Discussion

Discuss about the Accounting Theory and Critical Issues.

The following assignment examines the annual report of Common wealth Bank Australia in the context of adhering to the General purpose Financial Accounting. Commonwealth Bank Australia has been chosen as an ASX top hundred-listed corporation. The assignment evaluates the effectiveness of business entities in strictly adhering to the framework as well as the guidelines of the conceptual framework of accounting. In this regard, it can be said that there has been issues as per the assessment as well as the registering of financial transactions in the year ended annual report of the company. As such, this has an adverse effect on the procedure of the financial reports towards the stakeholders of the organization. Zimmerman (2013) stated that the general-purpose financial recording should develop the necessary guideline, to help the business entities to maintain authenticity and transparency in the financial accounts of the business entity. The business entity has been operating in many countries and constitutes of a substantial market share in the international market.

According to Groot and Selto (2013), the general purpose financial accounting offers a unified guideline that can be applicable to all the globally reputed companies in the Australian market. The Commonwealth Bank Australia has been making efforts to adhere to the General Purpose financial accounting in the market. According to Hassard and Pym (2012), the brand has faced issues recently in recording as well as measuring the transactions in the domestic and the international market. The Commonwealth Bank Australia is a multinational business organization that operates in many countries. The brand has taken many transfer pricing measures as per the taxation laws and guideline of the particular country. The conceptual framework in the business organization shall consist of the qualitative characteristics as well as recognition and the de-recognition criteria of the general-purpose financial accounting of the organization. The study also evaluates the accounting measures like IAS 11 and and its role in assisting the business entity in adhering to the conceptual framework in the context of the General Purpose financial Accounting. Despite of the best efforts of the management of the business enterprise in adhering to the General Purpose financial Accounting of the organization, there has been existing consistencies and issues related to the recording and the assessment of the financial transactions. Fiolleau et al. (2013) stated that these financial irregularities can be overcome by implementing rigid auditing measures in the business organization that shall facilitate organizational growth in the business entity.

Attributes of Financial Data provided by Commonwealth Bank Australia in the context of General Purpose Financial Accounting

Qualitative Characteristics of General Purpose Financial Accounting

The following attributes of the financial data provided by Commonwealth Bank Australia in the context of the General Purpose Financial Accounting can be noted.

Relevance- The annual report of Commonwealth Bank Australia offers the relevant importance to the business enterprise. The report contains all the necessary details so as to assist the management of the business entity in developing the appropriate financial as well as the operating policies for a business entity. Jones (2015) stated that the accounting principles of the business enterprise shall have to offer the in-depth financial details about the necessary financial details about the business enterprise. As such , the annual report and the year ended financial statements of the business enterprise shall be considered as relevant in the existing global market.

Material – The information can be considered as material if omitting it can lead to adverse financial decisions for the business enterprise. The company follows the principle of materiality to influence financial decisions for the business entity. As such, it can be said that the management of the business enterprise has considered every financial data that can have an impact on the financial decision making as well as sustainability of the business entity. in this regard , it can be stated that the management of the business enterprise has to take appropriate financial decisions regarding the preparation of the financial statements of the business entity . In this regard , it can be stated that the uniform quantitative guidelines for the establishment of the financial policies for the enhancement of the financial policies as well as the goals and the objectives of the business entity .

Comparability – The financial statements established by the business enterprise can facilitate comparison between the two different years. As such, the brand has the ability to determine the operational as well as the financial policies of the business enterprise shall facilitate comparison between the two different years. As such, the management of the business entity can be able to take the necessary financial measures to overcome the organizational threats of the business entity. Bonin (2013) mentioned that comparability is one qualitative attributes that shall assist the users to assess the general financial state of a business enterprise. Thus. it can be stated that there are users shall be able to compare the general financial position of the business entity with the previous years and respond appropriately for organizational growth and sustainability in the domestic and the international market.

Accounting Measurement

Verifiability- The concept of verifiability would assist users in representing the economic condition of the existing business entity. Lee and Parker (2013) mentioned that the attribute of verifiability shall enable the users to verify the financial information of the business entity. In this regard , it can be stated that the financial data provided on the annual report has been verified in the context of the current year.

Timeliness- The concept of Timeliness relates to having prior information to the decisions-makers of the business entity that shall help the business entity in making appropriate business as well as financial decisions. An in-depth analysis of the financial statements is presented in the business entity. Therefore, this shall assist the business enterprise in making authentic financial statements of Commonwealth Bank, Australia. As such, the timeliness of the financial statements is an essential attribute of towards establishing of the financial strategies as well as the policies of the business entity.

Understandability- The concept of understandability refer to presenting the information in a simplistic manner to help users in making informed financial decisions for the business entity. According to Fiolleau et al. (2013), the management of the Commonwealth Bank , Australia has presented the accounting statements in a simplified manner so that it can be easily understood by the users. The concept of understandability is evaluated in the annual report of  Commonwealth  Bank, Australia . As such, the data presented in the annual financial statements of the business entity is simple to understand yet in-depth in details . As such, the understandability is a definite characteristic of the management of the business entity. These attributes has been essential for the business enterprise in the implementation of effective financial policies.

For the purpose of measurement in accounting, the fair value of accounting is used to assess the assets and the liabilities of the organization as per the organizational goals and the objectives. In this regard, it can be stated that the fair value of measurement in accounting can be used in determining the actual worth of the assets and the liabilities in the business organization. Commonwealth Bank, Australia has been able to assess the existing liabilities as well as the assets of the organization as per the existing market condition in the domestic as well as the International market. According to Deegan (2013), the fair value accounting in the business entity has been an influencing factors  in determining the exact financial position of a business entity. The fair value accounting of the business entity  asists the business  organization to make effective  financial strategies  of  the business  entity. Therefore, the value of the assets would be ascertained as per their current market value.

Table 1: Asset Measurement

(Source: Commbank 2016)

 The recognition criteria refer to the factors on which the identification of assets and the liabilities depends, in the context of Commonwealth Bank, Australia. The Commonwealth Bank , Australia has been recognized the asset as well as the liability of the business entity in, changes in equity as well as the expenses of the business enterprise facilitating authenticity and transparency in the annual financial statements of the business enterprise. Therefore, it shall assist the business enterprise in enhancing the cost of the organization as well as enhancing the changes in the business organization. In the recognition criteria, the probability in the inflow or the outflow of cash in the business organization for a particular period of time shall have to be analyzed in the attainment of the organizational goals and the objectives of the business enterprise.

Miller and Power (2013) stated that the following two existing standards – IAS 1 Presentation of the Financial Statements and IAS 8 Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting estimates and errors have assisted Common Wealth Bank Australia in adhering to the conceptual framework of the general-purpose financial accounting. These policies in the business entity shall help the business entity to strictly adhere to the general-purpose financial accounting and prepare detailed financial reports for the business enterprise. According to Freeman et al. (2014) the IAS 1 develops the basis of the financial statements in the year –ended annual reports of the entity . These accounting statements provide the faithful representation of the transactions as well as events and conditions of the business entity.

The existing inconsistencies in the existing conceptual framework shall have to be eliminated by the IAS 18 accounting standards. According to Deegan (2012), the framework states that the asset and the liabilities of the organization shall have to be recognized through the expected future benefits of the organization. In the recent years, the brand has faced discrepancies in the recording as well as the assessment of the financial transactions of the business entity. In addition, the brand has developed the necessary measures to overcome the existing discrepancies and facilitate the development of the financial policies of the business entity. The Common Wealth Bank, Australia has implemented effective internal accounting policies of the business organization. Auditing has been a pertinent accounting tool for the business entity in frequent monitoring of the financial statements in the business entity. This has ensured that the financial statements in the annual reports of the business organization shall reflect the existing financial position of the business organization. Bonin (2013) stated that internal auditing is an effective part of the general-purpose financial accounting of the business organization. Therefore, the existing inconsistencies in the annual reports of the organization would have to be assessed through the internal control measures in the organization.

As per the conceptual framework in the General Purpose Financial Accounting the assets and the liabilities of the organization would be recognized if the future economic benefits comes or flow out of the organization. In this regard, it can be stated that the IASB emphasis uniforms academic guidelines and the policies of the business entity. As such, the management of the business entity has been responding appropriately in overcoming any discrepancies or threats for the business entity. As such, this has assisted the business entity to strictly adhere to the conceptual framework of the business entity.

Horngren et al. (2013) mentioned that financial reporting refers to development of the external financial statements consisting of balance sheet, statement of cash flows and the stockholders equity and the notes to the financial statements present in the annual report of the organization. Thus, it can be said that the stakeholders of the business organization has to receive updated financial information about the business entity. As such, this shall assist the investors to acquire the necessary financial data and make informed investment and financial decisions for the business entity. The financial reporting is an essential aspect of the operational as well as the financial decisions of the business. As such, the business entity has been making pertinent efforts in adhering to the conceptual framework of the General Purpose Financial Accounting. According to Bebbington et al. (2014), the business entity has to make the necessary measures in the development of the goals and the objectives of the business entity. Henderson et al. (2015) stated that the business entity has taken measures in the recognition of the intangible assets of the organization. In this regard, it can be stated that the management of the business organization has also recognized bad debt as well as the provision of bad debt in the organization.

In addition, the recognition of revenue expenses in the business entity is another pertinent part of the General Purpose Financial Accounting in the business organization. The financial reporting deals in the disclosure of the financial data to the management as well as the public. According to Christensen et al. (2016), the financial reporting can have to be issued in the quarterly as well as the monthly basis. As such, the Commonwealth Bank Australia has been reporting to the existing shareholders of the business organization through the strict financial reporting guidelines. Horngren et al. (2013) stated that the security and the exchange commission (SEC) in the business enterprise is an essential part of the financial reporting policies of the business entity. As per the guidelines of the general Purpose financial accounting, the shareholders, potential investors and the consumers and the government of the business organization are the parties that shall benefit from financial reporting .Thus, Commonwealth Bank, Australia adheres to the General Purpose financial accounting in developing the organizational policies and strategies.

Conclusion

It can be said that Commonwealth Bank Australia has taken pertinent efforts in adhering to the conceptual Framework in the General Purpose Financial Accounting. The brand has taken measures in the establishment of operational and financial strategies for Commonwealth Bank Australia. However, the internal auditing is an effective tool for the business entity in assessing the financial situation of the business enterprise and recognizing the existing discrepancies in the financial system of business enterprise. The Commonwealth Bank, Australia has been adhering to the general-purpose financial accounting and measure the equity, asset, liability and income as well as the revenues of the organization. The brand strictly adheres to the conceptual framework in the context of the reporting of the financial statements to the business entity. The Commonwealth Bank, Australia conducts financial reporting in quarterly or on a annual basis

The recognition criteria refer to the recognition of the assets and liability of the organization that result in the inflow and outflow of the revenue in the organization. The fair value of accounting in the business entity relates to the assessment of the assets as per their existing market value. The Commonwealth Bank, Australia has been in a strong financial position in the recent years. The data extracted from the financial annual reports relates to the measurement of the assets, liabilities as well as the income and the recognition of the incomes and the revenue of the organization and indicates the financial strength of the entity when compared to the substitute brands in the market. In the coming years it can be expected that the business entity shall acquire a greater market share in the domestic and global market.

References

Bebbington, J., Unerman, J. and O’Dwyer, B., 2014. Sustainability accounting and accountability. Routledge.

Bonin, H., 2013. Generational accounting: theory and application. Springer Science & Business Media.

Bonin, H., 2013. Generational accounting: theory and application. Springer Science & Business Media.

Christensen, H.B., Nikolaev, V.V. and Wittenbergâ€ÂMoerman, R., 2016. Accounting information in financial contracting: The incomplete contract theory perspective. Journal of Accounting Research, 54(2), pp.397-435.

Commbank 2016 Available at: https://www.commbank.com.au/content/dam/commbank/about-us/shareholders/pdfs/annual-reports/cba-annual-report-30%20June-2015.pdf [Accessed 3 Sep. 2016].

Cortesi, A., Tettamanzi, P., Scaccabarozzi, U., Spertini, I. and Castoldi, S., 2015. Advanced Financial Accounting: Financial Statement Analysis–Accounting Issues–Group Accounts. EGEA spa.

Deegan, C. (2013). Financial accounting theory. McGraw-Hill Education Australia.

Deegan, C., 2012. Australian financial accounting. McGraw-Hill Education Australia.

DRURY, C.M., 2013. Management and cost accounting. Springer.

Eilifsen, A., Messier, W.F., Glover, S.M. and Prawitt, D.F., 2013. Auditing and assurance services. McGraw-Hill.

Fiolleau, K.J., Hoang, K.J. and Pomeroy, B., 2013. Communications with Audit Committees: How Do Auditors Decide How Much Information to Provide about Management’s Accounting Practices?.

Freeman, R.J., Shoulders, C.D., Allison, G.S., Smith Jr, G.R. and Becker, C.J., 2014. Governmental and nonprofit accounting: theory and practice.JJpaejournal Of Public Affairs Education Volume 20 Number 3, p.441.

Groot, T. and Selto, F., 2013. Advanced management accounting. Pearson Higher Ed.

Harrison, J.S. and Van der Laan Smith, J., 2015. Responsible accounting for stakeholders. Journal of Management Studies, 52(7), pp.935-960.

Hassard, J. and Pym, D. eds., 2012. The theory and philosophy of organizations: critical issues and new perspectives. Routledge.

Henderson, S., Peirson, G., Herbohn, K. and Howieson, B., 2015. Issues in financial accounting. Pearson Higher Education AU.

Horngren, C.T., Sundem, G.L., Schatzberg, J.O. and Burgstahler, D., 2013.Introduction to management accounting. Pearson Higher Ed.

Jones, S. ed., 2015. The routledge companion to financial accounting theory. Routledge.

Lee, T.A. and Parker, R.H., 2013. Towards a Theory and Practice of Cash Flow Accounting (RLE Accounting) (Vol. 50). Routledge.

Miller, P. and Power, M., 2013. Accounting, organizing, and economizing: Connecting accounting research and organization theory. The Academy of Management Annals, 7(1), pp.557-605.

Zimmerman, J.L., 2013. Myth: External financial reporting quality has a first-order effect on firm value. Accounting Horizons, 27(4), pp.887-894.