Governments are becoming increasingly aware of SMEs as economical role players. As a result many initiatives were introduced to address the unique challenges of the SME sector. One of these initiatives was the introduction of a global accounting framework for SMEs by the International Accounting Standards Board entitled the IFRS for SMEs. South Africa became the first country to formally adopt the contents thereof as the Statement of GAAP for SMEs. The adoption of a formal accounting framework by SMEs is however challenged by, amongst other factors, the informal nature of SMEs, limited global focus, the involvement of owner–managers and different classifications of SMEs worldwide. Owing to these unique attributes it is possible that SMEs have alternative informational needs and as a result the impact of environmental factors on the adoption of the Statement of GAAP for SMEs was considered. Culture is considered the most important environmental factor affecting the accounting environment. The Value Survey Model of Hofstede was utilised to determine cultural dimensions of accounting students (n = 301) in South Africa and the United Kingdom (UK). The cultural dimensions were extended to the accounting values of Gray after which a distinct set of accounting values was identified for i) the adoption of formal, global and prescriptive accounting standards, ii) based on principles iii) by an informal SME sector. The results also revealed distinct cultural differences within South Africa as well as between South Africa and the UK. Thereafter the contents of the Statement of GAAP for SMEs/IFRS for SMEs were evaluated against reporting practices of the SME sector in South Africa. Firstly, an assessment of the contents was conducted amongst SME accountants (n = 157) using a five–point Likert–type scale. Secondly, financial statements compiled by the SME sector in South Africa were analysed to determine the relevance of the contents of the illustrative financial statements contained in the Statement of GAAP for SMEs. The analysis entailed a consolidation of a sample of SME financial statements from South Africa (n = 100). The study revealed that the accounting environment of the SME sector is affected by a wide range of environmental and related factors. These factors were summarised and discussed and recommendations for future research were made. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Accounting))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

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

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.

Diploma work inquires processing of financial statements according International Financial Reporting Standards IFRS and also according current legal adaptation of financial statements in Czech Republic. The work reveals crucial differences in financial reporting of concrete Small Enterprises Company. It demonstrates the influence of financial reporting on income. The work points out necessity of harmonization of national accounting standards with IFRS.

Summaries in English, Afrikaans and Southern Sotho / The aim of this study was to assess the suitability of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) adoption in Ethiopia. To this effect, the study focused on examining the key factors that would influence IFRS adoption in the context of Ethiopia, namely economic growth, economic openness, capital market development, level of accounting education as well as legal systems and government policies. The study used a mixed-method approach, which involved a survey and content analysis. While the survey was the primary research approach in this study, the secondary data analysis was used to obtain additional evidence to corroborate the information gathered through the survey. Descriptive statistics was used to analyse and interpret the data. The study results show that the aforementioned factors examined were not conducive to adopting IFRS, and thus IFRS was not regarded as suitable in Ethiopia at the time of this study. The study also revealed an absence of a single set of accounting standards in Ethiopia. / Die doel van hierdie studie was om die geskiktheid van Internasionale Finansiële Verslagdoeningstandaarde-aanneming (IFRS-aanneming) in Ethiopië te assesseer. Die studie het derhalwe daarop gefokus om die sleutelfaktore te ondersoek wat die IFRS-aanneming in die konteks van Ethiopië sal beïnvloed, naamlik ekonomiese groei, ekonomiese oopheid, kapitaalmarkontwikkeling, vlak van rekeningkundeopvoeding, asook regstelsels en regeringsbeleide. Die studie het ’n gemengdemetodebenadering gebruik, wat ’n ondersoek en inhoudsontleding ingesluit het. Hoewel die ondersoek die primêre navorsingsbenadering in hierdie studie was, is die sekondêre ontleding gebruik om bykomende bewyse te bekom om die inligting wat deur middel van die ondersoek ingesamel is, te bevestig. Beskrywende statistiek is gebruik om die data te ontleed en te interpreteer. Die resultate van die studie dui daarop dat die bogenoemde faktore wat ondersoek is, nie bevorderlik is om die IFRS aan te neem nie en derhalwe is die IFRS as nie geskik vir Ethiopië ten tye van hierdie studie beskou nie. Die studie het ook ’n afwesigheid van ’n enkele stel rekeningkundige standaarde in Ethiopië aan die lig gebring. / Maikaelelo a thutopatlisiso eno e ne e le go sekaseka go tshwanelega ga go amogelwa ga Seemo sa Tlhagiso ya Dipegelo Tsa Ditšhelete sa Boditšhabatšhaba (IFRS) kwa Ethiopia. Go fitlhelela seno, thutopatlisiso e totile go tlhatlhoba dintlha tsa botlhokwa tse di tlaa susumetsang go amogelwa ga IFRS mo bokaong jwa Ethiopia, e leng kgolo ya ikonomi, go bulega ga ikonomi, tlhabololo ya mmaraka wa matlotlo, seelo sa thuto ya palotlotlo gammogo le dithulaganyo tsa semolao le dipholisi tsa puso. Thutopatlisiso e dirisitse molebo wa mekgwa e e tswakaneng, o o akareditseng tshekatsheko ya diteng. Le fa tshekatsheko e ne e le molebo wa ntlha wa patlisiso mo thutopatlisisong eno, go dirisitswe tshekatsheko ya bobedi ya data go bona bosupi jwa tlaleletso go tshegetsa tshedimosetso e e kokoantsweng ka tshekatsheko. Go dirisitswe dipalopalo tse di tlhalosang go sekaseka le go ranola data. Dipoelo tsa thutopatlisiso di bontsha gore dintlha tse di tlhagisitsweng fa pele tse di tlhatlhobilweng di ne di sa siamela go amogela IFRS mme ka jalo IFRS ga e a tsewa e tshwanelegile go ka dirisiwa kwa Ethiopia ka nako ya thutopatlisiso eno. Gape thutopatlisiso e senotse gore ga go na le fa e le peelo e le nngwe ya palotlotlo kwa Ethiopia. / Financial Accounting / M. Phil. (Accounting Sciences)