Many questions have been raised as to whether financial accounting has become more conservative. The value relevance and qualitative characteristics of accounting information have become topics of particular relevance given the role they have assumed in influencing the value judgment of investors in deciding whether or not to invest in a certain market. Given the quality of accounting information – which has resulted in misleading and inaccurate information, it became evident, particularly following Enron's collapse, to adopt improved, enhanced, better quality standards: namely, International Financial Reporting Standards. This chapter considers the background culminating in the adoption of IFRS – as well as the need for the adoption of IFRS. It also highlights why the value relevance of accounting information is also of vital significance in certain emerging economies and why the successful implementation of IFRS in these jurisdictions may be crucial in restoring investor confidence – particularly in the aftermath of stock market crashes in these economies.
TopIntroduction
Post Enron consequences such as the introduction of various legislation – most notable of which is the Sarbanes Oxley Act, as well as the need for embracing International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), have certainly had immense impact, not only within the United States, but also globally.
Part of the problems attributed to Enron's collapse is considered to have originated from the use of off balance sheet instruments. One consequence of the global adoption and implementation of IFRS will be the operation of larger balance sheets since a lot of financial instruments which had not previously been accounted for on the face of the balance sheet, will now be brought under the scope of the balance sheet.
IAS 32 and IAS 39 address off-balance sheet instruments. Off balance sheet instruments created problems in the Parmalat and Enron cases as they were not reflected in the balance sheet – even though sizes could have been as large as two to three times global GDP. The standards bring the financial instruments under the balance sheet. One of the biggest challenges facing the IASB constitutes reconciling IAS 32 and 39 globally – with the US in particular. Other debates relating to IAS 32 and 39 include the distinction between debt and equity as this distinction does not exist in the markets. Bond converts to equity under certain circumstances and vice versa. Under IAS 32 what you could call equity may not be permitted under banking regulation.
There are currently four standards in issue by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB),which relate to financial instruments. These are: IAS 321 financial instruments: presentation; IAS 39 financial instruments: recognition and measurement; IFRS 7 financial instruments: disclosures, and IFRS 9 financial instruments.
As well as being a replacement for IAS 39, IFRS 9 will not be mandatory until 2015 (although early application is permitted).”2
IAS 32 deals with all types of financial instruments, both recognized and unrecognized and should be applied to contracts to buy or sell a non-financial item that can be settled net
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In cash,
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By another financial instrument, or
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By exchanging financial instruments, as if the contracts were financial instruments (with the exception of contracts for the purpose of the receipt or delivery of a non-financial item, in accordance with the entity's expected purchase, sale, or usage requirements).
The presentation requirements for IAS 32 apply to the classification of financial instruments into:
and income should be classified into:
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Related interest;
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Dividends; and
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Losses and gains.3
The International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) refers to a series of accounting pronouncements published by the IASB to help preparers of financial statements, throughout the world to produce and present high quality, transparent, and comparable financial information. (Impey, n. d.).
Globalization is an inevitable process and high quality standards are crucial to securing and restoring the trust reposed by investors in financial and non-financial information (also playing a crucial role in contributing to a country's economic growth and development.
IFRS 1 deals with the First Time Adoption of IFRS
The objective of this International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) is to ensure that an entity's first IFRS financial statements and its interim financial reports for part of the period covered by those financial statements contain high-quality information that is
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Transparent for users and comparable over all periods presented.
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Provides a suitable starting point for accounting under IFRS.
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Can be generated at a cost that does not exceed the benefits to users.