The Personal Financial Reporting Project: A Student-Based Comprehensive Learning Project

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 777-796 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara M. Arel ◽  
Susan B. Hughes ◽  
James F. Sander

ABSTRACT The Personal Financial Reporting Project is designed to help students better understand the basics of financial reporting by applying class concepts to their own financial situations. Through a series of monthly assignments, completed over a two- or three-month period, students identify their personal assets and liabilities, determine which of these are included within a balance sheet, develop an accounting system to track changes to their assets and liabilities and recognize revenue and expenses, prepare financial statements, and develop significant accounting policies. After the second assignment, each subsequent assignment builds on the prior part. As such, students must correct errors in the earlier parts to accurately finish the next assignment. The complete project is made up of five parts; however, during some semesters, the project was condensed to include only Parts 2 through 4. The latter approach may be very appropriate for programs on the quarter system. Students report the project enhances their understanding of accounting concepts, improves their ability to prepare accounting reports, helps them understand the articulation concept, and provides them with additional insight into their personal financial situation. The project motivates both top-tier students and those who do not perform as well on exams and quizzes.

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 1323-1328
Author(s):  
Marija Milojičić ◽  
Snežana Knežević ◽  
Aleksandar Grgur

The financial statements, as the end product of the accounting information system, are a structural account of the financial position and financial success of an entity's business over a period. Earnings or net profit indicates an important position in the financial statements and is considered as a measure of a company’s success. Earnings management comes from the accounting skills that executives and business owners use when making business decisions. The Generally Accepted Accounting Principles set out in International Accounting Standards (hereinafter IAS) and International Financial Reporting Standards (hereinafter referred to as IFRS) generally give the owner or manager the choice between several accounting methods within the various stages of the accounting process. One of these methods is creative accounting, which is often correlated with the manipulation of financial statements. Creativity in accounting is known to be legal and to stay within the legal framework, but it is often the case that, with its creativity, it is beyond its boundaries. The way managers exercise this discretion is very important to the quality and objectivity of financial reporting.The tendency of the owners, and then the managers, to show the performance of the company better than they really are, is certainly not new. The reason that in the world from the beginning of the 2000s to the present day, both by the scientific and professional public and by the regulatory bodies in charge of financial reporting, particular attention is paid to this problem are the major political and economic scandals caused by the inaccurate presentation of financial statements. It is considered that manipulative accounting practices are applied in the preparation of financial statements when the application of accounting principles is made with the intention of achieving the desired objective, such as, for example, generating greater profit regardless of whether the procedures selected are in accordance with international and local prescribed rules.The prevalence of manipulation of financial statements depends on the situation in the environment, the quality of the normative basis of financial reporting, the quality of management and the ability of accountants to comply with professional and ethical standards. The environment implies the general economic situation, the existence or absence of appropriate legislation, including its implementation, as well as the relation to tax liabilities.The result of the original empirical research is presented in this paper. The research was conducted in the form of a case study of a domestic business entity (the Republic of Serbia), whose main activity is trade in sports and fashion products. The financial analysis was performed using the Beneish model, which was derived from the official financial statements of the companies, collected from publicly available databases (Balance Sheet and Income Statement 2016-2018) as the basic information base in order to discover the degree of possible manipulation of their own earning capacity. This model has become particularly popular since the Beneish M-scoring model revealed the manipulation of the financial results of the US company Enron, which went bankrupt in 2001.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 42-51
Author(s):  
V. S. Plotnikov ◽  
O. V. Plotnikova

The article is devoted to the problem of accounting reflection of rental relations, which has been the subject of discussion by professional accountants for more than 100 years. At present, more standards are devoted to this problem in world practice than to other accounting objects. Nevertheless, a number of issues remain unresolved. The methodological framework of the study is based on a comparative description of the provisions of IFRS 16 “Leases” and FSBU 25/2018 “Accounting for Leases” and includes a new institutional theory, Conceptual framework for the presentation of financial statements. The research methodology provides for the reclassification of balance sheet items, which allows for significant structural information regarding the reflection of rental objects. The analysis revealed the following differences in standards: the Russian FSBU 25/2018 unreasonably introduces accounting for leasing transactions into the financial lease accounting system; insufficiently convincingly and without proper evidence the issues of identification of financial lease accounting objects are covered. The prospective direction of accounting for financial leases is the possibility of reflecting the property transferred by the lessee as an element of the cost of financial capital, at the same time, the tenant’s long-term obligations should be recognized as existing obligations. The practical significance of the study is determined by the possibility of reducing the level of debt in the balance of the parties to the lease transaction.


2020 ◽  
pp. 38-40
Author(s):  
Liubov SHEVCHENKO ◽  
Maryna Trokhymivna SHENDRYHORENKO ◽  
Vitaliia LIADSKA

The paper consider the stage of preparation, functions and essence of the financial statements of banking institutions, as well as its purpose. It is established that a necessary condition for the operation of each bank is a unique accounting system. The most important indicator that reflects the activities of banking institutions and financial institutions, as well as information of internal and external users for financial decisions is the financial report. Effective bank management depends on the integrity, reliability and reliability of the information provided. The financial statements of each bank reflect the results of activities for the light period. The bank must prepare financial statements in accordance with the requirements of International Financial Reporting Standards and regulations of the National Bank of Ukraine and submit statistical reports on operations, liquidation, solvency, guidance and information. The effective functioning of the bank depends on various factors affecting its financial stability. All bank operations are exposed to risks, so customers, investors and their partners need certain guarantees of return on investment in banks. Especially important in modern conditions is the openness of all market participants, especially credit institutions. This is achieved by complete financial information about their activities. Notice of financial statements, which gives the participant a complete picture of financial stations, the results of its activities at the moment and in the future. Such information is easy to compare with the reporting data of foreign counterparties. The preparation of such reports should be regulated and enshrined in the legislation of Ukraine. However, now we have some discrepancies in the reporting of banks for IFRS in the requirements of the NBU and the requirements of the IFRS Committee. The paper examines the features of the financial statements, which are present banking institution, in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards Reporting (IFRS) and requirements of the National Bank of Ukraine, differences between these requirements, as well as the benefits of the transition on IFRS for the banking sector and enterprises of Ukraine as a whole together with the problems of implementation in the Ukrainian banking system of International Financial Reporting Standards. The approach to the implementation of IFRS in banking institutions will ensure the creation of a new level of trust in potential partners, as well as attract foreign investment and loans, which will help solve national banking problems.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-40
Author(s):  
Sri Wahjuni Latifah ◽  
Ahmad Waluya Jati ◽  
Agustin Dwi Haryanti

            Ipteks for the community on the CV.Agro Citra Abadi Batu with the aim of helping partners in order to have a reliable accounting information systems that can provide important information, accurate and timely, so that owners and parties concerned can analyze and take the right decision. Problems of the partners is not yet able to evaluate his performance for not having a system of accounting information to make financial statements.          The purpose of this activity is to improve the understanding and knowledge of human resources. The lasting company has to information system of accounting and financial reporting. Besides helping partners in designing the accounting  system in accordance with the conditions of the partners.          Method to  solving the problem: advising system of accounting information based SAK EMKM, discussing, accounting software design,and implementation of accounting software.The results of these activities shows that there is an increased understanding and ability of partners in the field of accounting. Partners can understand and apply the concept of entity references  separation of business transactions with private transactions. Proven partners may draw up financial statements, can use the financial statements as the basis for evaluation of performance and can use for materials management decision-making


1999 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 211-231
Author(s):  
Peter Lee ◽  
Pearl Tan

The management of Worldwide Shipping Corporation Ltd (hereafter “Worldwide Shipping”) is confronted with a dilemma when a new international accounting standard on leases is introduced which contains a transitional provision allowing firms to defer implementation for a period of four years. Students are required to put themselves in the position of managers who have to weigh the adverse impact of early adoption of the new accounting standard against a responsibility for fair financial reporting. Worldwide Shipping is a multifaceted case that can be used as an accounting case study or a financial analysis study. The objectives of the case are threefold. First, it aims to provide students with a better understanding of the impact of off-balance sheet transactions (in this case, sale-leaseback contracts) on a firm's financial statements. Second, it requires students to examine implications of accounting choice on management compensation and debt-contracting costs, as well as the perplexing problem of recognition in financial statements vs. footnote disclosures. By putting students in the position of managers, the case increases students' awareness of the possible economic consequences arising from accounting choice. Third, it provides students with a useful exercise in the mechanics of effecting a change in accounting method using the retroactive method.


2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 339-358
Author(s):  
Christopher Enyioma Alozie

PurposeThis paper assessed accuracy level in accounting for government funds in Nigeria's federal treasury and their faithful presentation in government financial reporting. It aimed to determine whether the reported annual balances in Nigeria's financial reporting were reliable or otherwise. Data used in analysis were obtained from secondary sources from federal treasury.Design/methodology/approachEx-post “facto” analysis method was adopted in the study involving the use of statistical techniques of absolute or aggregate mean percentage error derived from differences between recomputed and published fund balances and was employed. This was augmented with interactive review meetings of the initial case research report with the management of Nigeria's audit agency.FindingsResults distilled from the consolidated revenue fund (CRF), development fund and public debt show that recomputed values were greater than the fund balances in the gazetted financial statements. Results for contingency fund (CTF), federation account fund (FAF), special trust fund (STF) and sundry deposit fund yield equal figures and accurate. The paper concludes that there were serial understatements of the core public fund balances in the financial statements over the years. This trend of reporting incorrect in three core public funds in financial statements rendered Nigeria's financial position unreliable in the affected years for decisions. It also facilitated frauds, mismanagement of funds and corrupt practices.Research limitations/implicationsThe scope of the research is restricted to assessment of degree of accuracy in fund accounting, faithful representation of the respective fund balance in the liabilities side of FGN balance sheet and the reliability of the financial position. But, it did not consider or cover the implementation of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSASs) in federal treasury since FGN had not issued any full IPSAS–oriented financial statements as on 2015.Practical implicationsIdentification of deficiencies in fund account balances, structural defects in fund accounting and acts of understatement of carrying balances in CRF and capital development fund (CDF) implies that the aggregate core fund liabilities reported in financial statement of government entities without corresponding assets do not actually reflect a true and fair financial position in some countries. It reveals remarkable degree of financial information asymmetry in government financial reporting. Illusionary fund accounting has direct linkage to poor fiscal governance in many sovereign with associated sub-optimal delivery of public goods and service level distress syndrome in many economies; lead to poverty, unemployment, crisis and macroeconomic disturbances.Social implicationsThe study contributes to the development of fund accounting system; strengthening government financial reporting architecture and practices. It provides framework for tracking financial information asymmetry in government financial reporting and mismanagement of public funds. It provides platform to effect necessary adjustment (correction) during the “first time 3-year adoption” adjustment window in Nigeria. Flowing from the findings, it advocates for institutionalization of government fund accounting standards and provides evidence for migration to accrual accounting system in countries that have not already implemented it. Evaluation system developed herein will improve fund management in federal treasury and contribute to efficient public financial management, good governance and enhance development of public accounting practice.Originality/valueThis exploratory empirical research is the one to ever evaluate accuracy level of fund accounting in sovereign entities and faithful representation in government's financial position prior to implementation of accrual accounting and financial reporting. The study established substantial level of illusionary accounting for public funds and information asymmetry in published government's financial reporting. It is necessary to rectify these discrepancies in fund accounting and financial reporting prior to and or during the first three years of the IPSAS transition implementation programme. These research deliverables provide adopters with relevant data for adjustment accounting during the transition period in strengthening public financial reporting in order to realize the benefit of full IPSAS accrual accounting.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 14
Author(s):  
Jolanta Chluska

Polish business entities operate based on accounting principles in accordance with the Accounting Act and the accounting policy established by the directors of the entities. Changes in the balance sheet law have a significant effect on the internal accounting principles applied in companies. In the last three years, Polish accounting regulations have been adapted to the solutions used in the European Union.The aim of the paper is to analyse information aspects of accounting, including financial reporting in Poland in the decision-making processes of internal recipients, taking into account the changes in legal regulations.The research method was the analysis of the literature and legal acts, and a practical example.Changes in legislation influence the accounting policies defined by the managers of business entities. Companies can simplify their accounting principles including those concerning reporting. However, the simplifications should not adversely affect the economic decisions of the entity's manager and the recipients of the financial statements.The lack of accurate financial data from the accounting system may adversely affect the decision-making of the unit's manager in management processes. As it results from the analysis of the literature of the subject and the accounting systems of small enterprises, financial information from accounting is necessary for effective business management. Therefore, managers apply simplifications in accounting quite carefully.


2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 365-381 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas D’Angelo ◽  
Samir El-Gazzar ◽  
Rudolph A. Jacob

Purpose This paper aims to examine the characteristics of firms that voluntary disclose generally accepted accounting principals (GAAP)-compliant statements of income, statement of cash flows (SCF) and balance sheet (BS) concurrently with quarterly earnings releases. Cardinal motivation of the paper stems from the increasing demand over the past decade by professional analysts and the Securities and Exchange Commission for concurrent disclosure of GAAP-compliant financial statements with earnings’ announcements. Design/methodology/approach Using hand-collected archival data, a random sample was identified as disclosing GAAP-compliant SCF and BS with their quarterly earnings releases compared to a control sample identified as non-GAAP-compliant disclosing firms during the 36-month period of 2009-2011, and several hypotheses are tested to determine managements’ incentives to disclose GAAP-compliant versus non-GAAP financials with their earnings releases. Findings The results in this paper suggest that debt financing, corporate governance, operating performance, earnings volatility, industry membership (such as technology and more research and development-intensive) and complexity of operations (number of segments) are significant characteristics of firms electing to concurrently disclose GAAP-compliant SCF and BS with earnings releases. Practical implications The findings discussed in this paper are of special interest to financial reporting policymakers, financial analysts, firm managers and stakeholders and academics. Originality/value The voluntary disclosure literature on quarterly earnings releases is extended by differentiating between GAAP-compliant and non-GAAP-compliant voluntary disclosers. The specific findings of this study may provide valuable input to policymakers as they study prevailing voluntary disclosure rules and practices.


Author(s):  
Nikolay M. Tyukavkin ◽  
Vasilisa S. Vasilenko

The article discusses the concepts of financial stability, solvency, solvency ratios, financial reporting, financial analysis, liquidity indicators, solvency indicators, balance sheet, report on financial results, considers the advantages of implementing software products for the automatic generation of financial indicators based on financial statements. Financial management is becoming a time-consuming and priority task facing the management personnel of any modern enterprise, regardless of its field of activity. The financial stability of an enterprise is a complex concept that reflects a financial condition in which the enterprise is able to freely dispose of funds, balance financial flows, carry out effective activities in conditions of entrepreneurial risk and a dynamically changing environment, while maintaining solvency, having investment potential and a number of competitive advantages. The system of indicators characterizing the solvency and financial stability of the enterprise is the most important aspect, therefore, this article also discusses the indicators of financial stability, solvency, their calculation procedure, as well as the size and results. Methods for assessing the information contained in the financial statements are determined, examples of calculating the liquidity and solvency ratios of enterprises are given. The ways of increasing the financial stability and solvency of companies are described and considered.


2009 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 176-186
Author(s):  
Maciej Tokarski

Balance policy is not only the art of making what is possible, but also the art of making itaccording to the law. Examples of this occurrences are known as: creative accounting, windowdressing, incomes smoothing, off balance sheet financing.The aim of the article is to show that financial statements can be imperfect source ofinformation about financial situation of the enterprise and possible the negative consequencesfor potential users.


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