounting. It will explain the objectives of the two standards boards and how they are similar and different. Last it will describe how the modified accrual basis of accounting differs from full
Why do we study comparative accounting? Countries around the world have different aspects such as taxation, legal systems, culture and colonial influence that differ the way accounting is reported. Ultimately the need for fair presentation is the final objective to comparative accounting. Thousands of years ago when accounting was first practiced, each country practiced financial reporting according to the power and strengths in their country, regardless of how accounting was reported in neighboring countries. Nowadays, because the world is becoming more globalized and harmonized, standard-setters feel the need to report their accounting in a uniform way. The International Accounting Standards Board [IASB] was formed as a non-for-profit
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
On November 18, 2002 the FASB and IASB came together at a meeting in Norwalk, Connecticut to start the wheels in motion for the purpose of establishing a new set of financial standards. The FASB and IASB are committed to create financial standards that will be accepted both domestically and internationally that are of high quality and compatible for financial reporting. At present more than a 100 countries already use the International Financial Reporting Standards. The U.S. at present has not accepted a changed in accounting procedures; therefore, this is going to be a major task for both the FASB and IASB to complete successfully this union. I do believe that the partnership between the FASB and IASB will achieve the goals of creating a common financial reporting set of standards that will be accepted by all.
Although, many authors write about these huge incidents in America, few are discussed about the scandals abroad. Other countries (Switzerland, Italy, Greece and others) also have their issues with frauds and scandals, just not as wide spread. Therefore, the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) seek to implement a single global accounting standard, called the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) (Street, 2012). The IASB was actually established during the 1970s to promote a worldwide acceptance of regulations, accounting standards and procedures (Schroeder et al, 2011). In 2002, the FASB and IASB agreed that there is a need for an international reporting standard. Due to the high volume of international trade and foreign operations, the two boards, decided that there should be one global approach to accounting standards (Zeff,
From 1904, some people suggest that we need a uniform accounting standard in the world. After the work hard in more than half century, in 1973, international accounting standard committee has been found. Although this is a non-government organization, they set up accounting standard for all the country, which is convenient to international trade, comparison, and analysis. With the increase of recognition, there are more countries used it, but many organizations and people disagreed the standard. This essay will focus on the different attitude of initial recognition methods of International Accounting Standard 16: Property, Plant, and Equipment and discuss the advantage and disadvantage of methods and influence the reason why IAS will allow
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.