scholarly journals Challenges with the financial reporting of biological assets by public entities in South Africa

2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 139-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deon Scott ◽  
Christa Wingard ◽  
Marilene Van Biljon

Fair value accounting of biological assets in the public sector was introduced with the adoption of the public-sector-specific accounting standard: Generally Recognised Accounting Practice (GRAP) 101. The public sector currently reports on various bases of accounting. Public entities and municipalities report in terms of accrual accounting, and government departments report on the modified cash basis. The lack of a uniform basis of accounting impedes the comparability of financial information. The implementation of GRAP 101 in the public sector is important in facilitating comparability of financial information regarding biological assets. This paper is based on a content analysis of the annual reports of 10 relevant public entities in South Africa and specifically details the challenges that public entities encounter with the application of GRAP 101. These challenges, and how they were addressed by a public entity that adopted and applied GRAP 101, namely the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative South Africa – Eastern Cape (AsgiSA-EC), are documented in this research.

Tékhne ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ron Hodges

Abstract This paper considers the significance of future harmonization on public sector creative forms of accounting (PSCA) in the context of both national accounting and government financial reporting. The analysis is carried out through a review of studies provided in the academic and official literatures. Examples are provided of PSCA in a ‘broad’ context of any manipulation of financial information and in a ‘focused’ context, referring to the reporting of deficit / surplus and associated levels of debt. The analysis is related to the influence of harmonization using the classification of information-manipulating behaviour drawn from Birnberg, Turopolec, and Young (1983). There is potential for accounting harmonization to improve the analysability of data to restrict PSCA. However, although many techniques of PSCA have been identified, the drivers and controllers of PSCA remain unclear. Accounting researchers should use their specialist understanding to draw out the differences between apparently consistent frameworks of accounting and to understand the policy effects and social implications of harmonization and related creative forms of accounting. There are relatively few studies of PSCA. This paper represents the first study that seeks to relate PSCA to the increasing tendency towards harmonisation of accounting in the public sector context. An agenda is included to guide researchers towards issues that are worthy of further consideration in this important area of study.


Politeia ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elvin Shava ◽  
Shingirayi Florence Chamisa

The change from a politically-sanctioned racial segregation opened support of another popularity based administration which was an overwhelming procedure at all levels. In South Africa, the positive policies to turnaround the economy of the country came along with cadre deployment policy which advocates for ANC party loyalists to occupy a prominent position in the public sector. This political patronage via state jobs leads to poor institutional quality or performance of the nation as a whole. Focusing on the significant association between the demands of economic growth and expansion, this paper assesses the effects of the cadre deployment policy against performance management in the public sector. It presents a proposed framework based on the control theories illustrating how cadre deployment and performance management can contribute to the current knowledge of the African academic and administrative environment. The article adopted an extensive review of literature which was premised on various document sources that inform cadre deployment, Auditor General Reports, Annual Reports and relevant literature on the subject. Results of this study showed that cadre deployment exacerbated corruption, poor procurement systems and wasteful expenditure and the deteriorating State of Local Government.  The article calls for the review and the changes of the authoritative structure governing local municipalities in order to supplement Section (152) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. The article further directs the ANC led government to revise the cadre deployment policy to combat the challenges of severe skills shortage and poor service delivery in various municipalities across the country as a result of nepotism, politicization and hiring unqualified labour.


Author(s):  
Tatiana KYTAICHUK

In particular, a number of concepts that underpin ISFRPS are not used in Ukraine. These include: the priority of the economic content of operations over their juridical form, the concept of future economic benefits and utility of potential. The differences in requirements to accounting and reporting preparation related a different classification of assets and liabilities, income and expenses, as well as the lack of requirements and practices for the application of some accounting methods adoptedin ISFRPS. In Ukraine, the process of reforming the accounting and financial reporting system in the public sector is under way. Taking into account the requirements of the international accounting standards for the public sector are being introduced the national provisions (standards) of accounting in the public sector (hereinafter referred to as "NP" (S) "APS"), which have been developed on the basis of international standards. The Ministry of Finance of Ukraine, by its latest order dated 15.11.17, number 943, approved "NP" (S) "APS" 136 "Biological Assets". The standard came into force on 01.01.18. There was no specialized national standardin the budget sector that would regulate the accounting in agricultural operations. The article deals with the actual problems of implementation of the national provision (standard) of accounting in the public sector 136 "Biological Assets". The essence of the concept of "biological assets" in various scientific and literary sources was investigated.In accordance with paragraph 4 of section І "NP" (S) "APS" 136, a biological asset is an animal or plant that, in the process of biological transformation, is capable of producing agricultural products and / or additional biological assets, andalsoin another way contributes to the economic benefits. For the purposes of accounting, biological assets, depending on the length of the production process and the period of receipt of agricultural products, are classified into two groups: long-term and current biological assets. The accounting of long-term biological assets used in non-agricultural activities (eg watch dogs, ornamental plants, etc.) is regulated by "NP" (S) "APS" 121 "Fixed assets". Also, fruiting plants related with agricultural activities, the peculiarities of accounting which are determined by other "NP" (S) "APS", should be accounted as part of fixed assets. Such plants include such perennial plantations as vineyards, gardens, plantations of berry crops and hops. It should also be taken into account that if a fruit plant produces fruits and its use in agricultural activities is planned in future accounting periods, then it is accountedas part of fixe dassets. The typical correspondence of subaccounts of accounting for the display of transactions with assets, capital and liabilities of budgetary funds and statet rust funds does not include correspondence related to biological assets. Consequently, budget institutions need to develop their own view on the reflection in the accounting of biological assets "NP" (S) "A 136 "Biological Assets" has introduced concerning the biological assets of agricultural and agricultural products, the model of valuation at fair value. Peculiarities of estimation of biological assets depending on their receipt were investigated; the main problems arising from the public sector entities during their assessment were highlighted, in particular, in aspects of determining the fair value of such assets, the main deficiencies of estimation at fair value are indicated. In the IFRS system, the valuation at fair value is one of the priorities. In the world practice, there are three possible approaches to the valuation of fair value: market, income, and expense. In the Ukrainian practice, the market approach is predominantly used. In the domestic practice of the account the peculiarities of the assessment of biological assets was formed taking into account the ways of receipt of biological assets, their classification and the date of evaluation in accordance with certain economic transactions in the course of the movement of these objects of accounting. Nowadays, most of budgetary institutions do not apply the innovations and record in accounting the posting of finished products according to the old method, that is, according to the planned cost, which leads to deformation of information in the financial reporting. Evaluate long-term, current and additional biological assets at initial recognition and at each reporting date. Agricultural products are valued only at initial recognition. The evaluation at fair value provides calculation the sales costs. Current biological assets and additional biological assets whose fair value can not reliably be determined at balance sheet date, can be recognized and displayed at cost of production, in addition to current biological plant production assets which are recognized and displayed as work in progress. Regarding the initial recognition of agricultural products (grain, milk, honey, litter, etc.), it should be reflected in the reporting period in which it was separated from the biological asset. After initial recognition, it is evaluated and reflected in accordance with "NP" (S) "APS"123 "Funds". According to the results of the research, the relevant conclusions are made. Evaluation is a rather complicated process, due to the informational needs of different groups of users, a large number of methods for determining the fair value of accounting objects. Taking into account all the above-mentioned aspects, budget institutions should, by choosing methods for determining the fair value of biological assets, independently determine the method for determining the value of biological assets and approve it in the order about the accounting policy.


2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 122-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vicente Montesinos ◽  
Isabel Brusca

In recent years, different non-financial information models have arisen, both in the private  and  public sectors, trying to complete the traditional financial reports prepared by companies and public administrations. The fundamental objective of these models has been to satisfy the interest of the stakeholders, which goes beyond the numbers included in the balance sheet and the income statement. In the case of the public sector, this is coupled with the discontent and distrust of citizens towards politicians and administrators of institutions, which makes it necessary to emphasize tools and strategies that can improve the transparency and accountability of administrations and restore citizen trust. Therefore, this article highlights the different non-financial information alternatives that have emerged in the literature, their practical application in the public sector and the opportunities that these models offer for the future. Specifically, we refer to sustainability reporting, integrated reporting, the non-financial report recently regulated for the business sector and, finally, popular reporting. En los últimos años han irrumpido con fuerza distintos modelos de información no financiera, tanto en el sector privado como en el público, tratando de completar el tradicional informe financiero preparado por empresas y administraciones públicas. El objetivo fundamental de estos modelos ha sido satisfacer el interés del conjunto amplio de los stakeholders, que va más allá de los números recogidos en el balance de situación y la cuenta de resultados. En el caso del sector público, a esto se une el descontento generalizado y la desconfianza de los ciudadanos hacia los políticos y administradores de las instituciones, lo que hace necesario poner el acento en todas aquellas herramientas y estrategias que puedan perfeccionar la transparencia y responsabilidad de las administraciones y reintegrar la confianza de sus administrados. Por ello, en este artículo se ponen de relieve las distintas alternativas de información no financiera que han ido surgiendo en la literatura, su aplicación práctica en el ámbito del sector público y las oportunidades que estos modelos ofrecen para el futuro. En concreto nos referimos a la información sostenible, la información integrada, la información popular y por último, al informe no financiero regulado en nuestra normativa para el sector empresarial.


2009 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 169-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmen Caba Pérez ◽  
Antonio Manuel López-Hernández

In the last century, the MERCOSUR member countries have carried out reforms aimed at achieving better public financial information for governmental decision-taking. Important changes are currently taking place on the international public accounting scene, and the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) has published International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), by which it seeks to ensure that governmental financial reports include financial information of sufficient quality to support decision-making by different users, and at the same time to improve the comparability of the financial information presented by public sector bodies throughout the world. In this article, we examine the consistency of the information included by MERCOSUR member countries in their current year-end governmental public financial reports with the public financial reporting practices recommended by IFAC, in order to determine whether further efforts are needed to improve transparency and comparability. Points for practitioners The article may help government practitioners in MERCOSUR countries to become aware of the divergences which exist regarding the governmental financial information offered by each of the countries in MERCOSUR. Moreover, it could help to set up a common project of account reform which would take IPSAS as its model. This unified framework for accounting policies would increase the coherence of financial information and would establish a common measurement basis to assess the financial results of all of the MERCOSUR countries.


2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 1101-1120
Author(s):  
O.V. Shimko

Subject. The article investigates key figures disclosed in consolidated cash flow statements of 25 leading publicly traded oil and gas companies from 2006 to 2018. Objectives. The focus is on determining the current level of values of the main components of consolidated statement of cash flows prepared by leading publicly traded oil and gas companies, identifying key trends within the studied period and factors that led to any transformation. Methods. The study draws on methods of comparative and financial-economic analysis, as well as generalization of materials of consolidated cash flow statements. Results. The comprehensive analysis of annual reports of 25 oil and gas companies enabled to determine changes in the key figures and their relation in the structure of consolidated cash flow statements in the public sector of the industry. It also established main factors that contributed to the changes. Conclusions. In the period under study, I revealed an increase in cash from operating activities; established that capital expenditures in the public sector of the industry show an overall upward trend and depend on the level of oil prices. The analysis demonstrated that even integrated companies’ upstream segment prevail in the capital expenditures structure. The study also unveiled an increase in dividend payments, which, most of the time, exceeded free cash flows thus increasing the debt burden.


Author(s):  
Olga Shinkareva

The article is devoted to the analysis of the Federal Accounting Standard of Public Finance “Payments to Personnel”, which will be applied in the conduct of accounting and reporting from January 1, 2021, including medical state and municipal institutions. The article considers the main provisions of this standard — peculiarities of recognition and evaluation of objects of personnel benefits accounting, termination of their recognition, as well as disclosure of information on objects of personnel benefits accounting in accounting financial statements. This standard is compared with the International Public Sector Financial Reporting Standard 39 “Employee Benefits”


2006 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dale L. Flesher ◽  
Gary J. Previts ◽  
William D. Samson

This study of the annual reports of the Illinois Central Railroad (IC) from the 1850s supports a conclusion that the statements, as to form and content, were developed to serve the needs of two classes of investors and to inform the general community of the activities of the company. The need to report to the public as to the success of the company's role in its “social contract” to develop the state required details of a demographic nature, which were provided by the land commissioner. Operating results provided evidence of the ability to service the debts held by European investors and to inform British venture capitalists of the extent of the company's operations. This communication with the distant capital providers was a new development in financial reporting as the capital-intensive railroads experienced management and ownership separation on a scale not seen before. In summary, the IC provided annual reports more detailed and informative than those of other corporations of the period because of a need to provide European investors with evidence of management's activities.


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