ACCT1046 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Faithful Representation, Accounting Equation, Going Concern

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Module 4 topic 1
What is financial accounting?
The practice of financial accounting relates to the preparation and presentation of
financial information for a variety of users so as to enable them to make decisions about
where they shall allocate their resources.
Financial accounting information is used by people who are external to an organisation
(as well as by people who are internal).
For external reporting purposes, it generates information that is historical in nature. That
is, it provides the results for a past time period for example, the profits or losses for the
preceding year (the income statement); the cash flows for the preceding year (the
statement of cash flows); and the assets, liabilities and owners equity as at a recently
past date (the balance sheet).
Being historical in nature means that the reports will provide an indication of how
management has used the funds (stewardship function). Past results might also provide
an indication of future performance.
Financial accounting is heavily regulated with respect to the procedures to be used to
generate general purpose financial statements.
Contrast this to budgeting or CVP calculations, which are used for management of
resources.
By regulating financial reporting, this helps ensure that current financial reports are
comparable with the organisation’s previous financial statements as well as with those of
other organisations.
The financial statements generated by financial accounting include the balance sheet
(also known as a statement of financial position), income statement, the statement of
cash flows, and the statement of changes in equity. Financial statements are also
accompanied by many pages of supporting notes (for large companies these can take up
well over 100 pages).
The why/who/what/how?
Returning to our general ‘accountability model’:
Why produce financial accounting information?
- The most obvious answer here is that an extensive amount of regulation requires it
(general purpose financial statements). Nevertheless even without regulation, investors
and other stakeholders with a financial interest in the organisation would demand it.
- Investors (owners) would demand it to allow them to assess how well their funds are
being used in terms of their investment aims (which might be high capital growth and
receipt of dividends). It is also important for managers. Hence, in the absence of
regulation we would still expect it. The financial statements represent a communication
tool that aims to assist users with their decision making.
Who are the stakeholders to whom the disclosures will be directed?
- The primary audience of financial accounting information would be investors, creditors, and
managers. Many other stakeholders would also have an interest in the financial position and
performance and cash flows of an organisation
What types of disclosures?
The types of disclosures required are heavily regulated. For example, by accounting standards,
stock exchange requirements, and corporations law requirements.
How will the disclosure be made
The format of the disclosures and the medium for disclosure will tend to be regulated (for general
purpose financial statements)
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Document Summary

Financial statements are also accompanied by many pages of supporting notes (for large companies these can take up well over 100 pages). The most obvious answer here is that an extensive amount of regulation requires it (general purpose financial statements). Nevertheless even without regulation, investors and other stakeholders with a financial interest in the organisation would demand it. Investors (owners) would demand it to allow them to assess how well their funds are being used in terms of their investment aims (which might be high capital growth and receipt of dividends). Hence, in the absence of regulation we would still expect it. The financial statements represent a communication tool that aims to assist users with their decision making. The primary audience of financial accounting information would be investors, creditors, and managers. Many other stakeholders would also have an interest in the financial position and performance and cash flows of an organisation. The types of disclosures required are heavily regulated.

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