The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants recently made a decision to adopt accounting standards issued by the International Accounting Standards Committee rather than continuing to develop standards locally. Reasons used to justify this policy change include: the lack of resources to develop accounting standards from a zero base and, with what has been classified as the sub-standard financial reporting that occurs in South Africa. By adopting International Accounting Standards, amending the standard-setting process and providing legal backing for these standards, the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants aims to improve the standard of financial reporting. It will be argued that this decision will effect the contribution preparers of financial statements make to the standard-setting process. Corporate management as preparers of financial information participate in this process by reacting to proposed statements of generally accepted accounting practice in a number of ways, including lobbying the standard-setting body. This thesis aims to establish the views of South African corporate managers to the proposed changes to the accounting standard-setting process which incorporates the adoption of international accounting standards. To achieve this objective, the responses of South African corporate managers to the first six exposure drafts issued by the Accounting Practices Committee based on International Accounting Standards are examined to supply evidence that is descriptive in nature and which provides additional support for the findings of the empirical study. Forty hypotheses were developed and tested in an attempt to establish the views of executives to various issues relating to the accounting standard-setting process, corporate managers as the producers of firm specific financial information, the regulation of accounting, management incentive schemes and the international harmonisation of accounting standards. The tests of the hypotheses together with the findings of the individual case studies, provide evidence to suggest that this new disposition effectively marginalises South African corporate managers from the accounting standard-setting process. Finally, it is concluded that the existence of a management compensation/incentive scheme, is unlikely to influence corporate management's reaction to a proposed accounting standard. / Auditing / D. Compt. (Applied Accountancy)

The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants recently made a decision to adopt accounting standards issued by the International Accounting Standards Committee rather than continuing to develop standards locally. Reasons used to justify this policy change include: the lack of resources to develop accounting standards from a zero base and, with what has been classified as the sub-standard financial reporting that occurs in South Africa. By adopting International Accounting Standards, amending the standard-setting process and providing legal backing for these standards, the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants aims to improve the standard of financial reporting. It will be argued that this decision will effect the contribution preparers of financial statements make to the standard-setting process. Corporate management as preparers of financial information participate in this process by reacting to proposed statements of generally accepted accounting practice in a number of ways, including lobbying the standard-setting body. This thesis aims to establish the views of South African corporate managers to the proposed changes to the accounting standard-setting process which incorporates the adoption of international accounting standards. To achieve this objective, the responses of South African corporate managers to the first six exposure drafts issued by the Accounting Practices Committee based on International Accounting Standards are examined to supply evidence that is descriptive in nature and which provides additional support for the findings of the empirical study. Forty hypotheses were developed and tested in an attempt to establish the views of executives to various issues relating to the accounting standard-setting process, corporate managers as the producers of firm specific financial information, the regulation of accounting, management incentive schemes and the international harmonisation of accounting standards. The tests of the hypotheses together with the findings of the individual case studies, provide evidence to suggest that this new disposition effectively marginalises South African corporate managers from the accounting standard-setting process. Finally, it is concluded that the existence of a management compensation/incentive scheme, is unlikely to influence corporate management's reaction to a proposed accounting standard. / Auditing / D. Compt. (Applied Accountancy)

M.Comm. (International Accounting) / Recently, there has been a spate of reported cases of large corporate entities paying very little, or no income tax, despite the appearance of being profitable. Enron conducted a lot of business through special purpose vehicle (SPV) companies that were structured specifically for the purpose of paying very little, if any, corporate tax, without having to reduce reported book net profits to achieve this. A study in October 2012 of Starbucks by Reuters found that the company had reported no profits and had paid no income tax for the previous 3 financial years in the United Kingdom despite sales of 1.2 billion pounds. By comparison, McDonalds had to pay tax of 80 million pounds based on a turnover of 3.6 billion pounds, and KFC paid 36 million pounds in taxes on 1.1 billion pounds turnover in the United Kingdom. Another company highlighted for paying no tax is the giant Internet company, Ebay. In its latest financial period the company paid 1 million pounds in tax, on a turnover of 800 million pounds. Again complicated tax structures are at the centre of the tax computation. Consideration has to be given to the role played by the accounting standards, if any, in this scenario, and the extent of the role played by accounting treatments. One has to question if accounting treatments are enabling companies to consistently pay lower rates of tax than is statutorily required, through mechanisms like the raising of deferred tax, or whether it is simply a question of the relevant tax legislation being formulated in a way that allows taxable income to be lower than accounting income. The extent of this book-tax gap and the amount of tax actually paid by companies have been researched to a limited degree. Several studies have been conducted on the financial results from the 1990s, where a consistent decline in the collection of tax by authorities, despite the economic boom that was in existence at that time, has been shown. Research in the 2000s tends to confirm the continuance of this trend of an ever-increasing book-tax gap. The general consensus from the literature review conducted is that the divergence between book income and taxable income is a growing trend, and taxes actually paid by corporates are declining and are on average lower than statutory tax rates.

M.Com. (International Accounting) / This minor dissertation investigates how the conflict in the classification of financial assets between IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement and IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements is being bridged in the financial statements of banks by reviewing the classification of financial assets in the statement of financial position, accounting policies and the notes to the financial statements. IAS 39 provides specific classifications for financial instruments, while IAS 1 provides a classification based on liquidity. The minor dissertation applied a quantitative content analysis of the annual financial statements of South African banks for the 2011 financial year. Companies in the sample selection were drawn from the FTSE/JSE classification of the Top 100 companies selected on their market capitalisation on 30 December 2011. Seven banks are included in the Top 100 companies. The minor dissertation found that the classification of financial assets as required in IAS 39 is not shown in the statement of financial position. The statement of financial position is based on the liquidity classification in IAS 1. In contrast, the accounting policies for financial instruments are based on the IAS 39 classification. The structure of the notes to the financial statements follows the classification in the statement of financial position. The minor dissertation further found that the conflict between the IAS 1 and IAS 39 classifications is bridged in the detail of the notes. Two methods are being used to bridge the conflict. The first method is to provide an IAS 39 reconciliation in each applicable note. In this reconciliation, the total amount of the note is allocated to an applicable IAS 39 classification. The second method is that the line items in the statement of financial position are allocated IAS 39 classifications in a table format. The table allocates the amount of individual assets and liabilities as identified in the statement of financial position in the categories required by IAS 39. Through using both Method 1 (reconciliation in each note) and Method 2 (a separate table based on the statement of financial position) the conflict between IAS 1 (liquidity classification) and IAS 39 is bridged. However, the IAS 39 classification is not directly obtainable from the primary financial statements. In the future, the study can be more comprehensively replicated in other countries and international research, as this exploratory research was only limited to seven banks in South Africa. Further research can also investigate entities other than banks to see how they bridge the conflict between IAS 1 and IAS 39. The review of the treatment of financial instruments resulted in the replacement of IAS 39 by IFRS 9 in November 2009. Future research of the new IFRS 9 classifications may assess how the conflict is being treated. In addition, further research can assess the quality of disclosure in the classification of financial assets/instruments in the financial statements of banks and other entities

Study project (MAcc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: THE NECESSITY OF A FINANCIAL REPORTING FRAMEWORK FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTITIES Financial statements are prepared annually for all types of businesses and for a wide variety of users that require specific information in order to make certain decisions. The majority of users of the financial statements of larger companies, especially listed public companies, use the information in fmancial statements to make investment decisions, since they are unable to obtain fmancial information in any other way. However, the users of the financial statements of small and medium-sized entities have a legal and/or inferential right to request further financial information to enable them to make certain decisions. Thus, users of fmancial statements are classified according to their right to obtain fmancial information. To protect the right of the users of larger entities, it is necessary to compile fmancial statements in accordance with a financial reporting framework that includes certain requirements regarding the measurement and recognition of transactions, as well as the minimum information that needs to be disclosed to these users. This fmancial reporting framework has been adapted over the years to protect investors. Small and medium-sized entities are legally compelled to comply with the same reporting framework at a high cost, even if such users had no need for all the information. To assist small entities (that are of great value to the economy) in saving these costs whilst still setting a standard, different international models were implemented that have encouraged South Africa to follow the same path. To make a success of the South African model, two criteria should be met. Firstly, the qualification requirements for an entity should be based on qualitative criteria, such as the right of users to obtain further information, before such entities can comply with the accounting standards set for small and medium-sized entities. Secondly, simpler and more understandable financial statements should be the result of the application of these new financial standards. This is only possible if the measurement and recognition criteria as well as the disclosure requirements of the current accounting standards are adjusted to meet the needs of smaller entities. These adjustments, as well as the implementation of new accounting standards are discussed in this study, after which the writer reaches the conclusion that a financial reporting framework for small and medium-sized entities is necessary for the upcoming South African economy. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: DIE NOODSAAKLIKHEID VAN 'N REKENINGKUNDIGE VERSLAGDOENINGSRAAMWERK VIR KLEIN EN MEDIUM GROOTTE ENTITEITE Finansiële state word jaarliks vir alle tipe ondernemingsvorme opgestel VIT gebruik deur 'n wye verskeidenheid gebruikers wat elkeen spesifieke inligting benodig om bepaalde besluite te neem. Die oorgrote meerderheid gebruikers van groter en veral genoteerde publieke maatskappye, moet op grond van die finansiële inligting soos vervat in die fmansiële state hul beleggingsbesluite neem aangesien hulle nie ander finansiële inligting kan bekom nie. Aan die ander kant beskik feitlik al die gebruikers van klein en medium grootte entiteite oor 'n wetlike en/of afgeleide reg om verdere fmansiële inligting aan te vra wanneer dit benodig word om bepaalde besluite te neem. Gebruikers van fmansiële state word dus geklassifiseer op grond van die reg tot die verkryging van fmansiële inligting. Om hierdie reg te beskerm by veral die gebruikers van finansiële state van groter maatskappye, is dit noodsaaklik dat fmansiële state ooreenkomstig 'n rekeningkundige verslagdoeningsraamwerk opgestel word. Hierdie raamwerk behoort vereistes uiteen te sit aangaande die meting en erkenning van transaksies, asook die minimum inligting wat geopenbaar moet word aan die gebruikers. Hierdie rekeningkundige verslagdoeningsraamwerk is egter oor die jare baie aangepas om beleggers te beskerm. Klein en medium grootte entiteite is wetlik verplig om teen hoë koste ook daaraan te voldoen, ten spyte daarvan dat die gebruikers van hierdie entiteite nie die inligting gebruik nie. Ten einde klein entiteite (wat van groot waarde in 'n ekonomie is) van hierdie onnodige koste te spaar en steeds 'n riglyn daar te stel, is verskeie internasionale modelle geïmplementeer en is Suid-Afrika aangespoor om dieselfde pad te volg. Om die Suid-Afrikaanse model werkbaar te maak, is twee komponente noodsaaklik. Eerstens moet die toelatingskriteria gegrond word op kwalitatiewe kriteria, soos die reg van gebruikers om verdere inligting te bekom. Entiteite moet aan hierdie kriteria voldoen alvorens die nuwe rekeningkundige standaarde vir klein en medium grootte entiteite toegepas mag word. Tweedens behoort vereenvoudigde en maklik verstaanbare finansiële state die gevolg van die toepassing van hierdie nuwe rekeningkundige standaarde se inhoud te wees. Dit is slegs moontlik indien die metings- en erkenningskriteria, asook die openbaarmakingsvereistes van die huidige rekeningkundige standaarde aangepas word om aan kleiner entiteite se behoeftes te voldoen. Hierdie aanpassmgs, asook die implementering van nuwe rekeningkundige standaarde word in die studie bespreek, waarna die skrywer tot die gevolgtrekking kom dat 'n rekeningkundige verslagdoeningsraamwerk vir klein en medium grootte entiteite 'n noodsaaklikheid vir die opkomende Suid- Afrikaanse ekonomie is.

Thesis (MAcc (Accountancy))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / The fact that investors increasingly invest in companies from another country than the investor himself and the consequential globalisation of capital markets, resulted in the European Parliament and Council (EP) accepting Regulation No. 1606/2002 during 2002. The consequence of the regulation was that uniform accounting standards had to be implemented throughout the European Union (EU). The accounting standards that were accepted, are the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) (previously known as International Accounting Standards (IAS)). The regulation further determined that the effective date of this required compliance with IFRS was 1 January 2005. At the time when the regulation was accepted, most companies that were listed on the JSE Securities Exchange of South Africa (JSE) still prepared their financial statements in accordance with South African Statements of Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (South African SGAAP). The implication of the acceptance of the regulation by the EP was that in the event that a company was not only listed on the JSE but also on a stock exchange in the EU, the financial statements of that company would have to be prepared in accordance with IFRS. In this study two groups of companies were selected for evaluation. The one group consists of companies with a primary listing on the JSE and a secondary listing in the EU (first group) and the other group has a primary listing in the United Kingdom (UK) and thus the EU, with a secondary listing on the JSE (second group). The purpose of the study is to identify the implications of the acceptance of abovementioned regulation on the financial reporting of the selected companies. Firstly, a study was made of the differences between the Generally Accepted Accounting Practice of the United Kingdom (UK GAAP) and IFRS. The reason for this largely relates to the fact that there are still substantial differences between these two sets of accounting standards. No such study was conducted in respect of differences between South African SGAAP and IFRS as South African SGAAP was completely replaced by IFRS during 2004 and hence no differences exist any more. The only exception relates to the 500 series of standards that are unique to South Africa. There are, however, only two issued standards in this series and hence no further attention was paid to that. Hereafter the 2002 financial statements of all the selected companies were evaluated by measuring it against an IFRS disclosure checklist for 2002. The purpose was to identify the extent to which the selected companies comply with IFRS by focusing on the areas with regards to which they do not comply with IFRS. It was found that the companies of the first group largely fail to comply with IFRS in respect of matters of disclosure, whilst the second group of companies sometimes also, in their application of recognition requirements and measurement guidelines, used different practices to those suggested by IFRS. This was largely attributable to the fact that there are substantial differences between UK GAAP and IFRS, whilst South African SGAAP and IFRS already were very similar until recently. Consequently, questionnaires were sent to interested selected companies in which they could give feedback on their level of awareness and perceptions of the required transition to IFRS by 2005 as well as the procedures that they have followed or will follow in their process of transition to IFRS. Fourthly the 2003 financial reports of the selected companies were evaluated for compliance with IFRS by measuring it against the IFRS disclosure checklist that would be applicable on their 2004 financial periods. This was done in order to determine whether the selected companies showed any progress in their level of compliance with IFRS. This process also identified which IFRS, which were issued during 2003/2004, will be applicable on the 2004 or later financial periods of the selected companies, as these are further areas that will demand the attention of the selected companies in their process of becoming IFRS compliant. It was found that all selected companies showed rather little progress in their level of IFRS compliance. It is however concerning that even though South African SGAAP were previously very narrowly aligned with IFRS, the companies of the first group still fail to comply with fairly simple disclosure requirements. It would thus appear that they do not take the process of transition to IFRS serious enough. The fact that the second group of companies also did not make much progress can still be justified by the fact that UK GAAP were not aligned closer to IFRS during 2003 and most of the selected companies were still busy with the planning process for the transition to IFRS. It is expected that the financial statements of these companies will display substantial progress in their 2004 financial periods. Finally the compliance mechanisms were studied in order to determine which processes are in place to ensure that companies will indeed comply with IFRS. This study was done in respect of the EU, the UK and South Africa. All three these regions either already have or will have bodies in the near future that will have the task of evaluating the financial statements of listed companies for IFRS compliance. The conclusion is however that as a result of the negative consequences of noncompliance with IFRS sufficient factors do exist that will motivate companies to fully comply with IFRS. In addition, the listing requirements of the JSE has changed and financial reporting in accordance with IFRS is now a requirement.

This thesis concentrates upon a new field of research in South African accounting scholarship – this being, in general terms, accounting history and more specifically an analysis of the origins of the Public Accountants’ and Auditors’ Board as watch-dog in relation to: ● the South African economy in the period 1913–1940; and ● the changing political framework (also in the period 1913–1940). The integration of economy, politics and personal ambition on the part of early 20th Century accounting societies, led to a variety of responses, counter proposals, stalemates and unfocused activity which caused the process of accountants’ registration to extend over 38 years in South Africa. This confusion was in strong contrast to the process of speedy registration of accountants in New Zealand and Australia. The final unification of South African accounting societies in 1951 created the Public Accountants’ and Auditors’ Board. Its creation, at long last, suggested an overarching control and regulation which was mirrored in the final political unification and economic stability of a South Africa dominated by Afrikaner Nationalists. One further element was interwoven into the fabric of the thesis – this being the application of institutional economic theory and its impact upon the accounting concepts of “material irregularity” and “reportable irregularity”.

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)

Fair value accounting of biological assets in the public sector was introduced with the adoption of the public sector specific accounting standard, Generally Recognised Accounting Practice (GRAP) 101. The public sector currently uses different bases of accounting: public entities and municipalities must use accrual accounting and apply the principles of GRAP, while government departments report on the modified cash basis. Furthermore, public entities do not consistently apply the requirements of GRAP 101. This lack of a uniform basis of accounting has a negative effect on the comparability of financial information. This study identified the challenges facing the public sector in the application of GRAP 101, specifically regarding the fair value accounting of biological assets. The successful implementation of GRAP 101 by a public entity, AsgiSA-EC, was used as a case study to clarify the fair value accounting challenges in the reporting of biological assets in the sector. / Business Management / M. Accounting Science

Fair value accounting of biological assets in the public sector was introduced with the adoption of the public sector specific accounting standard, Generally Recognised Accounting Practice (GRAP) 101. The public sector currently uses different bases of accounting: public entities and municipalities must use accrual accounting and apply the principles of GRAP, while government departments report on the modified cash basis. Furthermore, public entities do not consistently apply the requirements of GRAP 101. This lack of a uniform basis of accounting has a negative effect on the comparability of financial information. This study identified the challenges facing the public sector in the application of GRAP 101, specifically regarding the fair value accounting of biological assets. The successful implementation of GRAP 101 by a public entity, AsgiSA-EC, was used as a case study to clarify the fair value accounting challenges in the reporting of biological assets in the sector. / Business Management / M. Accounting Science