Conceptual Framework and Fair Value Accounting

Questions: 1. Explain why principles-based standards require a conceptual framework? 2. Why is it important that the IASB and FASB share a common conceptual framework? 3. It is suggested that several parties can benefit from a conceptual framework. Do you consider that a conceptual framework is more important for some parties than others? Explain your reasoning? 4. What is meant by a 'cross-cutting' issue? Suggest some possible examples of crosscutting issues? 5. What you think is the fundamental problem with financial statements based upon the historic cost measurement principle used under US GAAP? 6. What do you think of the principle' ... accounts must reflect economic reality' as a core principle of measurement in accounting? 7. How would you measure economic reality? 8. What is reliability in accounting? 9. The article states that the US standard setter FASB requires companies to record a provision in relation to environmental costs of retiring an asset ('to reserve environmental liabilities') if its fair value could be reasonably estimated. How do you think companies would go about estimating such a provision? 10. What aspects of the requirements were used by US companies to defer recognition of a liability? 11. In what ways does the recognition of the liability in relation to future restoration activity affect (a) net profit in the current year and future years; and (b) cash flow in the current and future years? 12. The article refers to changes in disclosure requirements relating to environmental liabilities in many countries around the world? Answers: Introduction: This case study is depicting about the framework of IASB and FASB. This case is describing about the development of a conceptual framework that could be obtained from their old projects and existed projects. This framework is to influence and develop all the accounting principles and standard for upcoming years. However, both the boards had many assessments from many previous years which were for taking a step towards commitment with the IFRS. It has been highlighted in the case study that how IFSB and FASB must come together to make a common conceptual framework. Some similarities as well as some differentiation have been found in both the boards. The importance, relevancy, objectives for users of financial statements has been analyzed through this case study. 1. Conceptual Framework: Conceptual framework is basically a technique for doing a work perfectly with the help of many principles and regulations. In case of accounting, it is a theoretical framework of that is made with the help of many aspects such as many assumptions, regulations, rules, principles, guidelines etc. all of these aspects come together to develop and implement a broad concept for accounting (Assessment, 2013). It is a fundamental set which helps an accountant the most while preparing the financial documents. Conceptual Framework requirement: According to the case study, conceptual framework revisiting had been started since 2002. The revision and development of conceptual framework of IASB and FASB both depends upon many characteristics, objectives, criteria etc of the previous framework of both the boards. At the time of revising the frameworks, the main goal of IASB and FASB was to introduce a new common framework which could be used by both the boards easily. This case study has highlighted that the main aim behind this is developing the new accounting standards which would be based upon principles (Hines, 2005). So, it could be said that the main objective of both the companies is introducing the new and common principles for accounting. It has also analyzed through the case study that the common conceptual framework is essential while preparing the final financial documents. It would also help both the boards in understanding the principles of each other and chose the best one among them. It would also be important to understand the uncovered issues and sort it out (Whittington, 2008). These uncovered issues could be related to presentation or disclosure. 2. Common conceptual framework importance: It has been found that United States is taking steps towards adopting the IFRS. At the same time, both the boards are planning to come together for developing common accounting standards. It has also been found that different countries are following different principles for accounting. Some of the principles base upon business, tax oriented or rules. Hence it could be said that all the accounting standards are different from each other (Schroeder, Clark and Cathey, 2001). With the time the framework, principles, guidelines of the accounting become necessity. The main purpose of IASB framework is assisting the standards as well as guides the accountant while preparing financial documents. Further, the case study also described it is useful for auditors, stakeholders, banks, creditors etc. Whereas the framework of FASB is according to interpretation of person and business and this is the main reason behind the dissimilarity of both the boards (McGregor and Street, 2007). The main aim for combining the framework is resolving the disputes, set common principles, helpful for users, ease in comparison etc. 3. Conceptual Framework importance for different parties: It is described as a fundamental objective body. It helps preparer of the financial document in preparing the best presentable statements. Further, the conceptual framework also helps the parties in identifying and analyzing the true condition of a company. It has also been observed that there are many parties who could take benefits from common conceptual framework. Some of the parties are managers, company, accountant, banks, creditors, lenders, suppliers, customers, users etc. The direct beneficiary parties of common framework would be both the boards. As this framework would provide many criteria through which the user of both the boards would be able to present and understand the financial statements. It has been analyzed that analyzer and user of financial statements are more beneficial than the preparer of that statements as while preparation they could adopt any principle but it creates problem while analyzing that documents. 4. Cross Cutting Issues: Cross cutting issues arises at the time of clashing 2 or more principles together. These kinds of issues are more common now days as every individual faces such issues on daily basis. It could also be defined as an especial result while doing operations in a particular field due to the nature (Bierman et al, 2001). These kinds of issues have been provided a special concern in accounting. Few examples of accounting cross cutting issues are these kinds of issues in a business which includes principle, presenting and regulating problem while preparing, presenting and understanding the documents. It has been analyzed that because of different accounting standards and principles, it becomes tough for a person to understand the financial documents. 5. Fundamental Problems of Historical cost technique: The case study depicts that US GAAP has been attached badly for being distorted. Many financial analysts also done a study on it and found that statements prepared under the US GAAP are not at all relevant. The main reason behind this irrelevancy was the technique i.e. historical cost technique as this technique doesnt depict the true value. So it has been suggested to US to replace the technique by fair value accounting. Fair value accounting provides a clear image of organization to the users (Whittington, 2008). The historical technique only describes the previous cost of the asset and could not be used in future prospectus. Further, this technique doesnt consider any changes happening in the market. The financial statements dont reveal the true value under this technique. Thus, there is lot of fundamental issues in this technique (Brinkerhoff, 2005). 6. Economic reality as accountings core principle: Economic and accounting reality might be differ and conflict sometimes. This situation could create issues for the finance manager of organization at the time of deal with lenders, creditors, analyst and investors. It has been found that the companies who uses fair value accounting technique mostly misleads the market and stakeholders through determine a fake value (Brinkerhoff, 2005). Many policy leaders and researchers explained that both the techniques have some pros and cons but if a comparative study has been done on both the techniques than it has been found that fair value accounting technique is far better as the main concern of investors and analyst while study the financial report of a company is to know the real worth of company (Ross, Westerfield and Jordan, 2008). 7. Economic reality Measurement: Basically, economic reality is a method which help a business in identify the transactions nature under a business through determining the real value of business and other circumstances. It also helps a company in determining the real worth of an investment (Lee, 2006). Mostly, the measurement of economic reality is done on the basis of fair value. However, every company chose the different measurement system for determining the value on the basis of reliability (Laux and Leuz, 2009). Many attributes affect the measurement techniques such as traded assets, monetary assets, worth of business, future cash flow, continue operating value etc. Further it has also been analyzed that some calculations are not an issue like depreciation (Dye and Sunder, 2001). Thus it could be said that measurement technique differs from business to business because of the nature of transactions and the geographical area. 8. Reliability Concept in Accounting: Reliability is basically defined as the qualitative information. It is said that the information must be bias free and error free. Further, the information must clear about the actual intend. The reliability of accounts also depends upon the loyalty a preparer has shown while preparing and presenting those statements (Allen and Carletti, 2008). So normally it could be said that the basic pillar of reliability is verifiability and faithfulness. Accounting reliability depends upon all the evidences and their verifiability such as appraisal reports, invoices, purchase receipt, bank statement etc. Documents which have been generated from third part must also be cross verified while checking the reliability of financial statements (Arewa, 2006). It has also been found that sometimes it become difficult for the parties to understand the reliability of the statements because of many factors like reserves, provisions etc. therefore there are some principles also stated with the help of that these issues could also be overcome (Low, Lacasse and Nadim, 2007). So it could be said that reliable accounts must be prepared by every company to make all the users understand about the situation of the company. 9. Environmental Provision Liabilities for companies: This case study explains that every company has some liability towards the environment as most of the pollution happens because of the factories and the manufacturing waste. Therefore it is suggested to the organizations to make some policies and strategies for the benefit of the society and environment (Moser and Ekstrom, 2010). For make a record of such activities and present them, some provisions must be taken care of by all the organizations to record all the attributes of environmental liability. It has been analyzed that the expenses on the sustainability is a kind of waste for the company, but if the same thing has been talked in a broader manner than it is necessary for a company to be in the market and attract more investments towards the projects of the company. All the provisions made by the company regarding the future profit and losses while evaluating the financial situation of the company (Lee, 2006). Thus it could be said that it is mandatory for the company to make provisions for environmental sustainability. 10. Liability Recognition Requirement: It has been clearly mentioned in the case study that all the companies in the country (US) are required to follow the FASB principles and guidelines that has some different provisions in case of environmental recognition liability in an organization. According to the provision of FASB, all the assets who are the cause of more polluted environment must be maintaining environmental liability provision (Evangelinos, Nikolaou and Filho, 2015). Further, it has also been highlighted that the environmental liabilities can only be reserved in a proper manner of fair value concept has been used. The development of such kind of provisions directed in the way of improvement of environmental liability process. However, it has also been analyzed that this kind of provisions are compulsory for every organization to maintain and develop according to the standards to develop the business in the country (Hk, Moldan and Dahl, 2012). It could also be said that if an organization want to survive in the market and want to garb more investment from the market, it becomes compulsory for the company to develop the sustainability program for environment as well as society. 11. Liability Recognition Effect: The sustainability environmental measurement technique implementations leads a company and towards a huge cost investment as company has to spend more money which is not at all useful for the company, if only profitability aim is considered. More, it could also be said that there are many factors which enhance the cost of a company but it could also help a company in gaining the confidence of all the related parties like stakeholders, customers, suppliers, society etc (Moser and Ekstrom, 2010). The net profit of the company could decrease because of such expenses but the goodwill value of the company would surely enhance due to this act. So the planning, execution, implementation etc of corporate social responsibility and is quite important for the company to overall increment of the business. If the cash flow of a business is taking concern than it has forecasted that company has to spent a huge amount on such activities that result in a less profit percentile. But with the time, the company reaches on a position where it could be able to make more profits in fewer percentiles too (Glasson, Therivel and Chadwick, 2013). So it could be said that every organization needed to maintain the CSR and sustainability environment provisions to help the society by taking care of the environment. 12. Environmental Liability Disclosure: Basically, environment liability refers to a duty, every manufacturer have due to the great number of waste while making a product or manufacturing something else. It could also said that this cost can also occur in a business if organization did some stuffs like polluting the environment by many ways or destroying any natural things (Glasson, Therivel and Chadwick, 2013). Now days people are becoming more concern towards the society and environment and thus it is pushing the management of a company to take a step for saving the environment and improve the environment. It is mandatory for every manager to take a concern while planning the budget. A sustainability amount must be maintained by all the accountants to measure the enhancement of environmental performance (Daly and Farley, 2011). Now days every company is following this rules to maintain and recognize goodwill and market value of the business. Environmental sustainability and CSR policies become the main aim of the organiz ation. A good recognition scheme of a business helps a business for enhance the value and goodwill of the business. Conclusion: In can be concluded through study many articles, magazines, case study etc that both the boards are different in nature and the principles of both the boards differ from each other. So it becomes tough for parties to choose a one between them. Thus, it could be said that both the boards must come together to build a common framework. It can be concluded through this study that an important role has always been played by environment and society for running a business. If a business does not concern about the above mentioned factors than there are chances to face the problem in the market for a business. It also enhances the goodwill of the company in the market. References: Allen, F. and Carletti, E., 2008. Mark-to-market accounting and liquidity pricing.Journal of accounting and economics,45(2), pp.358-378. Arewa, O.B., 2006. Measuring and representing the knowledge economy: accounting for economic reality under the intangibles paradigm.Buff. L. Rev.,54, p.1. 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