scholarly journals The Challenges of Assurance on Non-financial Reporting

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Ling Li Sonnerfeldt ◽  
Caroline Aggestam Pontoppidan

AbstractThe purpose of this paper is to enhance our understanding of the notions and conceptual foundations of assurance in the standard setting arena. This will facilitate an informed discussion of the challenges and the role of assurance within an increasingly complex and fragmented corporate reporting regulatory landscape. The study draws on relevant literature on sustainability assurance and an analysis of how the assurance concept has been framed by the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) through the construction of standards. The analysis highlights that the fragility of the conceptual foundations of assurance, broad-based nature of standards and diversity in practice contribute to the persistent challenges of sustainability assurance. This paper makes an important contribution to the discussions and contemporary debates on the regulation of and through assurance as well as the complex newer concept of integrated assurance. It further contributes to a more informed policy discussion as to how it can(not) strengthen the role of non-financial reporting as an agent of change to encourage more sustainable companies.

Author(s):  
Ana Isabel Lopes

This chapter presents an overview, on a twofold perspective, of the role of Latin American (LATAM) countries in the process of setting international standards. Firstly, at the international level, it checks who are the LATAM bodies and persons who have a seat in the structure of IFRS Foundation and the IASB's advisory bodies, highlighting their role and the required individual skills. Secondly, at the regional and local levels, it looks at the accountancy bodies in each LATAM country, to identify what they are doing regarding the process of convergence and adoption of international accounting standards. The topics discussed conclude that (1) overall Brazil seems to assume the leading position and the most prominent role, (2) Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Venezuela are the most engaged with IASB's work, and (3) Brazil and Mexico have the most diverse and available information on the activities developed by local accountancy's bodies and respective consequences for financial reporting.


2014 ◽  
pp. 79-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ales Novak

The term ?business model' has recently attracted increased attention in the context of financial reporting and was formally introduced into the IFRS literature when IFRS 9 Financial Instruments was published in November 2009. However, IFRS 9 did not fully define the term ‘business model'. Furthermore, the literature on business models is quite diverse. It has been conducted in largely isolated fashion; therefore, no generally accepted definition of ?business model' has emerged. Therefore, a better understanding of the notion itself should be developed before further investigating its potential role within financial reporting. The aim of this paper is to highlight some of the perceived key themes and to identify other bases for grouping/organizing the literature based on business models. The contributions this paper makes to the literature are twofold: first, it complements previous review papers on business models; second, it contains a clear position on the distinction between the notions of the business model and strategy, which many authors identify as a key element in better explaining and communicating the notion of the business model. In this author's opinion, the term ‘strategy' is a dynamic and forward-looking notion, a sort of directional roadmap for future courses of action, whereas, ‘business model' is a more static notion, reflecting the conceptualisation of the company's underlying core business logic. The conclusion contains the author's thoughts on the role of the business model in financial reporting.


Author(s):  
Nina Batechko

The article outlines the conceptual framework for adapting Ukrainian higher education to the Standards and Recommendations for Quality Assurance in the European higher education area. The role of the Bologna Declaration in ensuring the quality of higher education in Europe has been explained. The conceptual foundations and the essence of standards and recommendations on quality assurance in the European higher education area have been defined. The Ukrainian realities of the adaptation of higher education of Ukraine to the educational European standards of quality have been characterized.


2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 80-91
Author(s):  
V. G. Neiman

The main content of the work consists of certain systematization and addition of longexisting, but eventually deformed and partly lost qualitative ideas about the role of thermal and wind factors that determine the physical mechanism of the World Ocean’s General Circulation System (OGCS). It is noted that the conceptual foundations of the theory of the OGCS in one form or another are contained in the works of many well-known hydrophysicists of the last century, but the aggregate, logically coherent description of the key factors determining the physical model of the OGCS in the public literature is not so easy to find. An attempt is made to clarify and concretize some general ideas about the two key blocks that form the basis of an adequate physical model of the system of oceanic water masses motion in a climatic scale. Attention is drawn to the fact that when analyzing the OGCS it is necessary to take into account not only immediate but also indirect effects of thermal and wind factors on the ocean surface. In conclusion, it is noted that, in the end, by the uneven flow of heat to the surface of the ocean can be explained the nature of both external and almost all internal factors, in one way or another contributing to the excitation of the general, or climatic, ocean circulation.


Author(s):  
Mohammad Tariq Jassim

In a market economy, the role of International Financial Reporting Standards is increasing. In order to understand their significance in modern conditions it seems necessary to consider the peculiarities of evolution of IFRS formation. The article reflects actual issues concerning the role and significance of International Accounting and Reporting Standards in modern conditions. The author has defined the necessity of applying International Accounting and Reporting Standards by Russian companies. The article highlights the main elements and users of financial statements prepared on the basis of IFRS, and analyzes the similarities and differences that exist in the formation of financial statements, based on the requirements of IFRS and RAS. The main qualitative characteristics of financial statements are considered in detail. Based on the results of the research, the author has identified current trends in the transition to international financial reporting standards.


2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 1455-1466
Author(s):  
Hristina Oreshkova

Over the most recent decades corporate reporting has proved to be essential to achieving the strategic goals of humankinds and the ever-increasing necessity of truthful information and transparency. Corporate reporting is a socially significant process and practice. The quality of corporate reporting reflects the degree of relevance of the manner enterprises and businesses communicate with the surrounding world and environment (natural or industrial) and millions of people concerned – societies, present and future generations, employees, workers, and many other people, and other living beings. On most authoritative international scientific forums – symposia, conferences, congresses, assemblies, summit meetings and events, conducted in Europe and worldwide, it is pompously declared that corporate reporting should provide useful and reliable information both financial and non-financial one. The responsibilities of accountability and stewardship seem out to be of great importance to the fulfillment of the strategic goals of our centuries.The belief of the author is that the simultaneous analysis of the global problems challenging humankinds such as climate changes, destruction of biological diversity on the Planet, the matter of the necessity of actions of creating Green Ethics and Green Economy worldwide, the increasing need for combined and well-coordinated efforts in the combat supporting the eradication of poverty globally, and the relevance of corporate reporting to solving these unique problems the mankind is facing, would highlight and confirm their intricate interrelation (the key aim of the present research), consequently rendering the debate on the future of corporate reporting more meaningful and constructive. The debate would most probably promote the standpoint we personally maintain, which is also endorsed by an increasing number of supporters in Europe and around the world, implying in particular that apart from a process of unification and reduction of essential differences in the international financial reporting, what is also necessary is the radical change in the philosophy and culture of corporate reporting and presentation. Undeniably, it includes revealing of the financial state and the substantial effects and impacts of the businesses operating activities in a straightforward manner, as complete insights and understanding of the broader and far-reaching goals to which the corporate reporting must be subordinated – at present and in the long-lasting future.


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