The purpose of the study is to illustrate to the management of entities and professionals who are against the application of IAS/IFRS in Azerbaijan why it is essential to adopt IAS/IFRS. The thesis aims to provide differences of current accounting policies and procedures applied by those entities from IAS/IFRS and justify the application of IAS/IFRS. The thesis provides benefits associated with the adoption of IFRS/IAS, and illustrates the problems that may be faced by the management of entities.

<p>Background: The last few years a globalization of the capital market has occurred. This have led to that it is more important for the companies that their financial information can be compared with other companies in order to compete on same grounds. In order to fa-cilitate for the companies within EU to compete with other companies and in order to strive for an internal market EU decided that IFRS should be used by all listed companies within the union.</p><p>Problem: In 2006 the first financial reports according to IFRS will be published, and then it will be interesting to investigate how the companies have chosen to communicate the transition to its stakeholders. According to IFRS some information is compulsive but the companies have chosen to disclose voluntary information to a different degree.</p><p>Purpose: The purpose of this study is to describe to what extent the Swedish listed com-panies have reported the transition to IFRS in their consolidated financial statements.</p><p>Method: In this essay a quantitative method have been chosen in order to find general re-lations. The data collection is done with help of an evaluation model that have been devel-oped for this study. The data have been collected from the chosen companies’ annual re-ports.</p><p>Conclusion: The study shows that the amounts of information about the transition to IFRS within the company’s annual reports vary a lot. The result of the transition is also varying. The study shows a connection between the companies’ net sales and how much in-formation the companies publish in their annual reports. The study found no relation be-tween how the transition to IFRS affected the companies equity or the result and how much voluntary information that was disclosed.</p> / <p>Bakgrund: De senaste åren har en stark globalisering av kapitalmarknaden skett. Detta har lett till att det har blivit viktigare för företagen att deras finansiella information kan jämföras med andra företag för att konkurrera på samma grunder. För att underlätta för företagen inom EU att konkurrera med andra företag och för att fortsätta strävan efter en inre marknad har EU beslutat att IFRS skall tillämpas av alla börsnoterade företag inom unionen.</p><p>Problem: 2006 kommer de första årsredovisningarna enligt IFRS att publiceras, det är då intressant att undersöka hur företagen valt att kommunicera övergången till sina intressen-ter. I IFRS anges att en del information är tvingande men företagen har valt att I olika om-fattning ha med frivillig information.</p><p>Syfte: Att beskriva i vilken omfattning de svenska börsnoterade företagen har rapporterat övergången till IFRS i sin koncernredovisning.</p><p>Metod: I denna uppsats har en kvantitativ metod valts för att generella samband skall hit-tas. Datainsamlingen sker genom ett utvärderingsunderlag som utvecklats för denna studie. Data har samlats in från de utvalda företagens årsredovisningar.</p><p>Slutsats: Undersökningen visar att mängden information om övergången till IFRS i företagens årsredovisning varierar kraftigt. Även resultatet är varierande. Det finns ett samband mellan företagens omsättning och hur mycket information företagen publicerar I sina års-redovisningar. Det finns dock inget samband mellan hur övergången till IFRS påverkat eget kapital eller resultat och mängden information.</p>

Univ., Diss.--Basel, 2006.

Zugl.: Saarbrücken, Univ., Habil.-Schr., 2009 u.d.T.: Kessler, Marco: Bilanzpolitische Möglichkeiten und Grenzen der Abbildung von Pensionsverpflichtungen nach HGB und den IFRS - Auswirkungen von contractual trust arrangements (CTA) auf die Vermögens-, Finanz- und Ertragslage sowie die Cashflows deutscher Unternehmen

Inom redovisning pågår det ständigt utvecklingsarbeten för att förbättra och förnya finansiellarapporter. Den ökade globaliseringen av kapitalmarknaden väcker många frågor hosinternationella normgivningsorgan och hos allmänheten. IASB publicerade under 2013 ettdiskussionsunderlag (DP/2013/1) mot bakgrund av föreställningsramen för finansiellrapportering, i vilket IASB föreslagit möjliga förändringar av standarderna. I uppsatsen varfokus på den föreslagna definitionen av tillgång och skuld som presenteras idiskussionsunderlaget. Fram till och med januari 2014 har IASB mottagit remissvar angåendeDP/2013/1. Det har inkommit sammanlagt 243 remissvar av olika omfattning och i dennauppsats har 29 av dessa behandlats.Syftet med uppsatsen har varit att undersöka och redogöra för vilka argument som tas upp iremissvaren om förslaget huruvida en tillgång och en skuld ska definieras. Studien har ävensyftat till att analysera IASBs tänkbara mål med att revidera föreställningsramen. Uppsatsenär en kvalitativ innehållsanalys med en induktiv forskningsansats där empirin har bestått av debehandlade remissvaren.Remissinstanserna har framfört åsikter och kritik mot förslagen som tas upp i DP. Deteoretiska områden som studerats närmare är även IASBs normgivningsprocess, väsentligaegenskaper i finansiella rapporter, internationella standarder och den befintliga definitionen avtillgång och skuld. Resultatet visar att huvudparten av utvalda remissinstanserna i studien ärpositivt inställda till att en förändring av definitionen av tillgång och skuld ska ske. En stormajoritet är även positiv till revidering av föreställningsramen. Flera remissinstanser anser attden befintliga definitionen av tillgång och skuld behöver förbättras. Det vore lämpligt attpublicera ett ED för att visa konflikten mellan nuvarande och föreslagna standarder i enreviderad föreställningsram. Vår slutsats med hänsyn till remissinstansernas synpunkter är attIASB med största sannolikhet kommer att publicera ett ED. / Around the world, the increase in globalization of capital markets raises many issues forinternational standard-setters. Constant work is being done to develop and renew financialstatements internationally. In 2013, IASB published a DP: A review of the ConceptualFramework (DP/2013/1) for public comment, exploring possible changes to the IASBsConceptual Framework for Financial Reporting. The DP is the first step towards issuing arevised Conceptual Framework. In this paper the focus was on the proposed definitions ofassets and liabilities. The DP has received a total of 243 responses, 29 of these have beenanalysed.The purpose of this paper was to examine and report on the responses of how assets andliabilities should be recognised. Additionally, emphasis was placed on analysing the IASB'spossible objectives of revising The Conceptual Framework. This reflects a quantitativecontent analysis using an inductive research approach composed of empirical data consistingof the received responses.The responses have raised opinions and criticisms of proposals regarding DP. In addition toDP, further emphasis was placed on IASB standard-setting process, essential qualities infinancial statements, international standards and the existing definition of an asset and aliability. Results showed a positive trend towards a change in the definition of assets andliabilities as well as the development of The Conceptual Framework. The above resultsindicate that improvements are needed and that it would be useful to publish an ED toillustrate the conflict between current and proposed standards. In conclusion, with thecomment letters, the IASB most likely will publish an ED.(This essay is written in Swedish).

The current study aims to investigate empirically the main incentives for mandatory and voluntary risk reporting (MRR and VRR) across the USA, the UK and Germany, each of which has a unique approach towards risk reporting. While the UK approach encourages more voluntary risk reporting above imposing risk rules, the German approach formally requires firms to provide risk information in a certain place in their annual report narratives. The US approach is a compromise between these two approaches; it obligates and encourages firms to provide more information about their risks mandatorily and/or voluntarily, respectively. Investigating the incentives for risk reporting in such set of countries answers the calls of some prior research (e.g., Linsley and Shrives, 2006; Dobler, 2008; Dobler, Lajili and Zeghal, 2011) to deepen our understanding of what motivates firms to disclose their risks. To this end, computerised content analysis and multilevel analysis (MLA) on a large scale (compared with previous work e.g., Linsley and Shrives, 2005, 2006; Abraham and Cox, 2007) are utilised. The results are produced in four cumulative contexts through Chapters Six to Nine. These results are consistent with managers’ incentives theories (discussed in Chapter Two) and prior risk reporting literature (discussed in Chapter Three and Chapter Four). Based on 15 firms in each country during 2007 and 2008, multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) results reveal significant differences between a firm’s risk levels and its risk disclosure levels across the USA, the UK and Germany. The correlation results indicate that these differences are statistically correlated, supporting the main argument of the current study that differences in a firm’s risk levels should be reflected in their risk reporting practices (Chapter Six). Based on 1160 firm-years of non-financial firms of the FTSE all share index over 2005-2008, linear mixed model (LMM) results document that firms with higher levels of systematic and financing risks are likely to exhibit significantly higher levels of aggregated and voluntary risk reporting, whereas firms with high variability of stock returns or lower levels of liquidity are likely to exhibit significantly lower levels of aggregated and voluntary risk reporting. The current study also finds, however, that MRR is associated significantly and positively with firm size rather than with risk levels. The results also indicate that managers of firms exhibiting greater compliance with UK risk reporting regulations have greater incentives to disclose voluntary risk information (Chapter Seven). When the study extends the scope to the other two countries, different patterns of relations are found. Based on 1270, 1410 and 1005 firm-year observations over 2005 to 2009 in the USA, the UK and Germany, respectively, repeated measures multilevel analysis (RMMLA) results suggest that, in the USA, MRR is more sensitive to firm risk levels (total, systematic and liquidity risks) than is VRR, which is more correlated to other firm characteristics. The UK results suggest that VRR is more sensitive to firm risk levels (systematic and liquidity risks) than is MRR, which is dominated by firm size, among other firm characteristics. In Germany, however, both MRR and VRR are significantly related to risk levels (total, systematic, un-systematic, financing and liquidity risks) (Chapter Eight). Based on 3685 firm-year observations during the period between 2005 and 2009, and concerning both firm- and country-level analyses, repeated measures multilevel analysis (RMMLA) results support that variations in MRR can be attributed to differences in the legal systems (country characteristics) and in firm size (firm characteristics). The variations in VRR are more associated with firm characteristics, especially a firm’s risk levels across the USA, the UK and Germany (Chapter Nine). These results have many implications and support the respective regulatory approach adopted within each country by interpreting the extent to which either MRR or VRR is more or less sensitive to underlying risks.

<p>The study focused on financial reporting in the public sector with the view to understanding the impact of the present financial management system in South Africa is adding value to the measurable outcomes-based objective process as required by the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA). The study determines the role of the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) in financial reporting, in relation to the business plan (strategy) and measurable outcomes and results of the Department of Community Safety. The primary objective of this study was to perform an assessment of financial reporting and its effectiveness in terms of the PFMA as the legislative framework and the MTEF as a financial management tool. The secondary objectives were to: (1) to provide a theoretical perspective of public financial management and reporting in government / (2) to provide an&nbsp / verview of policies, legislation and strategies / (3) to record and develop a case study of financial reporting in the Western Cape Provincial Government within the Department of Community Safety (WCPG) / (4) to present the research findings on financial management, and (5), to apply the theoretical framework to the case study in order to develop findings.</p>

In particular in Germany and Austria, but also in other countries, extensive theoretical and analytical research has been published on the potential tax effects in case IAS/IFRS were used as the basis for corporate taxation. Very few quantitative papers exist. This motivated us to conduct a study that quantifies the actual effects of a potential decisiveness of IAS/IFRS for the national tax base - without further questioning the usefulness of an IAS/IFRS relevance. Our paper extends existing research substantially. The research question of our paper deals with the measurement of differences in discounted tax burden in different scenarios, by simulation. Our sample comprises original data of 61 Austrian companies. The median of the difference between book values of IAS/IFRS single accounts and tax accounts for specific balance sheet items is determined. We then apply the result on the items of a typical corporate account derived from an Austrian database. As a result, depending on the term of items, we can calculate the discounted tax effects for different scenarios. It must be underlined that such highly confidential and detailed tax data is usually not available to researchers. The main preliminary finding of our empirical survey is that only in few cases we find essential differences between IAS/IFRS and tax accounts. Our evidence suggests that no dramatic change in the tax base has to be expected. Our study provides not only new empirical evidence but also a basis for further research on a possible common consolidated corporate tax base from an academic perspective. (author's abstract) / Series: Working Papers / Institut für Revisions-, Treuhand- und Rechnungswesen

There has been a dearth of research on ‘auditors and environmental matters’ since Collison (1996) and Collison and Gray (1997) completed their study on the views of UK auditors about whether auditing is changing, or should be changing, in relation to environmental concerns. It is now more than ten years since the publication of that study. Growing international concern for environmental matters has since led to the issue of International Auditing Practice Statement (IAPS) -1010: The consideration of environmental matters in the audit of financial report in 1998 and, in New Zealand, Audit Guidance Statement (AGS) -1010: The consideration of environmental matters in the audit of a financial statement in 2001. Yet, to date, there has been no examination of the impact of IAPS-1010 or AGS-1010 on either current audit practice, or the issues raised by Collison (1996) and Collison and Gray (1997). This doctoral thesis has attempted to address the environmental impact gap in the auditing research literature. In particular, it has investigated the consideration of environmental matters in the audit of financial reports in the light of AGS-1010, with a view to understanding better the following issues: (1) how auditors generally perceive the consideration of environmental matters in the audit of financial reports; (2) the common approaches and practices auditors undertake when auditing environmental matters; (3) the challenges (if any) that auditors face in the audit of environmental matters (4) the impact (if any) of AGS 1010 on current audit practice and, finally, (5) how current practices in the audit of environmental matters may be improved and further developed to meet better the espoused aims of AGS-1010. Qualitative interviews with twenty-seven senior financial audit practitioners and others in New Zealand provided the basis for the findings. The interviews were taped, transcribed and managed with the use of computerised qualitative analysis software (NViVo7). Key findings from the research interviews were as follows: (1) the introduction of AGS-1010 had little impact on current audit practice in New Zealand; (2) environmental matters were treated no differently from any other audit issues, and auditors tended to apply common, familiar audit approaches in dealing with environmental matters; (3) auditors found the effective auditing of environmental matters challenging owing to their inability to identify such matters, and their lack of relevant expert knowledge. The most significant finding from this study is that, in general, common audit practices were riddled with issues of concern. These issues point to a broader and more significant problem. It would seem that current audit practices fail to consider many potential audit issues (including environmental matters) adequately in the audit of financial reports. For auditors to be more effective in their audit practice and in protecting the public interest, not only does audit methodology need a major review, but auditors themselves need to change their attitudes and mindsets in their approach to auditing.

Zugl.: Köln, Univ., Diss., 2006 u.d.T.: Zons, Michael: Value Based Management im Schadenversicherungsunternehmen