Ever wondered what does this heavy phrase "The conceptual framework for financial reporting" mean? Show
I have always been wondered with what actually the conceptual framework for accounting is until I dug into this. What is it?In simple words, the conceptual framework for financial reporting ("the Framework") is a basic document that sets objectives and concepts for general purpose financial reporting. We need to make one thing clear in mind that the framework is not an accounting standard, rather acts as a guide for the preparers of the financial statements. It acts as a tool for the management to use judgment in applying accounting policies where a specific standard is not applied. HistoryIn 1989, the Framework for the Preparation and Presentation of Financial Statements was issued by the International Accounting Standards Committee (ISAC) which is now known as the International Accounting Standard Board (IASB). But, then the IASB made amendments to it and the new and finished framework was issued with a new name The Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting in 2010. It stayed in progress for many years and in March 2018, the ISAB issued the final version of the framework which is called The Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting 2018. Why did the IASB revise the Framework?The previous versions of frameworks were useful but incomplete and required improvements:
The changes?The major changes that the ISAB made were:
Let's Get StartedThe new framework has 8 chapters in total and here is the list. We will look at each of these in detail.
The Objective of General Purpose Financial ReportingThe objective of general purpose financial reporting is to provide financial information about the reporting entity that is useful to the existing and potential 1) Investors, 2) Lenders and 3) other creditors to make various decisions. For example about the trading of debt and equity instruments. So what financial information should a reporting entity report in the general purpose financial reports?
Qualitative Characteristics of Useful InformationChapter two of the framework discusses the qualitative characteristics of useful information and there are two types of characteristics:
The first fundamental characteristic is Relevance. Relevant financial information is capable of making a difference in the decisions made by the users of financial information. Here the concept of Materiality applies. So the material information must be presented in the financial information and should not be omitted. The second fundamental characteristic is the Faithful representation. Information should be faithfully represented, meaning that, it should be complete, neutral and free from error. 2. Enhancing: The useful information should have both fundamental as well as Enhancing characteristics. Here the meaning of enhancing characteristics it should be:
Financial Statements and The Reporting EntityChapter 3 discusses the financial statements and the reporting entity. We all are pretty familiar with this chapter from the very early stages of our studies. Let us take a quick recap. Here we are talking about the full financial statements but not only the reporting itself. The entity presents relevant information in the Statement of Financial Position by recognizing Assets, Liabilities, and Equity. The financial performance is provided in the Statement of Financial Performance by recognizing Income and expenses. And, the entity reports financial information in Other Statements where information about elements of the financial statements, cash flow of the entity, assumptions and estimates used, and contributions made by shareholders/ owners, and distributions made to the shareholders is presented. Chapter 3 also discusses the Reporting Entity. The financial statements can be prepared by:
Note that the reporting entity needs not to be a Legal entity!. The reporting entity can present its financial statements in the following way:
Financial reports are always reported for a specified period of time and on a going concern basis. This means that the entity will continue its operation in the foreseeable future. The Elements of Financial StatementsWe are also very familiar with this chapter. The chapter discusses the elements of the financial statements i.e. statement of financial position or traditionally called balance sheet, statement of profit (Income statement) and loss and other comprehensive income. Chapter 4 also discusses the statement of changes in equity, where equity-related transactions reported and statement of cash flows. I will not go into detail since we already know about these statements. Recognition and DerecognitionThis chapter is newly incorporated by the IASB. Although different accounting standards have already given us guidance on the recognition and derecognition of elements of financial statements, the framework incorporated the definition and criteria in this framework where guidance is not available in the specific standards. As per the framework - Recognition is the process of incorporating into the balance sheet or income statement an item that meets the definition of an element and recognition criteria:
Derecognition is the process of removal of an item from the balance sheet or income statement and the criteria to remove the element from the financial statements is the same as mentioned above. Note that, the general definitions of elements of financial statements i.e. Assets, Liabilities, Equity Income, and expenses are very important before an element can be recognized or derecognized. MeasurementChapter 6 talks about measurement. Recognition means when and whether to recognize in the financial statements while measurement means in what amount the element should be recognized. The framework has presented two measurement basis of accounting.
Note that while using the measurement basis of an item we need to consider the relevance and faithful representation of financial information. Presentation and DisclosureHere the concept of effective communication is very important since the presentation and disclosures act as a communication tool for the users of financial information. The communication in the presentation and disclosures in the financial statements will only be effective if it focuses on the objective and principles of the presentation and disclosure but not merely the rules. Moreover, the classification in the presentation and disclosure is also taken care of. Meaning that similar items are grouped and dissimilar items are separated. Concepts of Capital and Capital MaintenanceFinally, the framework laid down the concepts of capital and capital maintenance. However, this chapter is copied from the previous versions of frameworks and there is nothing new here. The framework explains two types of capital:
This is all!!! Want to know about me? My name is Muhammad Shazaib and I am a Chartered Certified Accountant having more than 5 years of international working experience in Audit, Accounting, and Value Added Tax in Pakistan, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Malta (Europe). What are the elements of conceptual framework?Other aspects of the Conceptual Framework—the qualitative characteristics of, and the cost constraint on, useful financial information, a reporting entity concept, elements of financial statements, recognition and derecognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure — flow logically from the objective.
What are the elements of the conceptual framework of financial statements?This chapter defines the five elements of financial statements—an asset, a liability, equity, income and expenses.
What are the two elements of financial statement?The elements of the financial statements will be assets, liabilities, net assets/equity, revenues and expenses.
What are the two bases of financial reporting?The two main types of bases are cash basis and accrual basis accounting. Cash basis records finances when money exchanges hands, while accrual basis when the transaction occurs, whether or not any cash has been received or paid.
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