Professional Documents
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Conceptual
Framework
oSession 2
AC2091: Financial Reporting
Learning Objectives
• Define a conceptual framework
• Identify the main efforts by the US, IASC and
the UK to introduce a conceptual framework
• Describe the objectives of financial reporting
as per the conceptual framework
• Define assets and liabilities as suggested by
these frameworks
• Explain and describe recognition and
measurement
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Conceptual Framework
• sets out the concepts that underlie the
preparation and presentation of financial
statements for external users [IFRS]
• sets out the principles that … should underlie
the preparation of financial statements [ASB]
• coherent system of interrelated objectives and
fundamental concepts that prescribes the
nature, function, and limits of financial
accounting and reporting [FASB]
Conceptual Framework
• Rationale for Conceptual Framework
o Facilitate decisions on controversial accounting
issues
Clearbasis for reaching conclusions that those with vested
interests would find it hard to resist
o Provide a common framework of reference on
theoretical issues
Basis for resolving accounting disputes
o Reduce the need for many detailed standards on
specific issues
Fundamental principles need not be repeated in standards
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Conceptual Framework
• Purpose of Conceptual Framework
o Assist the accounting standards board to develop
standards that are based on consistent concepts;
o Assist preparers to develop consistent accounting
policies when no standard applies to a particular
transaction or other event, or when a standard
allows a choice of accounting policy; and
o Assist all parties to understand and interpret the
accounting standards
Conceptual Framework
• Includes guidance on the following [IFRS]:
o Objective of financial reporting
o Qualitative characteristics of useful financial
information
o Definition, recognition and measurement of the
elements from which financial statements are
constructed
o Concepts of capital and capital maintenance
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Conceptual Framework
US FASB UK ASB IASB
Conceptual Framework
Financial Reporting
Underlying Assumptions
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Conceptual Framework:
Reporting Entity
• An entity that is required, or chooses, to prepare
financial statements
• Can be a single entity or a portion of an entity or can
comprise more than one entity
• If a reporting entity comprises both the parent and its
subsidiaries, the reporting entity’s financial statements are
referred to as ‘consolidated financial statements
• If a reporting entity comprises two or more entities that are not
all linked by a parent-subsidiary relationship, the reporting
entity’s financial statements are referred to as ‘combined financial
statements
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Conceptual Framework:
Objectives of General Purpose
Financial Reporting
• to provide financial information about the
reporting entity that is useful to existing and
potential investors, lenders and other creditors
in making decisions about providing resources
to the entity.
• Decisions involve buying, selling or holding equity
and debt instruments; providing or settling loans and
other forms of credit; or exercising rights to vote on,
or otherwise influence, management’s actions that
affect the use of the entity’s economic resources
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Conceptual Framework:
Underlying Assumptions
• The financial statements are normally prepared
on the assumption that an entity is a going
concern and will continue in operation for the
foreseeable future. Hence, it is assumed that the
entity has neither the intention nor the need to
liquidate or curtail materially the scale of its
operations; if such an intention or need exists,
the financial statements may have to be
prepared on a different basis and, if so, the basis
used is disclosed
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Conceptual Framework:
Qualitative Characteristics
Relevance
Fundamental
QCs
Faithful representation
Qualitative
Characteristics Comparability
[QCs]
Enhancing Verifiability
QCs
Timeliness
Understandability
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Conceptual Framework:
Fundamental Qualitative Characteristics
Relevance
• Relevant financial information is capable of making a
difference in the decisions made by users
• Financial information is capable of making a
difference in decisions if it has predictive value,
confirmatory value or both
o Predictive value: can be used to predict future outcomes
o Confirmatory value: gives feedback about previous evaluations
• Material information is relevant
o Information is material if its omission or misstatement would
influence the decisions that users make
o Based on the nature or magnitude, or both
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Conceptual Framework:
Fundamental Qualitative Characteristics
Faithful representation
• Reports substance of transactions or events and not
just their legal form
• Enhances confidence in the information presented
• Reliability of credible and believable information
• Embodies the characteristics of completeness,
neutrality and freedom from error
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Performance
•Income
(changes in
•Expenses
resources & claims)
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Reliable
Probable flow Recognition
measurement
of economic in Financial
of cost or
benefits Statements
value
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Conceptual Framework
• Advantages
• Clarifies the conceptual underpinnings of proposed
accounting standards
• Facilitates decisions on controversial items, by reducing
the scope for personal bias and political pressure
• Enables standards to be developed on a consistent basis
Avoids
the development of accounting standards on a
patchwork basis
• Reduce the need to debate basic issues each time a
standard is developed or revised
• Less open to criticism of yielding to external pressure
when there is conflict between user groups
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Conceptual Framework
• Advantages
• Helps preparers and users of reports understand the
accounting standard board’s approach to setting
standards and the nature and function of information in
general purpose financial statements
• Provides some guidance regarding topics not covered in
accounting standards
Helps preparers and auditors with new issues to carry out
initial analysis in the absence of applicable accounting
standards
• Helps justify accounting practices when they are under
attack in the courts, if they can be shown to be consistent
with a conceptual framework
• May reduce the need for many detailed standards if
accountants can resolve issues by general principles
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Conceptual Framework
• Advantages
• Ease in interpreting information in financial reports
prepared in conformity to framework
• Limits the bounds of judgement and hence
increases comparability
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Conceptual Framework
• Disadvantages
• Inability to satisfy needs of all users of financial
statements and information
• Need for variety of standards for different purposes
due to diversity of user requirements
• Not necessarily easier to prepare and implement
standards prescribed
• Does not eliminate the need for judgment and
ensuing differences in opinion or interpretation
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20X7 20X6
Revenue 390,000 355,000
Cost of sales (245,000) (230,000)
Gross profit 145,000 125,000
Other income 20,667 11,300
Distribution costs (9,000) (8,700)
Administrative expenses (20,000) (21,000)
Other expenses (2,100) (1,200)
Finance costs (8,000) (7,500)
(a)
Share of profit of associates 35,100 30,100
Profit before tax 161,667 128,000
Income tax expense (40,417) (32,000)
Profit for the year from continuing
operations 121,250 96,000
Loss for the year from discontinued operations – (30,500)
PROFIT FOR THE YEAR 121,250 65,500
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• Current/non-current distinction
o Entity must present current and non-current assets as
separate classifications
o Only if a presentation based on the order of liquidity
provides information that is reliable and more relevant may
the current/non-current split be omitted.
o Entity is to disclose any portion of asset or liability which is
expected to be recovered or settled after more than 12
months
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Held primarily for trading purposes or for short term and expected
to be realised within 12 months of balance sheet date; or
CURRENT ASSETS
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Held primarily for trading purposes or for short term and due to be
settled within 12 months of balance sheet date; or
CURRENT LIABILITIES
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31 Dec 31 Dec
20X7 20X6
ASSETS
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment 350,700 360,020
Goodwill 80,800 91,200
Other intangible assets 227,470 227,470
Investments in associates 100,150 110,770
Available-for-sale financial assets 142,500 156,000
901,620 945,460
Current assets
Inventories 135,230 132,500
Trade receivables 91,600 110,800
Other current assets 25,650 12,540
Cash and cash equivalents 312,400 322,900
564,880 578,740
Total assets 1,466,500 1,524,200
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Non-current liabilities
Long-term borrowings 120,000 160,000
Deferred tax 28,800 26,040
Long-term provisions 28,850 52,240
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables 115,100 187,620
Short-term borrowings 150,000 200,000
Current portion of long-term borrowings 10,000 20,000
Current tax payable 35,000 42,000
Short-term provisions 5,000 4,800
Total current liabilities 315,100 454,420
Total liabilities 492,750 692,700
Total equity and liabilities 1,466,500 1,524,200
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XYZ Group – Statement of changes in equity for the year ended 31 December 20X7
Statements
Source: IFRS Foundation - Guidance on Implementing IAS 1 Presentation of Financial
IAS 1: Presentation of Financial Statements (in thousands of currency units) 55
Statement of Changes in Equity Share Retained Translation Available- Cash Revaluation Total Minority Total
capital earnings of foreign for-sale flow surplus interest equity
operations financial hedges
assets
Balance at 1
January 20X6 600,000 118,100 (4,000) 1,600 2,000 - 717,700 29,800 747,500
Changes in
accounting
policy - 400 - - - - 400 100 500
Restated
balance 600,000 118,500 (4,000) 1,600 2,000 - 718,100 29,900 748,000
Changes in
equity for
20X6
Dividends - (10,000) - - - - (10,000) - (10,000)
Total
comprehensive
income for the
(k)
year - 53,200 6,400 16,000 (2,400) 1,600 74,800 18,700 93,500
Balance at
31 December
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20X6 600,000 161,700 2,400 17,600 (400) 1,600 782,900 48,600 831,500
Changes in
equity for
20X7
Issue of share
capital 50,000 - - - - - 50,000 - 50,000
Dividends - (15,000) - - - - (15,000) - (15,000)
Total
comprehensive
income for the
year(l) - 96,600 3,200 (14,400) (400) 800 85,800 21,450 107,250
Transfer to
retained
earnings - 200 - - - (200) - - -
Balance at
31 December
20X7 650,000 243,500 5,600 3,200 (800) 2,200 903,700 70,050 973,750
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Questions
• What are conceptual frameworks? Discuss the main
arguments in favour of and against a conceptual
framework. (UOL 2009 ZA Q6a)
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