Accounting transactions are becoming more complex, and more extensive accounting guidance is provided on a continuous basis in the accounting standards. In addition, accounting guidance changes often and additional guidance is added to the standards regularly. In view of this immense amount of accounting knowledge that an accountant can be expected to have, exacerbated by often multifaceted structures in accounting problems, it can be challenging and onerous to solve certain accounting problems. The premise of this study is that accounting problems can also be solved in a less complex manner with reference to the foundational accounting concepts included in the Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting (CF). The solution to the accounting problem using the CF should result in a similar answer had the detailed, complex accounting guidance been consulted. This is based on the understanding that the detailed guidance is consistent with the CF and that the CF is not underdeveloped. In the experience of the author of this dissertation, however, the CF is rarely used to consider the accounting treatment of specific transactions and the first point of reference is usually the detailed, specific guidance. In order to impart a practice of incorporating the CF in problem-solving, the study in this dissertation is underpinned by educational philosophies rooted mainly in constructivism, and specifically in Ausubel’s subsumption theory. Applied to accounting education, this theory suggests a frameworkbased approach whereby educators first instil a detailed knowledge of the CF in an Accounting course and thereafter present details of specific accounting transactions by building and crossreferencing to the foundational concepts in the CF. In addition, the paradigm in Accounting courses should also incorporate problems and experiments through which students can construct their own knowledge, rather than being passive recipients of an educator’s teaching style. Recent literature on framework-based teaching suggests that such an approach is beneficial as it enhances lifelong learning. This study reported on a framework-based approach incorporated in an Accounting course and aimed to determine students’ ability to solve complex accounting problems by referring only to the CF, as well as to determine the factors that could influence their ability to solve the problems and the preferred problem-solving approach of students in facing future accounting problems. In order to address the broad aim of this study, it was divided into two sections, each to identify and analyse a different aspect of accounting problem-solving that incorporated the CF. The study in this dissertation focused mainly on an interpretive research paradigm. The first project had the primary objective of determining whether students have the ability to solve complex accounting problems by using only the CF and determining which factors could influence their ability. This was established by analysing the content and results of an assignment administered to third-year Accounting students at a South African university in which students were required to solve problems using only the CF. The second project had the objective of determining the preferred future approach students will take in solving accounting problems after they have been exposed to a framework-based assignment. This was established through qualitative measures and augmented by a questionnaire to analyse the students’ perceptions. The contributions of this dissertation are manifold and include, but are not limited to, the realisation that a conceptual approach to accounting education is beneficial in Accounting courses. The results in this study indicate that the ability of students to solve complex accounting problems by referring only to the CF may depend on the complexity of the scenario and the students’ familiarity with the problem. In addition, after being exposed to a framework-based assignment, students may tend to prefer a mixed approach in solving accounting problems, which entails a combination of the concepts in the CF and specific accounting guidance governing a particular transaction. The author also believes that this study makes a practical contribution by providing an actual framework-based assignment which can be used or adapted by other Accounting educators to use in similar courses, or to help them develop similar assignments or case studies or to replicate the study. From an educational perspective, it is recommended that Accounting educators incorporate an emphasis on the CF in their teaching approach. As students are exposed to opportunities to exercise their judgement using the concepts included in the CF, they will gain experience in this and be able to exercise better judgement in future. Each time a student is exposed to a problem requiring to be solved using the CF, or is required to make necessary judgements with regard to the CF, it will lead to the creation of new knowledge which the student can constantly link and cross-reference to existing knowledge and experiences. It also appears that, when students are exposed to problem-solving using the CF, it may lead to accountants adopting a more balanced approach by considering more CF constructs in solving future accounting problems. Although the study in this dissertation was conducted at only one university, its implications are by no means limited to this institution. Extrapolation of results cannot be attempted due to the nature of the research design, but the results in this study are valuable and enhance accounting education literature in better understanding students’ problem-solving abilities and their preferred problemsolving approach. The research is therefore valuable to any Accounting educator, as well as the institutional bodies guiding accounting education and its syllabi. It is hoped also that some of the findings will inspire other educational institutions to promote a framework-based approach in an innovative manner. / MCom (Accountancy), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

<p>Under de senaste åren har det kommit fram exempel på att den ekonomiska information som företag lämnar ifrån sig inte alltid ger en rättvisande bild av företagets finansiella ställning och framtidsutsikter. Redovisningsskandalerna i Enron, Worldcom och Parmalat är bara några exempel. Som en följd av att finansiella rapporter ofta innehåller förfalskad eller förvanskad information har krav ställts på mer tillförlitlig och jämförlig rapportering.</p><p>Detta har lett till ett behov av en internationell harmonisering av redovisningsreglerna från företagens intressenter, vilka vill ha gemensamma regler för att bland annat kunna göra jämförelser mellan företag från olika länder och branscher och på så sätt fatta välgrundade investeringsbeslut.</p><p>EU har beslutat att alla noterade koncernföretag inom EU från och med 1 januari 2005 är skyldiga att upprätta sin koncernredovisning enligt de internationella redovisningsstandarderna: IFRS. De nya reglernas syfte är att skapa förutsättningar för en integrerad och effektiv kapitalmarknad genom att förbättra jämförbarheten av redovisningshandlingar på den inre marknaden. De nya reglerna ska också skapa förutsättningar för en gemensam redovisningsstandard världen över. I och med att den internationella jämförbarheten ökar genereras mer jämbördiga ”spelregler” i samband med företagsförvärv.</p><p>Syftet med uppsatsen är att, utifrån en illustrativ studie över fem utvalda årsredovisningar från år 2004, se hur företagen valt att förbereda sig inför de nya IFRS-reglerna, samt hur de tillämpas i årsredovisningarna. Vi vill se om redovisningen i det här förberedande läget har blivit mer öppen och upplysande samt om den ger en mer rättvisande bild av företagen.</p><p>I vår slutsats har vi kommit fram till att vi inte anser att redovisningen har blivit öppnare eller mer jämförbar i de studerade företagen efter införandet av IFRS. Detta beror till stor del på att värderingen av företagens tillgångar bygger på företagens egna subjektiva åsikter, vilket gör att de kan styra värderingen och resultatet dit de vill. Detta värderingsproblem tror vi även kommer att finnas i fortsättningen och det gör att korrekt värdering av företaget aldrig riktigt kommer att visas.</p>

<p>Börsnoterade företag, belägna inom EU, är sedan den 1 januari år 2005 tvingade till att upprätta sina koncernredovisningar i enlighet med normgivaren IASB:s utfärdade regelverk, IAS/IFRS. Grundtanken med det nya regelverket är att kunna skapa en ökad jämförbarhet i redovisningsrapporteringen mellan företag som har sitt säte beläget i olika nationer. På motsvarande sätt finns även målsättningar att stärka konkurrenssituationen hos unionens börsnoterade företag. Uppsatsen syftar till att undersöka tillämpningen av IAS 36 i ett börs-noterat företag. Där standarden IAS 36 behandlar och reglerar nedskrivning av goodwill vid situationer då ett uppkommet nedskrivningsbehov föreligger. Regeln framhåller uttryckligen att ett företag som besitter förvärvad goodwill varje år skall genomföra åtminstone en nedskrivningsprövning och vid behov skriva ned goodwillvärdet, om det är redovisat till ett för högt värde. Undersökningen har utförts genom intervju med en kvalitativ ansats.</p><p>Resultatet av undersökningen påvisar att företaget genom subjektiva bedömningar kan förskjuta en eventuell goodwillnedskrivning framåt i tiden. Detta beror på att företaget genomför sina rörelseförvärv med ansatsen att aldrig avyttra dem, men även genom en alltför optimistisk framtidstro kan undgå nedskrivning. Undersökningen påvisar även att standarden IAS 36 är en regel som kan skapa ökade fluktuationsförändringar i börsens konjunkturförlopp, eftersom nedskrivningar på förvärvad goodwill oftast genomförs under rådande lågkonjunkturer. Därmed kan regeln IAS 36 resultera i att försämra företags redan försvagade resultat. En tillbakagång till de gamla redovisningsreglerna, med en årlig avskrivning på goodwillvärdet, skulle reducera dessa problem, vilket även intervjuobjektet bekräftar.</p>

Börsnoterade företag, belägna inom EU, är sedan den 1 januari år 2005 tvingade till att upprätta sina koncernredovisningar i enlighet med normgivaren IASB:s utfärdade regelverk, IAS/IFRS. Grundtanken med det nya regelverket är att kunna skapa en ökad jämförbarhet i redovisningsrapporteringen mellan företag som har sitt säte beläget i olika nationer. På motsvarande sätt finns även målsättningar att stärka konkurrenssituationen hos unionens börsnoterade företag. Uppsatsen syftar till att undersöka tillämpningen av IAS 36 i ett börs-noterat företag. Där standarden IAS 36 behandlar och reglerar nedskrivning av goodwill vid situationer då ett uppkommet nedskrivningsbehov föreligger. Regeln framhåller uttryckligen att ett företag som besitter förvärvad goodwill varje år skall genomföra åtminstone en nedskrivningsprövning och vid behov skriva ned goodwillvärdet, om det är redovisat till ett för högt värde. Undersökningen har utförts genom intervju med en kvalitativ ansats. Resultatet av undersökningen påvisar att företaget genom subjektiva bedömningar kan förskjuta en eventuell goodwillnedskrivning framåt i tiden. Detta beror på att företaget genomför sina rörelseförvärv med ansatsen att aldrig avyttra dem, men även genom en alltför optimistisk framtidstro kan undgå nedskrivning. Undersökningen påvisar även att standarden IAS 36 är en regel som kan skapa ökade fluktuationsförändringar i börsens konjunkturförlopp, eftersom nedskrivningar på förvärvad goodwill oftast genomförs under rådande lågkonjunkturer. Därmed kan regeln IAS 36 resultera i att försämra företags redan försvagade resultat. En tillbakagång till de gamla redovisningsreglerna, med en årlig avskrivning på goodwillvärdet, skulle reducera dessa problem, vilket även intervjuobjektet bekräftar.

Under de senaste åren har det kommit fram exempel på att den ekonomiska information som företag lämnar ifrån sig inte alltid ger en rättvisande bild av företagets finansiella ställning och framtidsutsikter. Redovisningsskandalerna i Enron, Worldcom och Parmalat är bara några exempel. Som en följd av att finansiella rapporter ofta innehåller förfalskad eller förvanskad information har krav ställts på mer tillförlitlig och jämförlig rapportering. Detta har lett till ett behov av en internationell harmonisering av redovisningsreglerna från företagens intressenter, vilka vill ha gemensamma regler för att bland annat kunna göra jämförelser mellan företag från olika länder och branscher och på så sätt fatta välgrundade investeringsbeslut. EU har beslutat att alla noterade koncernföretag inom EU från och med 1 januari 2005 är skyldiga att upprätta sin koncernredovisning enligt de internationella redovisningsstandarderna: IFRS. De nya reglernas syfte är att skapa förutsättningar för en integrerad och effektiv kapitalmarknad genom att förbättra jämförbarheten av redovisningshandlingar på den inre marknaden. De nya reglerna ska också skapa förutsättningar för en gemensam redovisningsstandard världen över. I och med att den internationella jämförbarheten ökar genereras mer jämbördiga ”spelregler” i samband med företagsförvärv. Syftet med uppsatsen är att, utifrån en illustrativ studie över fem utvalda årsredovisningar från år 2004, se hur företagen valt att förbereda sig inför de nya IFRS-reglerna, samt hur de tillämpas i årsredovisningarna. Vi vill se om redovisningen i det här förberedande läget har blivit mer öppen och upplysande samt om den ger en mer rättvisande bild av företagen. I vår slutsats har vi kommit fram till att vi inte anser att redovisningen har blivit öppnare eller mer jämförbar i de studerade företagen efter införandet av IFRS. Detta beror till stor del på att värderingen av företagens tillgångar bygger på företagens egna subjektiva åsikter, vilket gör att de kan styra värderingen och resultatet dit de vill. Detta värderingsproblem tror vi även kommer att finnas i fortsättningen och det gör att korrekt värdering av företaget aldrig riktigt kommer att visas.

The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and the United States Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) have reaffirmed their commitment to accomplishing the convergence of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and US Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (US GAAP), following their March 2010 progress report. Among the standards subject to this convergence project, is IAS 23 - Borrowing Costs. Taken at face value, the convergence of IAS 23 (IFRS) and SFAS 34 (US GAAP), and looking at convergence in general, the idea is productive and beneficial. It will lead to more comparative information as it eliminates the differences. The downside, however, could very easily be that convergence might just be taking place for the sake of convergence, and that the end result might not necessarily lead to more comparative and cost effective information. When specifically considering the convergence of the two borrowing costs standards (SFAS 34 and IAS 23), it is clear that differences remain even after their convergence, and therefore it does not promote comparability. The revision of IAS 23 might actually have been more costly and less beneficial, rather than the other way around. The first article in this dissertation claims that the mandatory capitalisation of borrowing costs is more costly than not, and that the IASB did not adequately consider the cost implications in their decision to change IAS 23, as well as that the benefits obtained from the capitalisation of borrowing costs are not that noticeable in practice. Participants in this study also seemed to agree that the application of IAS 23 is fairly difficult. Delving deeper into the technical aspects of IAS 23, a number of questions also arise relating to its application. This appears to be substantiated by the findings in the second article where instances were identified where the opinions of the participants relating to, for instance, what would be regarded as a 'substantial period of time', were divided. Differences relating to the above above viii may lead to one person capitalising borrowing costs, while another in the same situation would not. On the upside, a few instances were identified where participants were not as divided in their views. Therefore, although there appear to be some uncertainties within IAS 23, there are fewer than one would have expected. In summary, the revised IAS 23, in other words, the mandatory capitalisation of borrowing costs on qualifying assets, was viewed by participants as being more costly and difficult to apply than not and they felt that some technical uncertainties do exist within IAS 23. Recommendations have been made in this dissertation based on the useful information obtained. / Thesis (M.Com. (Accountancy))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and the United States Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) have reaffirmed their commitment to accomplishing the convergence of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and US Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (US GAAP), following their March 2010 progress report. Among the standards subject to this convergence project, is IAS 23 - Borrowing Costs. Taken at face value, the convergence of IAS 23 (IFRS) and SFAS 34 (US GAAP), and looking at convergence in general, the idea is productive and beneficial. It will lead to more comparative information as it eliminates the differences. The downside, however, could very easily be that convergence might just be taking place for the sake of convergence, and that the end result might not necessarily lead to more comparative and cost effective information. When specifically considering the convergence of the two borrowing costs standards (SFAS 34 and IAS 23), it is clear that differences remain even after their convergence, and therefore it does not promote comparability. The revision of IAS 23 might actually have been more costly and less beneficial, rather than the other way around. The first article in this dissertation claims that the mandatory capitalisation of borrowing costs is more costly than not, and that the IASB did not adequately consider the cost implications in their decision to change IAS 23, as well as that the benefits obtained from the capitalisation of borrowing costs are not that noticeable in practice. Participants in this study also seemed to agree that the application of IAS 23 is fairly difficult. Delving deeper into the technical aspects of IAS 23, a number of questions also arise relating to its application. This appears to be substantiated by the findings in the second article where instances were identified where the opinions of the participants relating to, for instance, what would be regarded as a 'substantial period of time', were divided. Differences relating to the above above viii may lead to one person capitalising borrowing costs, while another in the same situation would not. On the upside, a few instances were identified where participants were not as divided in their views. Therefore, although there appear to be some uncertainties within IAS 23, there are fewer than one would have expected. In summary, the revised IAS 23, in other words, the mandatory capitalisation of borrowing costs on qualifying assets, was viewed by participants as being more costly and difficult to apply than not and they felt that some technical uncertainties do exist within IAS 23. Recommendations have been made in this dissertation based on the useful information obtained. / Thesis (M.Com. (Accountancy))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

This study examined the lobbying of the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) by South African companies. The aim of this study was to establish the timing and methods of lobbying of the IASB by South African companies. Central to this study was the seminal work of Sutton (1984), predicting when and how companies lobby an accounting standard-setter. The research hypotheses for this study were formulated on the basis of Sutton’s (1984) predictions. The online questionnaire in this study was distributed to the top 100 JSE primary listed companies in order to collect primary data to test the four hypotheses regarding the timing, methods and perceived effectiveness of lobbying by South African companies. The findings of the empirical investigation indicated that most South African companies lobby later in the due process of the IASB and prefer using their auditors to support their views at the IASB. The findings are subject to certain limitations that are addressed in the study. Lastly, the researcher provided recommendations for future research in accounting standard-setting in South Africa. / Financial Accounting / M. Phil. (Accounting Sciences)

As a response to the financial crisis of 2008 the IASB and the FASB developed IFRS 9 and ASC 326, respectively. These accounting regulations are supposed to increase reporting transparency and promote financial stability by determining the calculation and recognition of loan loss provisions. However, previous literature has brought up concerns that loan loss provisions can negatively impact the lending activity in banks. If that was the case, they would negatively affect the amount of capital available in an economy and thereby threaten financial stability and economic growth especially during times of economic downturns. To shed light on this topic, this thesis investigates the relationship between loan loss provisions and lending activity in banks applying IFRS and US GAAP. The thesis provides practical as well as theoretical implications as it discusses the findings in a practical context and relates it to relevant theories.  The dataset utilized includes empirical data from Q1 2020 until Q4 2022 and covers 330 banks from 38 countries. The data was gathered from Refinitiv´s Eikon database as well as from the International Monetary Fund. It was then statistically analyzed by conducting different kinds of statistical inference. All methods applied are of a quantitative nature and the underlying methodology is positivist. The results of this thesis suggest that loan loss provisions under IFRS 9 are on average higher than under ASC 326. Further, it was found that loan loss provisions under IFRS 9 exhibit a statistically significant negative relationship with lending activity. In contrast, this relationship was found to be insignificant under ASC 326. Together, these findings suggest that higher loan loss provisions have a negative effect on lending activity. It is concluded that the impairment model of IFRS 9 might compromise financial stability by limiting lending activities during times of economic turmoil.  Additionally, due to the increased room for managerial judgment under IFRS 9 it is theorized that the higher loan loss provisions can be the result of earnings management. Loan loss provisions under IFRS 9 could thus be more supported by Agency theory. On the other hand, ASC 326 offers less room for managerial discretion and could be more supported by Stewardship theory. This thesis also suggests topics for potential future research. The knowledge about loan loss provisions and their effects on lending activity could be extended by using different variables in the regression model. Additionally, a longer timeframe as well as other accounting standards could be investigated. Furthermore, the effects of loan loss provisions on loan quality and risk management in banks are in need of further examination. Lastly, the capital requirements of Basel III and their impact on procyclicality should be researched.

The aim of this thesis is to create a comprehensive view of financial reporting of lease contracts from lessee's and lessor's point of view in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (US GAAP). The thesis is divided into four parts. The first part is devoted to basic characteristics of the lease and its reporting according to the currently applicable standards - IAS 17 and ASC 840. Content of the next part is Convergence of Accounting Standards. Second half of the thesis focuses on the Exposure Draft and Comment Letters.