Conceptual Framework

2 for Financial Reporting

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After studying this chapter, you should be able to:
5. Define the basic elements of financial
1. Describe the usefulness of a conceptual statements.
framework.
6. Describe the basic assumptions of
2. Describe efforts to construct a conceptual accounting.
framework.
7. Explain the application of the basic principles
3. Understand the objective of financial of accounting.
reporting.
8. Describe the impact that the cost constraint
4. Identify the qualitative characteristics of has on reporting accounting information.
accounting information.
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

Development of a Conceptual Framework

Presently, the Conceptual Framework is comprises of the following.
• Chapter 1: The Objective of General Purpose Financial Reporting
• Chapter 2: The Reporting Entity
• Chapter 3: Qualitative Characteristics of Useful Financial
Information
• Chapter 4: The Framework, comprised of the following:
1. Underlying assumption—the going concern assumption;
2. The elements of financial statements;
3. Recognition of the elements of financial statements;
4. Measurement of the elements of financial statements; and
5. Concepts of capital and capital maintenance.
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CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

Overview of the Conceptual Framework

Three levels:
◆ First Level = Objectives of Financial Reporting

◆ Second Level = Qualitative Characteristics and

Elements of Financial Statements

◆ Third Level = Recognition, Measurement, and

Disclosure Concepts.

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 ASSUMPTIONS PRINCIPLES CONSTRAINTS
1. Economic entity 1. Measurement 1. Cost
2. Going concern 2. Revenue recognition
Third level
3. Monetary unit 3. Expense recognition The "how"—
4. Periodicity 4. Full disclosure implementation
5. Accrual

QUALITATIVE
CHARACTERISTICS ELEMENTS
1. Fundamental 1. Assets
qualities 2. Liabilities Second level
2. Enhancing 3. Equity Bridge between
qualities 4. Income
levels 1 and 3
5. Expenses
ILLUSTRATION 2-7
Conceptual Framework
for Financial Reporting OBJECTIVE
Provide information
about the reporting
entity that is useful
to present and potential First level
equity investors, The "why"—purpose
lenders, and other of accounting
creditors in their
capacity as capital
providers.
FIRST LEVEL: BASIC OBJECTIVE

OBJECTIVE
“To provide financial information about the reporting entity
that is useful to present and potential equity investors,
lenders, and other creditors in making decisions about
providing resources to the entity.

➢ Provided by issuing general-purpose financial statements.

➢ Assumption is that users need reasonable knowledge of business
and financial accounting matters to understand the information.

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SECOND LEVEL: FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS

Qualitative Characteristics of Accounting

Information
IASB identified the Qualitative Characteristics of
accounting information that distinguish better (more useful)
information from inferior (less useful) information for
decision-making purposes.

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SECOND LEVEL: FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS

ILLUSTRATION 2-2
Hierarchy of Accounting
Qualities

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 Relevance

ILLUSTRATION 2-7
Conceptual Framework
for Financial Reporting

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SECOND LEVEL: FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS

Fundamental Quality—Relevance

To be relevant, accounting information must be capable of making

a difference in a decision.

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SECOND LEVEL: FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS

Fundamental Quality—Relevance

Financial information has predictive value if it has value as an input to

predictive processes used by investors to form their own expectations
about the future.

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SECOND LEVEL: FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS

Fundamental Quality—Relevance

Relevant information also helps users confirm or correct prior

expectations.

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SECOND LEVEL: FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS

Fundamental Quality—Relevance

Information is material if omitting it or misstating it could influence

decisions that users make on the basis of the reported financial
information.

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 Faithful Representation

ILLUSTRATION 2-7
Conceptual Framework
for Financial Reporting

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SECOND LEVEL: FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS

Fundamental Quality—Faithful Representation

Faithful representation means that the numbers and descriptions

match what really existed or happened.

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SECOND LEVEL: FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS

Fundamental Quality—Faithful Representation

Completeness means that all the information that is necessary for

faithful representation is provided.

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SECOND LEVEL: FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS

Fundamental Quality—Faithful Representation

Neutrality means that a company cannot select information to favor

one set of interested parties over another.

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SECOND LEVEL: FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS

Fundamental Quality—Faithful Representation

An information item that is free from error will be a more accurate

(faithful) representation of a financial item.

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SECOND LEVEL: FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS

Enhancing Qualities

Information that is measured and reported in a similar manner for

different companies is considered comparable.

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SECOND LEVEL: FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS

Enhancing Qualities

Verifiability occurs when independent measurers, using the same

methods, obtain similar results.

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SECOND LEVEL: FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS

Enhancing Qualities

Timeliness means having information available to decision-makers

before it loses its capacity to influence decisions.

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SECOND LEVEL: FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS

Enhancing Qualities

Understandability is the quality of information that lets reasonably

informed users see its significance.

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 Basic Elements

ILLUSTRATION 2-7
Conceptual Framework
for Financial Reporting

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SECOND LEVEL: BASIC ELEMENTS
Elements of Financial Statements

Asset A resource controlled by the entity as a

result of past events and from which
future economic benefits are expected to
Liability flow to the entity.

Equity

Income

Expenses

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SECOND LEVEL: BASIC ELEMENTS
Elements of Financial Statements

Asset
A present obligation of the entity arising
from past events, the settlement of which
Liability
is expected to result in an outflow from the
entity of resources embodying economic
Equity benefits.

Income

Expenses

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SECOND LEVEL: BASIC ELEMENTS
Elements of Financial Statements

Asset

Liability

The residual interest in the assets of the

Equity
entity after deducting all its liabilities.

Income

Expenses

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SECOND LEVEL: BASIC ELEMENTS
Elements of Financial Statements

Asset

Liability

Equity Increases in economic benefits during the

accounting period in the form of inflows or
enhancements of assets or decreases of
Income
liabilities that result in increases in equity,
other than those relating to contributions
Expenses from equity participants.

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SECOND LEVEL: BASIC ELEMENTS
Elements of Financial Statements

Asset

Liability

Equity Decreases in economic benefits during the

accounting period in the form of outflows
Income or depletions of assets or incurrences of
liabilities that result in decreases in equity,
other than those relating to distributions to
Expenses
equity participants.
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SECOND LEVEL: BASIC ELEMENTS
Exercise 2-4: Identify the qualitative characteristic(s) to be used
given the information provided. Characteristics
(a) Qualitative characteristic being [Link]
displayed when companies in the 2. Faithful representation
same industry are using the same 3. Predictive value
accounting principles.
4. Confirmatory value
(b) Quality of information that confirms 5. Neutrality
users’ earlier expectations.
6. Materiality
(c) Imperative for providing comparisons 7. Timeliness
of a company from period to period.
8. Verifiability
(d) Ignores the economic consequences 9. Understandability
of a standard or rule. 10. Comparability
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SECOND LEVEL: BASIC ELEMENTS
Exercise 2-4: Identify the qualitative characteristic(s) to be used
given the information provided. Characteristics
(e) Requires a high degree of consensus [Link]
among individuals on a given 2. Faithful
measurement. representation
(f) Predictive value is an ingredient of this 3. Predictive value
fundamental quality of information. 4. Confirmatory value

(g) Four qualitative characteristics that 5. Neutrality

enhance both relevance and faithful 6. Materiality
representation. 7. Timeliness
(h) An item is not reported because its 8. Verifiability
effect on income would not change a 9. Understandability
decision.
10. Comparability LO 5
SECOND LEVEL: BASIC ELEMENTS
Exercise 2-4: Identify the qualitative characteristic(s) to be used
given the information provided. Characteristics
(i) Neutrality is a key ingredient of this [Link]
fundamental quality of accounting 2. Faithful
information. representation
(j) Two fundamental qualities that make 3. Predictive value
accounting information useful for 4. Confirmatory value
decision-making purposes. 5. Neutrality
(k) Issuance of interim reports is an 6. Materiality
example of what enhancing 7. Timeliness
ingredient?
8. Verifiability
9. Understandability
10. Comparability LO 5
THIRD LEVEL: RECOGNITION, MEASUREMENT, AND
DISCLOSURE CONCEPTS

These concepts explain how companies should recognize,

measure, and report financial elements and events.

Recognition, Measurement, and Disclosure Concepts

ASSUMPTIONS PRINCIPLES CONSTRAINTS
1. Economic entity 1. Measurement 1. Cost
2. Going concern 2. Revenue recognition
3. Monetary unit 3. Expense recognition
4. Periodicity 4. Full disclosure
5. Accrual

ILLUSTRATION 2-7
Conceptual Framework for
Financial Reporting

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THIRD LEVEL: ASSUMPTIONS

Basic Assumptions
Economic Entity – company keeps its activity separate from its
owners and other business unit.

Going Concern - company to last long enough to fulfill

objectives and commitments.

Monetary Unit - money is the common denominator.

Periodicity - company can divide its economic activities into

time periods.

Accrual Basis of Accounting – transactions are recorded in the

periods in which the events occur.
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THIRD LEVEL: ASSUMPTIONS
BE2-8: Identify which basic assumption of accounting is best
described in each item below.
(a) The economic activities of FedEx Corporation
(USA) are divided into 12-month periods for the Periodicity
purpose of issuing annual reports.
(b) Total S.A. (FRA) does not adjust amounts in its Monetary
financial statements for the effects of inflation. Unit
(c) Barclays (GBR) reports current and non-current
classifications in its statement of financial Going Concern
position.
(d) The economic activities of Tokai Rubber
Industries (JPN) and its subsidiaries are Economic
merged for accounting and reporting purposes. Entity

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THIRD LEVEL: BASIC PRINCIPLES

Measurement Principles
◆ Historical Cost is generally thought to be a faithful
representation of the amount paid for a given item.

◆ Fair value is defined as “the price that would be received to

sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly
transaction between market participants at the measurement
date.”

◆ IASB has given companies the option to use fair value as the
basis for measurement of financial assets and financial
liabilities.

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THIRD LEVEL: BASIC PRINCIPLES

Measurement Principles
IASB established a fair value hierarchy that provides insight into
the priority of valuation techniques to use to determine fair value.
ILLUSTRATION 2-4

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THIRD LEVEL: BASIC PRINCIPLES

Revenue Recognition
When a company agrees to perform a service or sell a product to
a customer, it has a performance obligation.

Requires that companies recognize revenue in the accounting

period in which the performance obligation is satisfied.

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THIRD
LEVEL:
BASIC
PRINCIPLES
Illustration: Assume
the Airbus (DEU) signs
a contract to sell
airplanes to British
Airways (GRB) for
€100 million. To
determine when to
recognize revenue,
Airbus uses the five
steps for revenue
recognition shown at
right.
ILLUSTRATION 2-5
The Five Steps of
Revenue Recognition
THIRD LEVEL: BASIC PRINCIPLES

Expense Recognition - Outflows or “using up” of assets

or incurring of liabilities during a period as a result of delivering
or producing goods and/or rendering services.
ILLUSTRATION 2-6
Expense Recognition

“Let the expense follow the revenues.”

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THIRD LEVEL: BASIC PRINCIPLES

Full Disclosure
Providing information that is of sufficient importance to
influence the judgment and decisions of an informed user.

Provided through:
◆ Financial Statements

◆ Notes to the Financial Statements

◆ Supplementary information

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THIRD LEVEL: BASIC PRINCIPLES
BE2-9: Identify which basic principle of accounting is best
described in each item below.
(a) Parmalat (ITA) reports revenue in its income Revenue
statement when it delivered goods instead of when Recognition
the cash is collected.
(b) Google (USA) recognizes depreciation expense for Expense
a machine over the 2-year period during which that Recognition
machine helps the company earn revenue.
(c) KC Corp. (USA) reports information about pending Full
lawsuits in the notes to its financial statements. Disclosure
(d) Fuji Film (JPN) reports land on its statement of
financial position at the amount paid to acquire it,
even though the estimated fair market value is Measurement
greater.
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 THIRD LEVEL: CONSTRAINT

Cost Constraint
Companies must weigh the costs of providing the information
against the benefits that can be derived from using it.

Conservatism:
Anticipate no profit but provide all possible losses.

Materiality:

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THIRD LEVEL: CONSTRAINT

BE2-11: Determine whether you would classify these

transactions as material.

(a) In the current year, Blair Co. reduces its bad

debt expense to ensure another positive Material
earnings year. The impact of this adjustment is
equal to 3% of net income.
(b) Damon Co. expenses all capital equipment
Likely not
under €2,500 on the basis that it is immaterial.
material
The company has followed this practice for a
number of years.

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Summary of
the Structure
Google Class Code: 4jhlvb4

ILLUSTRATION 2-7
Conceptual Framework
for Financial Reporting

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