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 announcements fall under the Codification ‘umbrella’
What is the highest authority within the FASB codification?
FASB SFAS, APB Opinions, ARBs
What is the 2nd highest authority tier in the FASB codification?
FASB Technical Bulletins, SOPs, Industry Guides
What is the lowest authority in the FASB codification?
Industry practices
Whose pronouncements are above industry practice in authority but below FASB Technical bulletins and industry guides within the FASB Codification?
Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)
How does managerial accounting differ from financial accounting?
Managerial Accounting has a “timeliness” focus
Managerial Accounting does not 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 two primary constraints of Financial Reporting?
Cost vs. Benefit
Materiality
What are the secondary constraits of Financial Reporting?
Consistency - Year vs. Year
Comparability - Company vs. Company
Describe ‘Relevance’ as a Qualitative Characteristic
Makes a difference to the user
Includes:
Predictive Value - Future Trends
Confirming Value - Past Predictions
Materiality - Could affect User Decisions
What are the qualities of Faithful Representation?
Completeness - Nothing omitted that would impact the decision-making of a user
Neutrality - Information presented is without bias
Freedom from Error - No material errors or omissions
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
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)
What is recognition in accounting?
When an item is recorded and included in the financial statements
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
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?
Price quotes or market prices
For example, NYSE or NASDAQ
What items are included in a Level 2 valuation input?
Interest rates
Prime rate
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 acceptable valuation techniqures for fair value?
Market approach - uses market transactions and prices to value the asset
Income approach - uses present value discounts earnings
Cost approach - uses replacement cost to value the asset