Chapter 1 Flashcards
Objective of financial reporting
The objective of general purpose financial reporting is 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.
Users of financial statements
Internal users include company directors and managers, employees.
External users include existing and potential shareholders, lenders, suppliers and customers, competitors, government agencies, the public, etc.
Conceptual framework for financial reporting
Users of financial information
- Investors, both existing and potential
- Lenders
- Other creditors
Underlying assumptions: define going concern
Going concern means that financial statements are prepared on the assumption that the entity will continue in business for the foreseeable future.
Qualitative characteristics of useful financial information:
Fundamental qualitative characteristics: define relevance
Relevance: information that is capable of making a difference in the decisions made by users. It has predictive value, which helps users to predict future outcomes; and confirmatory value, which helps users to confirm previous evaluations.
Qualitative characteristics of useful financial information:
Fundamental qualitative characteristics: define faithful representation
Faithful representation: information must correspond to the effect of transactions or events and, as far as possible, must be complete (to include all information necessary for a user), neutral (without bias), and free from error (no errors in the description or process).
Underlying assumptions: define accrual accounting
Accrual accounting means that the effects of transactions are recognised when they occur (and not when cash is received or paid) and they are recorded in the accounting records and reported in the financial statements of the periods to which they relate.
Qualitative characteristics of useful financial information:
Enhancing qualitative characteristics: comparability
Comparability: enables users to identify and understand similarities in, and differences among, items for other years and other companies – a comparison relates to at least two items.
Qualitative characteristics of useful financial information:
Enhancing qualitative characteristics: Verifiability
Verifiability: helps assure users that information is faithfully represented – can be direct (e.g. counting cash) or indirect (e.g. calculating inventory valuations using a method such as first-in, first-out).
Qualitative characteristics of useful financial information:
Enhancing qualitative characteristics: Timeliness
Timeliness: means having information available to decision-makers in time to be capable of influencing their decisions – generally the older the information is the less useful it is.
Qualitative characteristics of useful financial information:
Enhancing qualitative characteristics: Understandability
Understandability: means that information is classified, characterised and presented clearly and concisely – financial reports are prepared on the basis that users and their advisers have a reasonable knowledge of business and economic activities.
Qualitative characteristics of useful financial information: Materiality
Materiality: Information is material if omitting it or misstating it could influence the decisions that users make on the basis of financial information about a specific reporting entity
The elements of financial statements
Financial position – the statement of financial position
asset
An asset is a resource controlled by the entity as a result of past events and from which future economic benefits are expected to flow to the entity.
The elements of financial statements
Financial position – the statement of financial position
liability
A liability is a present obligation of the entity arising from past events, the settlement of which is expected to result in an outflow from the entity of resources embodying economic benefits.
The elements of financial statements
Financial position – the statement of financial position
Equity
Equity is the residual interest in the assets of the entity after deducting all its liabilities. It includes funds contributed by shareholders, retained earnings, and other gains and losses.
The elements of financial statements
Financial performance – the statement of profit or loss
Profits or losses
Profits or losses are increases or decreases in equity not resulting from contributions from shareholders. They are the result of comparing income and expenses. Profit is frequently used as a measure of performance.
The elements of financial statements
Financial performance – the statement of profit or loss
Income
Income is an increase in economic benefits in the form of inflows or enhancements in assets that increase equity.
The elements of financial statements
Financial performance – the statement of profit or loss
Expenses
Expenses are decreases in economic benefits in the form of outflows or depletions of assets or the incurring of liabilities that decrease equity.