This assignment requires a consideration of accounting theory concepts with critical analysis with application to General Purpose Financial Reporting by corporations. Students are required to prepare a comprehensive report directed to an Australian ASX Top 100 listed corporation detailing a critical analysis of the effectiveness of the corporation to meet the obligations of the conceptual framework of accounting. The summary report should include data extracted from the General Purpose Financial Report relevant to the material analysed.
SUGGESTIONS REGARDING ASSIGNMENT 1
USE YOUR INDEX WISELY……
Go to Balance Sheet, Income Statements, NOTE 1 (methods adopted by company) and other notes from the financial reports, Remuneration Report, Auditors Report
REMUNERATION REPORT – SCREEN SHOT OR TAKE ELEMENTS FROM ACTUAL REPORT IN RELATION TO EXECUTIVE REMUNERATION. LINKED TO PROFIT? SHARE PRICE? OR OTHER – consider how this drives culture with organisations including a desire to obtain profit to receive bonus payments.
ISSUES WITH REMUNERATION can be SELF INTEREST – SHORT TERM DECISION MAKING, TELEOPATHY (unhealthy pursuit of goals), manipulation of accounts, not adhering to the conceptual framework, aasb issues like in leases
In your discussion using examples from annual reports (of many companies) will assist however focus should be on your company(ies)
GPFR – general purpose financial reports – for users to make financial decisions
perhaps to affect profit rather than in accordance with AASB or conceptual framework
INVENTORY – OVERSTATE- aasb VALUED AT COST OR LOWER OF COST OR MARKET.
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE – OVERSTATE – ESTIMATION OF PROVISION FOR BAD AND DOUBTFUL DEBTS – UNDERSTATE YOUR PROVISION
PPE – OVERVALUE – EXCESS VALUATION (PRUDENCE) – DEPRECIATION – CHOOSE METHODS perhaps to affect profit rather than in accordance with AASB or conceptual framework
LIABILITIES – LEASES – INTANGIBLE ASSETS – NOTES – LOOK FOR EVIDENCE OF ANY LEASING
Contingent legal liabilities – where companies have had to pay out legal obligations due to issues
LEASES HAVE BEEN LEFT OFF BALANCE SHEETS – LIMIT RATIO – ATTRACT INVESTORS
Overstated Revenues, sales returns
Understated expenses
TAXATION
TRANSFER PRICING – FACEBOOK -TAXATION
Eg.TRANSFER PRICING – FACEBOOK -3-5 BN additional tax payments
DISCUSS PRUDENCE – WHAT IS PROPOSED FOR UPDATING THE CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
HOW YOU THINK THIS WILL AFFECT THE REPORTING? BENEFITS AND CRITICISMS (cpa eg)
The inclusion of prudence, then removal and now addition again by accounting.
Or are the issue much more complex than that? Do accountants adhere to the CF? Perhaps addressing remuneration and other issues would achieve better outcomes? Etc etc etc