Conceptual Framework: Objectives and Fundamentals
Discuss About The Development Current In Accounting Thought?
As per FASB, conceptual framework refers to a body comprising of certain fundamentals and objectives that are essentially interlinked. The objectives tend to resonate with the underlying purpose of financial reporting while the key concepts in place to fulfil the objectives are known as the fundamentals (Deegan, 2014, p.214). The IFRS exposure draft highlights that the conceptual framework foundation is derived on the basis of the objectives to be served by the general purpose financial reporting (Alexander et. al., 2007, pp. 120-121). Hence, the various concepts and principles outlined as part of the conceptual framework must ensure that the underlying financial reporting objectives may be met or it would lose its relevance. Various stakeholders such as creditors, lenders, investors (existing & potential) have information needs as they need to take decisions but do not have direct access to the reporting entity. As a result, the financial reporting is intended to fulfil the information needs of these primary users in order to facilitate decision making. Also, it is imperative to note that the financial reporting aims to satiate the information needs of the highest number of primary users and not necessarily all (International Accounting Standards Board [IASB], 2010, pp. 8-11).
In order to meet the various objectives, certain qualitative characteristics need to be possessed by the accounting information. One of these is understandability which essentially depends on the comprehension skills of the intended users but is critical so as to use the information for decision making. A primary qualitative characteristic is relevance which implies that the represented information must be able to make a difference to the decision making. Three characteristics tend to highlight the relevance namely predictive value, feedback value and timeliness. It is imperative that the information provided must be able to shed light on the future expected earnings of the reporting entity and also must be furnished early enough so that the user is able to use the same in making key decisions. Another primary qualitative characteristic to be met by the information provided is faithful representation. This implies that the information that is reported must represent the underlying phenomenon, it aims to represent in a faithful manner. Three essential parameters that need to be fulfilled in this regard are neutrality, error free and completeness (IFRS Foundation, 2015, pp.27-32).
There is an intrinsic tradeoff between relevance and faithful representation. On one hand, it is imperative that the information must be faithfully represented but on the other hand it must be provided in a timely manner so that the same could be used for decision making. In this regards, relevance should be considered as superior to faithful representation as it is essential that information must be provided to the intended users when these are relevant. Reliable or faithfully representative information provided after the relevance has ended would defeat the purpose of financial reporting. Also, the objective of financial reporting is not to depict the true value of the firm but rather to provide estimates about the potential future value. Further, the management could provide suitable disclosures with regards to information which could highlight the inherent limitations in terms of faithful representation. In order to determine whether it is feasible or not, it is noteworthy that faithful representation aims at error free financial reporting and does not imply fully accurate reporting. While 100% accuracy is not intrinsically feasible, but it is possible for the financial statements to be framed and reported in a manner such that there is no error and all the applicable standards, conventions and management judgements have ben correctly applied (IFRS Foundation, 2015, pp.27-32). Aiming for 100% accuracy in financial reporting is counterintuitive and not prescribed as part of faithful representation. Hence, faithful representation of financial information is very much possible in the future in accounting
Qualitative Characteristics for Accounting Information
Accounting theory in the recent times has seen essentially theoretical approaches namely normative (1955-1970) and positive (1970 onwards). Normative accounting theory refers to a theory which does not have basis is observation but is rather prescriptive with regards to how things should be done. A positive accounting theory on the other hand is descriptive and tends to analyse and highlight how and why things are being done in their present form (Matthews & Perera, 1996, pp. 57). One of the most common normative theories in relation to measurement is the Historical Cost Accounting (HCA). This implies that the various transactions be recorded and represented in the financial statements based on their historical cost only (Deegan, 2014, pp.164-165). There are many benefits associated with the use of HCA. Firstly, there is lack of bias in this method as the underlying values can be independently and objectively verified. Secondly, it tends to limit the role of personal judgements and ensure that the values are not disputable. Thirdly, it has high acceptability amongst various stakeholders which is why this system has continued for so long or else there would have been a change already. However, there are certain limitations of HCA which opens it to criticism and look for alternatives (ICAEW, 2006, pp.21-23).
One of the criticisms levelled against HCA deals with the assumption that no consideration of inflation needs to be taken which is incorrect as there is gradual erosion of value of money. This leads to the transactions not being recorded at the historic cost. Another issue is in the form of overstated profits where the revenues are adjusted for inflation but the costs are measured at historical values. Thus, there is an underreporting of costs as adjustment for inflation is not permissible in HCA. Further, with regards to assets, the actual market value of the asset may be significantly in variation with the historical cost and hence the market value of the assets needs to be reported or else it presents an incorrect view. This problem becomes even graver in the wake of growing importance and value of intangible assets (Deegan, 2014, pp. 160-174). Recognising this, the HCA was modified to as to ensure that certain assets are not realised at their historical cost but at the current realisable value so as to accommodate certain assets which were not compatible with HCA.
An alternative to HCA emerged in the form of CPPA (Current Purchasing Power Accounting) which tends to take inflation into consideration and hence enables the HCA to do away with this limitation. The various advantages of HCA also apply to CPPA as the only difference is readjustment of values to take inflation into consideration which can be objectively determined. However, a major limitation of CPPA is that the general inflation is applied to all the items while the respective value of price change for each of these would be different. Owing to the difficulties involved with CPPA, CCA (Current Cost Accounting) entered into the frame. In this also, there is revision of values but the same is not driven by changes in general price index but by current cost or replacement cost. In this approach, assets tend to be represented at the replacement value and not the historical cost. However, concerns are raised about the objective determination of the realisable value of assets especially in case of intangible assets. Also, verification becomes difficult in this case for the intended users (ICAEW, 2006, pp. 21-37).
Alternative Accounting Theories
Yet another alternative to the constant price assumption of HCA is the Continuously Contemporary Accounting (CoCoA) which prescribes the monetary value is dynamic and hence it makes sense to report the various items in terms of cash equivalent as on date. Even though this model was easy to apply and also relevant for the information needs of the intended users, but still the users of this system were few as this represented a shift to exit price system. Additionally, this model was highly dependent on the ongoing market value of the asset which may be at stark contract with the estimated value by the firm internally. Finally, this paved way to the fair value accounting or FVA approach where the assets and liabilities were recorded at their market value and hence revaluation was done on a periodic basis so as to ensure that the true value is represented. However, there are issues with this system which are similar CPA which tend to make the investors apprehensive especially at a time when the risks associated with various instruments is not completely understood (ICAEW, 2006,pp. 21-37).
The underlying criteria for success would be the number of users. In this regard, it may be concluded that fair value accounting has been fairly successful and the user base is on the increase. Further, MHCA has also been successful as the old HCA model has very little relevance considering the inability to recognise intangible assets. The others have had limited success and hence currently not much
The building blocks of a conceptual framework are highlighted below (AASB, 2001, pp. 12).
- Scope & subject of the discipline – For defining this, consideration needs to be given to the reporting entity (subject) and the concept of financial reporting (scope). This is critical as the various concepts or principles need to directly or indirectly relate to the same so as to have relevance.
- Objectives – It is imperative to keep the objectives in mind which essentially relate to why financial reporting needs to be done keeping in mind the various intended users and their underlying uses.
- Outlining the fundamentals – Once the scope, subject and objectives have been linked, it is essential to set the fundamental principles that need to be adhered. These refer to the key qualitative characteristics that the financial statements must adhere to. Also the essential elements are defined which form the basis of reporting.
- Operational – These tend to relate the operationalizing the key fundamentals by highlighting the key recognition and measurement criteria relating to the subject keeping in mind the fundamental principles and the final objectives to be met.
- Display – Once the various financial information has been recognised and measured, then the same needs to be displayed in various formats that tend to be consistent with the above principles and need to be detailed so that the reporting entity have required guidelines.
- Policy of standard setting – It is essential that finally there needs to be key concepts in relation to setting of standards which ensure that there is less ambiguity and more uniformity in reporting.
- Enforcement – Finally, monitoring needs to be carried out in order to enhance the enforcement level.
One of the key advantages associated with conceptual framework is that it leads to harmonisation of accounting standards which are followed in various geographies as the key concepts tend to be based on the framework while suitable customization may be done in wake of the local environment. Another key advantage is that the conceptual framework acts as guidance for the standard setters who continuously tend to ensure that the key principle highlighted is not violated by the current accounting standards and tend to bring suitable modifications in order to enhance conformity (AASB, 2001,pp. 5-6).
However, there are certain criticisms of conceptual framework as well. One of the key criticisms is with regards to the definition of liabilities which is quite general and difficult to apply in specific cases. Further, in case of IASB conceptual framework, the terms used for the definition of both assets and liabilities seem very similar. Also, the recognition of assets and liabilities is based on probability which is intrinsically subjective. Besides, it is also argued that conceptual framework tends to lack specific principles with certain aspects which are increasingly becoming more important such as lease accounting. Further, some scholars question on the possibility of a true conceptual framework in a scenario where there is lack of consensus in relation to basic accounting elements definition. The incremental approach used for the conceptual framework has also come under criticism from various corners as it is biased towards historical conventions (Deegan, 2014, pp. 259-261). I tend to agree with most of these criticisms but at the same time considering the enormity of the task, I would consider that conceptual framework is a step in the right direction with its limitations. But, it is a step in the right direction as it leads to consensus building and harmonisation in the long run
References
Alexander, D; Britton, A. & Jorissen, A. (2007). International Financial Reporting and Analysis, 3rd edn., Hong Kong: Thomson.
Australian Accounting Standards Board [AASB]. (2001). The Nature and Purpose of Statements of Accounting Concepts (Policy Statement PS5). Retrieved from https://www.aasb.gov.au/admin/file/content102/c3/ACCPS5_07-01.pdf
Deegan, C. (2014). Financial Accounting Theory (4th ed.). McGraw-Hill: Sydney
IFRS Foundation. (2015). Exposure Draft ED/2015/3: Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting, May 2015. Retrieved from https://www.ifrs.org/-/media/project/conceptual-framework/exposure-draft/published-documents/ed-conceptual-framework.pdf
Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales [ICAEW]. (2006). Measurement in Financial Reporting: Information for better markets initiative. Retrieved from https://www.icaew.com/-/media/corporate/files/technical/financial-reporting/information-for-better-markets/ifbm/measurement-in-financial-reporting.ash
International Accounting Standards Board [IASB]. (2010). Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting 2010. Retrieved from https://www.ifrs.org/News/Press-Releases/Documents/ConceptualFW2010vb.pdf
Mathews, M. R. & Perera, M. H. B. (1996). Theory construction in accounting. In Accounting theory and development, 3rd edn., Melbourne: Thomas Nelson.
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