Financial Reporting Flashcards
What is the primary objective of accounting?
To measure income
What is the most authoritative set of accounting pronouncements?
The FASB Codification
All pronouncements fall under the Codification umbrella
What are the 2 Levels of Authority within the FASB codification?
Authoritative and Non-Authoritative
How does managerial accounting differ from financial accounting?
Managerial Accounting has a timeliness focus
Managerial Accounting is not required to follow GAAP
Which financial reports are required to be filed with the SEC?
Form 10K - Annual and Audited
Form 10Q - Quarterly and Reviewed
What is the focus of financial reports for individual companies?
Focus is on the needs of users to help them make decisions and assessments about the company
Does not make assessments of the economy
What are the Primary Constraints of Financial Reporting?
Cost vs. Benefit
Materiality
What are the Secondary Constraints of Financial Reporting?
Consistency - Year vs. Year
Comparability - Company vs. Company
What are the Primary Qualitative Characteristics of Financial Reporting?
Relevance & Faithful Representation
Relevance - Makes a difference to the user
Includes: “PC”
Predictive Value - Future Trends
Confirming Value - Past Predictions
Materiality - Could affect User Decisions
Faithful Representation
Includes:
Free from Error - No material errors or omissions
Neutrality - Information is presented is without bias
Completeness - Nothing omitted that would impact the decision-making of a user
Roger is never on the “FENCe”
What are the Enhancing Qualitative Characteristics of Financial Reporting?
Comparability, Verifiability, Timeliness, and Understandability
Comparability - Allows users to compare different items among various periods
Understandability - Information is easy to understand
Timeliness - Information is made available early enough to impact the decision making of users
Verifiability - Different people would reach a similar conclusion on the information presented
“CUT” like a “V”
How does Conservatism affect the recording of accounting transactions?
When an estimate is necessary due to uncertainty, conservatism chooses the best option that won’t overstate the financial position of the company
Must consider all risks inherent in the business
What is an accrual?
Earned (Revenue) or Incurred (Expense) but no Cash Receipt/Outlay yet
What is a deferral?
Cash Receipt/Outlay but not Earned (Revenue) or Incurred (Expense)
Describe fair value with respect to an asset
The price you would receive if you sold the asset
Assumes asset is at its highest and best value
Assumes asset is sold at its most advantageous market to get the best price possible (maximizes the price received for the asset, or minimizes the amount paid to transfer the liability)
What market assumptions are made in a fair value assessment?
Buyer and Seller are not Related
Buyer and Seller are Knowledgeable
Buyer and Seller are able to transact - i.e. This isn’t a hypothetical transaction for Fair Value measurement purposes. The buyer actually does have the $10M to purchase the asset you’re trying to value at $10M
Buyer and Seller are both motivated to buy/sell
What items are included in a Level 1 input in the fair value hierarchy?
Quoted Prices from active markets
For example NYSE or NASDAQ
What items are included in a Level 2 valuation input?
Directly or Indirectly observable inputs (other than level 1)
Interest Rates, Prime Rates, Credit Risks, etc
What are acceptable valuation techniques for fair value?
If there is a change in technique, what is this considered?
Market approach - uses market transactions and prices to value the asset
Income approach - uses present value techniques to discount cash flows or earnings
Cost approach - uses replacement cost to value the asset
“MIC”
A change in technique is considered a change in estimate
What items are included in Level 3 inputs of the fair value hierarchy?
Unobservable inputs such as assumptions or forecasts
Lowest priority for valuation
What are current assets?
Cash
Inventory or Assets expected to be converted or consumed during a business’ operating cycle
Deferred Gross Profit on Installment Sales (Contra Asset)
Receivables expected to be collected in 12 months or less
What are current liabilities?
Liabilities that will use current assets during the present operating cycle
What is an accrued liability?
Expense that has been incurred but not paid
Example: rents payable
What is a deferred revenue?
A type of current liability
Payments that have been received but cannot be recorded as revenue yet
Example: Tenant pre-pays rent - Landlord still must perform to earn it and is a liability until this happens
When are revenues recognized?
When they have been earned; i.e. company has performed
What is a gain?
Increase in equity from an activity or event that is not central to the main activities of the business
Can be operating or non-operating
What is a loss?
Decrease in equity from an activity or event that is not central to the main activities of the business
Can be operating or non-operating
What is the present value of future cash flows?
What factors must be considered?
The current value of a future amount of money using a specific interest rate
-Risk: Probability that the cash will actually be paid
-Timing: Periods in which the payments are expected to be received
-Interest Rate
-Amount of CF:
-Traditional Approach: Most likely CF amount
- Expected Approach: Use Weight. Avg of
different possibilities
(10%x$100)+(60%x200)+(30%x$300)=$220
If measuring a liability- must consider credit of other entity.
What is an operating cycle?
Average time it takes to turn materials or services into Cash
What is historical cost?
How much an asset cost - (net of depreciation and amortization)
What is a market cost (fair market value)?
The sale price of an asset or to transfer a liability (Exit Cost)