A review and revision of the Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting

Due Date:

Maximum word length: 3000 words

Research topic: A review and revision of the Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting

Refer to: https://www.ifrs.org/projects/2018/conceptual-framework/

In January 2013, the International Accounting Standards Board commenced the process of reviewing and revising the existing Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting and subsequently release a discussion paper in July 2013. Within this discussion paper, the IASB identified a number of problems with the existing Conceptual Framework at the time, specifically:

(a) important areas were not covered. For example, the existing Conceptual Framework provided very little guidance on measurement, presentation, disclosure or how to identify a reporting entity;

(b) the guidance in some areas was unclear. For example, the existing definitions of assets and liabilities could be improved; and

(c) some aspects of the existing Conceptual Framework are out of date and fail to reflect the current thinking of the IASB. For example, the existing Conceptual Framework states that an asset or a liability should be recognised only if it is probable that there will be a flow of economic resources.

https://www.ifrs.org/-/media/project/conceptual-framework/discussion-paper/published-documents/dp-conceptual-framework.pdf

This Discussion Paper suggested that the IASB should make the following significant changes to the existing Conceptual Framework:

(a) a revised statement of the primary purpose of the Conceptual Framework;

(b) revised definitions of assets and liabilities;

(c) additional guidance on applying the definitions of assets and liabilities;

(d) revised guidance on when assets and liabilities should be recognised;

(e) new guidance on when assets and liabilities should be derecognised;

(f) a new way to present information about equity claims against the reporting entity;

(g) a new section on the concepts that should guide the IASB when it selects measurements in a new or revised Standard or Interpretation; (h) a new section on presentation and disclosure;

and (i) principles for distinguishing profit or loss from other comprehensive income (OCI).

https://www.ifrs.org/-/media/project/conceptual-framework/discussion-paper/published-documents/dp-conceptual-framework.pdf

Subsequent to this, on 29 March 2018, the IASB issued the revised Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting (Conceptual Framework), which set out:

• (a) the objective of financial reporting;
• (b) the qualitative characteristics of useful financial information;

(c) a description of the reporting entity and its boundary;

(d) definitions of an asset, a liability, equity, income and expenses;

• (e) criteria for including assets and liabilities in financial statements (recognition) and guidance on when to remove them (derecognition);
• (f) measurement bases and guidance on when to use them; and
• (g) concepts and guidance on presentation and disclosure
• Refer to: https://www.ifrs.org/news-and-events/2018/03/iasb-completes-revisions-to-its-conceptual-framework/

Required

1. With reference to the IASB Conceptual Framework Project website and associated resources, as well as the relevant accounting literature, explain why the IASB decided to revise the conceptual framework with specific reference to:
   1. Measurement, presentation and disclosure;
   2. Definitions of an asset and liability and recognition criteria; and
   3. The roles of stewardship and prudence in financial reporting
2. Identify and explain, according to the IASB, the following main improvements which have been made to the conceptual framework:
   1. Factors to be considered when selecting a measurement basis;
   2. The classification of income and expenses in other comprehensive income; and
   3. Guidance on when assets and liabilities are to be removed from financial statements;
3. How does the revised conceptual framework update:
   1. The definitions of an asset and a liability; and
   2. The criteria for including assets and liabilities in financial statements
4. Explain how and why, with reference to the IASB Conceptual Framework Project website and associated resources, information used in assessing stewardship is needed to achieve the objective of financial reporting.
5. With reference to the references below, identify and explain arguments as to whether the conceptual framework needed to be revised in order to provide the IASB with a better basis for standard setting

References

Richard Barker (2015) Conservatism, prudence and the IASB’s conceptual framework,Accounting and Business Research, 45:4, 514-538, DOI: 10.1080/00014788.2015.1031983

Arjan Brouwer, Martin Hoogendoorn & Ewout Naarding (2015) Will the changes proposed to the conceptual framework’s definitions and recognition criteria provide a better basis for IASB standard setting?, Accounting and Business Research, 45:5, 547-571, DOI: 10.1080/00014788.2015.1048769

Craig, R., Smieliauskas, W. and Armenic, J. (2017), ‘Estimation Uncertainty and the IASB’s Proposed Conceptual Framework’, Australian Accounting Review, 27 (1): 112–14.

Andrew Lennard (2007) Stewardship and the Objectives of Financial Statements: A Comment on IASB’s Preliminary Views on an Improved Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting: The Objective of Financial Reporting and Qualitative Characteristics of Decision-Useful Financial Reporting Information, Accounting in Europe, 4:1, 51-66,DOI: 10.1080/17449480701308774

Sutton, Cordery, & Zijl (2015) Sutton, D. B. , Cordery, C. J. , & Zijl, T. (2015). The purpose of financial reporting: The case for coherence in the conceptual framework and standards. Abacus, 51(1), 116–141

Submission requirement

1. Assignment submission
   1. Each group consists of no more than three members.
   2. Submission of this assignment by due date is compulsory for the successful completion of the subject.
   3. The submitted hardcopy of the assignment must be the identical version of the electronic copy submitted through the Dropbox (i.e. Turnitin) on VU Collaborate. Inconsistence in the hardcopy and the electronic copy may result in a zero mark of the assignment.

Note: If you cannot submit your assignment through the Dropbox on VU Collaborate due to technical issue, then email your assignment to your tutor or lecturer no later than the due date.

1. The Turnitin/Dropbox Similarity Report should be no more than 25%.
2. Late submission without the extension approval from your local lecturer will be penalised at two marks (out of 20) per calendar day (including weekend).
3. Completed extension application form must be submitted to your tutor at least three days in advance of the due date.
4. Students are responsible to protect their work and save data by making necessary backup. Loss of data due to a computer or storage devices problems will not be considered a legitimate reason for an extension.

2. Referencing and style

• Assignment must be typed using Word document, with double alignment, and 1.5-lines space.
• Assignment is required to use either an APA or Harvard referencing style (see VU library for Referencing Style guides https://www.vu.edu.au/library/access-borrowing/search-browse-resources/library-guides
• Assignment without proper referencing (in text and end of text) will be subject to substantial deduction of marks. This may result in the assignment being marked zero.

3. Preventing plagiarism

3.1 Academic Honesty and Preventing Plagiarism Policy

Plagiarism is defined as ‘The practice that involves use of another person’s intellectual output and presenting it (without appropriate acknowledgement) as one’s own’.

Examples of plagiarism:

• Word-for-word copying of sentences/paragraphs in an assignment without acknowledgement or with insufficient or improper acknowledgement;
• Downloading essays or assignments from the web and presenting these for assessment;
• Presenting another student’s work or research data as the student’s work;
• Copying out parts of any text without acknowledging the source(s). This may be written text, structures within texts, diagrams, formulae, sound files, still photographs, audio-visual material (sound and image files), graphics/animations/multimedia objects, other computer based material, mathematical proofs, art objects, products and others. This can be done as verbatim copying or paraphrasing.
• The use of someone else’s concepts, experimental results, experimental conclusions or conclusions drawn from analysing evidence or arguments without acknowledging the originator of the idea(s) or conclusion(s).

3.2 Students are responsible for:

• Understanding and respecting the University’s policies and procedures regarding plagiarism, collusion, and other forms of academic misconduct, and as such should only submit work for correction or academic credit that is their own or that properly acknowledges the ideas, interpretations, words or creative works of others;
• Avoiding the lending or making accessible original work to others;
• Being clear about the appropriate referencing rules that are applicable to their field of study;
• Refusing to be a party to another student’s efforts to undermine the academic integrity of the University.
• Seeking assistance with their learning and assessment tasks if they are unsure of appropriate forms of acknowledgement.

Assignment Marking Sheet

Student Name………………………………………..Student No……………….