Transparency in Financial Reporting. Ruth Ann McEwen

However, predicting volatility in markets that are not fully functioning is an uncertain task. Thus, fair valuation even with extensive disclosure may not enhance usefulness or meet the objectives of transparency. And since remeasurement gains and losses are recognized directly into income, slight changes in estimates hold the potential to affect earnings. Current accounting research suggests that valuation based on standards that are unstructured or less transparent, such as Level 3 unobservable inputs, provides a setting where managers are likely to manipulate earnings. ^[16] In applying that technique an entity’s assumptions should be realistic; however, US GAAP guidance allows considerable latitude in estimating Level 3 unobservable inputs.

      Such discretion calls into question the effects of fair valuation inherent in the asset/liability approach on transparency and quality of financial reporting. McInnes and Cataldo (2007) offer a particularly stinging criticism of the asset/liability approach. They state:

      Many otherwise well informed accounting and finance professionals seem unaware of the radical impact that fair value would have on our financial reporting system. According to the fair value vision, the entire framework of transaction-based accrual accounting would be replaced by a system that measures every asset and liability at an estimate of its current “fair value.” Traditional concepts of revenue, expense, and matching have no place in this vision. What we currently understand as “net income” would be redefined as the change in book equity – that is, the difference between the estimated fair values of assets and liabilities, adjusted for primary capital flows. This system of comprehensive fair value accounting is known as the asset-liability approach. ^[17]

      Noting that historic cost may be of greater use than fair value in predicting future cash flows, especially with the advent of more principles-based IFRS, McInnes and Cataldo (2007) reiterate the assertions of numerous critics of fair value accounting:

      The adoption of full fair value accounting for all assets and liabilities and convergence with IFRS will present challenges for preparers and users alike, perhaps with little benefit, and with the nontrivial possibility of great harm.

      12 IAS 18, ¶ 7. [return to text]

      13 Note that subsequent sections of this book will discuss FASB’s Codification project and the terminology which will be required to reference authoritative guidance after July 1, 2009. [return to text]

      14 FAS 157, paragraph 21. [return to text]

      15 Black, Fischer and Myron Scholes, “The Pricing of Options and Corporate Liabilities”, The Journal of Political Economy 81:3 (May-June 1973), pp. 637-654. [return to text]

      16 J. Hunton, R. Libby, C. Mazza, “Financial reporting transparency and earnings management” The Accounting Review 81, pp. 135-157. [return to text]

      17 M. McInnes and J. Cataldo, “SFAS 159: The Fair Value Option”, The CPA Journal, August 2007, http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa5346/is_200708/ai_n21293122/pg_1. [return to text]

      Part Two: Financial Reporting under IFRS Convergence

      While transparency has generally focused on US GAAP, the planned convergence of US GAAP with standards provided by the IASB offers a unique opportunity to view transparency of financial reporting from two perspectives. US GAAP is often viewed as overly prescriptive, while standards promulgated by IASB are considered to be based more on general principles. Neither perspective necessarily guarantees transparency.

      Convergence is being viewed as one method by which asset and liability reporting will be enhanced. The effects on earnings or comprehensive income have yet to be identified. Joint committees are examining differences between IFRS and US GAAP and selecting the reporting methods considered to yield higher quality results. Smaller reporting issues may be successfully resolved in this manner. More fundamental issues, especially relating to the propensity of US accountants to generate voluminous rules in order to reduce audit liability, are expected to generate much more controversy during the convergence process.

      3. Legal Basis of US GAAP and IFRS

      A. Common law versus code law

      Fundamental differences exist between US GAAP and the accounting rules of other countries. US GAAP consists of rules that are independently created, are considered to be “best practices” and serve as the basis for litigation. US GAAP as promulgated by FASB can be copyrighted and must be purchased by users. ^[18] Rappeport (2008) suggests that much of the basis for US GAAP is the common-law system modeled after that of Great Britain. Alternately, numerous other countries model accounting standards on civil law in which the standards are incorporated into a code of law and are freely distributed. Code law is created by the government and is enforced through governmental penalties.

      FASB’s recent codification of accounting standards ^[19] into a single code notwithstanding, US GAAP is common law and is considered by some to be the superior method of standardizing accounting rules. Under common law, the standards can be changed by standard setters with oversight by governmental agencies without the time consuming and political inconsistencies attributed to code law based standards. Common law penalties are exacted by shareholders in the form of litigation. Common law based standards are considered to be more transparent, are revised in a more timely manner and are more market-oriented. ^[20]

      Code law standards, on the other hand, require a change in law to change the standard. Considering that IFRS governs the accounting standards of numerous countries with differing accounting laws, it would seem likely that complete convergence is impossible. “Carve-outs”, or arbitrary changes to the standards, seem inevitable. The idea that US GAAP and IFRS will completely converge and that all users will be reporting under identical standards seems somewhat idealistic.

      B. The codification

      Current accounting standards in the US are extremely detailed. Prior to FASB’s codification of accounting standards, a US GAAP hierarchy of sometimes conflicting and inconsistent rules enabled users to potentially manage the system by interpretation. For example, prior to the codification, Statements of Financial Accounting Standards included a section entitled, “Basis for Conclusion” in which FASB provided detailed discussion of issues raised by constituents in drafting the standard. While FASB has always stated that the basis section was non-authoritative, users have implemented reporting processes based, at least in part, on language provided in the basis section. In a similar manner, Emerging Issue Task Force consensus opinions (EITFs) are authoritative; however, EITF issues with recommendations but without a consensus are non-authoritative. Users have, in some circumstances, misunderstood or misused the distinction.

      FASB’s codification of accounting standards into a single code should eliminate misunderstandings about whether literature is authoritative or non-authoritative. Beginning in July 2009, the codified text will be the only source of authoritative GAAP in the US. ^[21] Codified standards that have resulted from recent cooperative efforts between US GAAP and IFRS standards setters are almost identical. For example, FAS 128, Earnings per Share is almost identical to IAS 33. Both standards were written with the idea that one standard would govern this issue and FASB and the IASB would be completely convergent on this issue. However, numerous other issues will require additional convergence efforts to ensure substantially full convergence. For example, standards setters must still agree on financial statement presentation, financial instruments, leases, revenue recognition, fair valuation, post retirement, and a common conceptual framework.

      18 See Rappeport, “One Standard, Many Laws”, CFO April 2008, pp. 41-42 for a discussion of the contrast between the proprietary US GAAP system, and the systems of other countries. [return to text]

      19 www.fasb.org/news/nr011508.shtml. [return to text]

      20 Id. [return to text]

      21 See R. A. McEwen, T. Hoey and J. Brozovsky, “Codification: A Crucial Step Toward Simplification” Accounting Horizons, 20:4 (2006), pp. 391-398. [return to text]

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