Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Prepared by
Gregory K. Lowry
Mercer University
Marianne Bradford
The University of Tennessee
Useful
Financial
Information has:
Relevance Reliability
1 Predictive value 1 Verifiable
2 Feedback value 2 Faithful representation
3 Timely 3 Neutral
Comparability
and
Consistency
ILLUSTRATION 7-2
THE OPERATING GUIDELINES OF
ACCOUNTING
Operating guidelines are classified as assumptions,
principles, and constraints.
Assumptions provide a foundation for the accounting
process.
Principles indicate how transactions and other economic
events should be recorded.
Constraints permit a company to modify generally accepted
accounting principles without reducing the usefulness of the
reported information.
Customer Satisfaction
Percentage of
International Employees
Should be included
in accounting records
Salaries paid
ASSUMPTIONS
2 The economic entity assumption states that
economic events can be identified with a
particular unit of accountability.
Example: BMW activities can be
distinguished from those of other car
manufacturers such as Mercedes.
ASSUMPTIONS
3 The time period assumption states that
the economic life of a business can be
divided into artificial time periods.
Example: months, quarters, and years
Incurred
Benefits Decrease
Asset Expense
PRINCIPLES
FULL DISCLOSURE
The full disclosure principle requires that
circumstances and events that make a
difference to financial statement users be
disclosed.
Compliance with the full disclosure principle
is accomplished through
1 the data in the financial statements and
2 the notes that accompany the statements.
A summary of significant accounting policies
is usually the first note to the financial
statements.
PRINCIPLES
COST
The cost principle dictates that assets are
recorded at their cost.
Cost is used because it is both relevant and
reliable.
1 Cost is relevant because if represents a) the
price paid, b) the assets sacrificed, or c) the
commitment made at the date of
acquisition.
2 Cost is reliable because it is a) objectively
measurable, b) factual, and c) verifiable.
CONSTRAINTS IN
ACCOUNTING
Constraints permit a company to modify generally
accepted accounting principles without reducing
the usefulness of the reported information.
The constraints are materiality and conservatism.
1 Materiality relates to an item’s impact on a
firm’s overall financial condition and operations.
2 Conservatism in accounting means that, when
in doubt, the accountant chooses the method
that will be the least likely to overstate assets
and income.
ILLUSTRATION 7-7
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
CONSTRAINTS
Qualitative Elements of
Characteristics of Financial Statements
Accounting Information
Operating Guidelines
Assumptions Principles
CONSTRAINTS
ILLUSTRATION 7-8
STANDARD CLASSIFICATION OF BALANCE SHEET
MED/WASTE COMPANY
Balance Sheet
July 10, 2002
INCOME TAX
ILLUSTRATION 7-11
INCOME STATEMENT WITH INCOME TAXES
46,800
46,800
ILLUSTRATION 7-12
EARNINGS PER SHARE FORMULA -
NO CHANGE IN OUTSTANDING SHARES
Number of Earnings
Net
Income ÷ Shares = per
Outstanding Share
ILLUSTRATION 7-13
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE DISCLOSURE
GENLYTE INC.
Income Statement
For the Year Ended December 31, 2002
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CHAPTER 7
ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES