Lecture Notes Background: Page 1 of 15
Lecture Notes Background: Page 1 of 15
Lecture Notes Background: Page 1 of 15
LECTURE NOTES
Background
The Conceptual Framework was issued by the IASB in September 2010. It
superseded the Framework for the Preparation and Presentation of Financial
Statements.
The objective of general purpose financial reporting forms the foundation of the
Conceptual Framework. Other aspects of the Conceptual Framework flow logically
from the objective.
This Framework is not PFRS and hence does not define standards for any particular
measurement or disclosure issue. Nothing in this Framework overrides any specific
PFRS.
The FRSC recognizes that in a limited number of cases there may be a conflict
between the Framework and PFRS. In those cases where there is a conflict, the
requirements of the PFRS prevail over those of the Framework.
Primary Users
The primary users of general purpose financial reporting are present and potential
investors, lenders and other creditors, who use that information to make decisions
about buying, selling or holding equity or debt instruments and providing or settling
loans or other forms of credit.
The primary users need information about the resources of the entity not only to
assess an entity's prospects for future net cash inflows but also how effectively and
efficiently management has discharged their responsibilities to use the entity's
existing resources (i.e., stewardship).
The Framework notes that general purpose financial reports cannot provide all the
information that users may need to make economic decisions. They will need to
consider pertinent information from other sources as well.
Other users
The Framework notes that other parties (including management, members of the
public, prudential and market regulators) may find general purpose financial reports
useful. However, they are not considered primary users and general purpose
financial reports are not primarily directed to them.
(a) Investors. The providers of risk capital and their advisers are concerned with
the risk inherent in, and return provided by, their investments. They need
information to help them determine whether they should buy, hold or sell.
Shareholders are also interested in information which enables them to assess
the ability of the entity to pay dividends.
(d) Suppliers and other trade creditors. Suppliers and other creditors are interested
in information that enables them to determine whether amounts owing to them
will be paid when due. Trade creditors are likely to be interested in an entity
over a shorter period than lenders unless they are dependent upon the
continuation of the entity as a major customer.
(f) Governments and their agencies. Governments and their agencies are
interested in the allocation of resources and, therefore, the activities of entities.
They also require information in order to regulate the activities of entities,
determine taxation policies and as the basis for national income and similar
statistics.
(g) Public. Entities affect members of the public in a variety of ways. For example,
entities may make a substantial contribution to the local economy in many ways
including the number of people they employ and their patronage of local
suppliers. Financial statements may assist the public by providing information
about the trends and recent developments in the prosperity of the entity and
the range of its activities.
A reporting entity's economic resources and claims are reported in the statement of
financial position.
representing changes in economic resources and claims other than those obtained
directly from investors and creditors, is useful in assessing the entity's past and
future ability to generate net cash inflows. Such information may also indicate the
extent to which general economic events have changed the entity's ability to
generate future cash inflows.
The changes in an entity's economic resources and claims are presented in the
statement of comprehensive income.
The changes in the entity's cash flows are presented in the statement of cash flows.
Changes in economic resources and claims not resulting from financial performance
Information about changes in an entity's economic resources and claims resulting
from events and transactions other than financial performance, such as the issue of
equity instruments or distributions of cash or other assets to shareholders is
necessary to complete the picture of the total change in the entity's economic
resources and claims.
The changes in an entity's economic resources and claims not resulting from
financial performance is presented in the statement of changes in equity.
Relevance
Relevant financial information is capable of making a difference in the decisions
made by users. Financial information is capable of making a difference in decisions if
it has predictive value, confirmatory value, or both. The predictive value and
confirmatory value of financial information are interrelated.
Faithful representation
General purpose financial reports represent economic phenomena in words and
numbers, To be useful, financial information must not only be relevant, it must also
represent faithfully the phenomena it purports to represent. This fundamental
characteristic seeks to maximize the underlying characteristics of completeness,
neutrality and freedom from error.
Timeliness
Timeliness means that information is available to decision-makers in time to be
capable of influencing their decisions.
Verifiability
Verifiability helps to assure users that information represents faithfully the economic
phenomena it purports to represent. Verifiability means that different
knowledgeable and independent observers could reach consensus, although not
necessarily complete agreement, that a particular depiction is a faithful
representation.
Understandability
Classifying, characterizing and presenting information clearly and concisely makes it
understandable. While some phenomena are inherently complex and cannot be
made easy to understand, to exclude such information would make financial reports
incomplete and potentially misleading. Financial reports are prepared for users who
have a reasonable knowledge of business and economic activities and who review
and analyze the information with diligence.
Comparability
Information about a reporting entity is more useful if it can be compared with a
similar information about other entities and with similar information about the same
entity for another period or another date. Comparability enables users to identify
and understand similarities in, and differences among, items.
solely in relation to individual reporting entities. The IASB will consider whether
different sizes of entities and other factors justify different reporting requirements in
certain situations.
Underlying Assumption
The Framework states that the going concern assumption is an underlying
assumption. Thus, the financial statements presume that an entity will continue in
operation indefinitely or, if that presumption is not valid, disclosure and a different
basis of reporting are required.
The cash flow statement reflects both income statement elements and some
changes in balance sheet elements.
• A liability is a present obligation of the entity arising from past events, the
settlement of which is expected to result in an outflow from the entity of
resources embodying economic benefits.
• Equity is the residual interest in the assets of the entity after deducting all its
liabilities.
• Expenses are decreases in economic benefits during the accounting period in the
The definition of income encompasses both revenue and gains. Revenue arises in
the course of the ordinary activities of an entity and is referred to by a variety of
different names including sales, fees, interest, dividends, royalties and rent. Gains
represent other items that meet the definition of income and may, or may not, arise
in the course of the ordinary activities of an entity. Gains represent increases in
economic benefits and as such are no different in nature from revenue. Hence, they
are not regarded as constituting a separate element in the Framework.
The definition of expenses encompasses losses as well as those expenses that arise
in the course of the ordinary activities of the entity. Expenses that arise in the
course of the ordinary activities of the entity include, for example, cost of sales,
wages and depreciation. They usually take the form of an outflow or depletion of
assets such as cash and cash equivalents, inventory, property, plant and
equipment. Losses represent other items that meet the definition of expenses and
may, or may not, arise in the course of the ordinary activities of the entity. Losses
represent decreases in economic benefits and as such they are no different in
nature from other expenses. Hence, they are not regarded as a separate element in
this Framework.
The Framework acknowledges that a variety of measurement bases are used today
to different degrees and in varying combinations in financial statements, including:
• Historical cost. Assets are recorded at the amount of cash or cash equivalents
paid or the fair value of the consideration given to acquire them at the time of
their acquisition. Liabilities are recorded at the amount of proceeds received in
exchange for the obligation, or in some circumstances (for example, income
taxes), at the amounts of cash or cash equivalents expected to be paid to satisfy
the liability in the normal course of business.
• Current cost. Assets are carried at the amount of cash or cash equivalents that
would have to be paid if the same or an equivalent asset was acquired currently.
Liabilities are carried at the undiscounted amount of cash or cash equivalents that
would be required to settle the obligation currently.
• Realizable (settlement) value. Assets are carried at the amount of cash or cash
equivalents that could currently be obtained by selling the asset in an orderly
disposal. Liabilities are carried at their settlement values; that is, the
undiscounted amounts of cash or cash equivalents expected to be paid to satisfy
the liabilities in the normal course of business.
• Present value. Assets are carried at the present discounted value of the future
net cash inflows that the item is expected to generate in the normal course of
business. Liabilities are carried at the present discounted value of the future net
cash outflows that are expected to be required to settle the liabilities in the
normal course of business.
Historical cost is the measurement basis most commonly used today, but it is
usually combined with other measurement bases. The Framework does not include
concepts or principles for selecting which measurement basis should be used for
particular elements of financial statements or in particular circumstances. Individual
standards and interpretations do provide this guidance, however.
the financial (or money) amount of net assets at the beginning of the period, after
excluding any distributions to, and contributions from, owners during the period.
Financial capital maintenance can be measured in either nominal monetary units
or units of constant purchasing power.
• Physical capital maintenance. Under this concept a profit is earned only if the
physical productive capacity (or operating capability) of the entity (or the
resources or funds needed to achieve that capacity) at the end of the period
exceeds the physical productive capacity at the beginning of the period, after
excluding any distributions to, and contributions from, owners during the period.
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REVIEW QUESTIONS
10. The users of financial statements who are interested in information that
enables them to determine whether the amounts owing to them will be paid
when due
a. Lenders c. Customers
b. Investors d. Suppliers and other trade creditors
11. They are interested in information about trends and recent developments in
the prosperity of the enterprise and the range of its activities
a. Investors b. Lenders c. Public d. Customers
c. General purpose financial reports do not and cannot provide all of the
information that existing and potential investors, lenders and other creditors
need.
d. General purpose financial reports are designed to show the value of a
reporting entity since they provide information to help existing and potential
investors, lenders and other creditors to estimate the value of the reporting
entity.
14. Which of the following statements about financial statements is(are) incorrect?
a. They show the results of the stewardship of management of the resources
entrusted to it by the capital providers.
b. They are the primary responsibility of both management and the external
auditor after audit.
c. They are prepared at least annually and are directed to the common
information needs of a wide range of statement users.
d. All of the above
15. They are the attributes that make the information provided in financial
statements useful to users
a. Basic features c. Basic assumptions
b. Basic elements d. Qualitative characteristics
18. Which of the following statements about the qualitative characteristics are
incorrect?
I. Faithful representation is the capacity of information to make a difference in
decision by helping users form prediction about outcome of past, present and
future events or confirm/correct prior expectations
II. The quality of relevance assures readers that the financial information is free
from bias and faithfully represents what it purports to show, including
adequate disclosure of significant information
III. Under the IASB Conceptual Framework, conservatism is not a concept that is
recognized as a qualitative characteristic.
a. I and II only b. I and III only c. II and III only d. I,II and III
29. All of the following represent costs of providing financial information except
a. Preparing b. Disseminating c. Accessing capital d. Auditing
30. What is the only underlying assumption mentioned in the new Conceptual
Framework for Financial Reporting?
a. Going concern c. Time period
b. Accounting entity d. Monetary unit
31. The assumption that an enterprise will continue in operation for the
foreseeable future is based on
a. Going concern c. Prudence
b. Accounting entity d. Materiality
33. When should an item that meets the definition of an element be recognized,
according to the Framework?
a. When it is probable that any future economic benefit associated with the item
will flow to or from the entity
b. When the element has a cost or value that can be measured with reliability
c. When the entity obtains control of the rights or obligations associated with the
item
d. When it is probable that any future economic benefit associated with the item
will flow to or from the entity and the item has a cost or value that can be
measured with reliability
37. An entity made an unusually high profit for the current year because it
negotiated a significantly lower cost price for its main raw material at a time
when the selling price of its products was rising sharply. Management does not
want to make public the unusually high profit because they believe that
knowledge of the entity’s profitability would result in their customers seeking to
negotiate lower selling prices when purchasing goods from the entity.
Consequently, management would like to decrease profit for the year by
recognizing a provision for unforeseen possible expenses.
a. Because creation of the provision is prudent, it is acceptable accounting.
b. Because creation of the provision is common practice in the jurisdiction in
which the entity operates, it is acceptable accounting.
c. Because they do not satisfy the definition of a liability, the entity cannot create
a provision for unforeseen possible expenses.
d. Provided the reason for creating the provision is explained in the notes, it is
acceptable accounting.
38. The process of determining the monetary amounts at which the elements of
the financial statements are to be recognized is known as
a. Measurement b. Recognition c. Footing d. Extension
42. Under this concept, a profit is earned only if the financial (money) amount of
the net assets at the end of the period exceeds the financial (money) amount of
net assets at the beginning of the period, after excluding any distributions to,
and contributions from, owners during the period.
Under this concept, a profit is earned only if the physical productive capacity (or
operating capability) of the enterprise (or the resources or funds needed to
achieve that capacity) at the end of the period exceeds the physical productive
capacity at the beginning of the period, after excluding any distributions to, and
contributions from, owners during the period.
First statement Second statement
a. Physical capital Financial capital
b. Financial capital Physical capital
c. Financial capital Financial capital
d. Physical capital Physical capital
43. Contributions from and distributions to owners are considered as income and
expenses, respectively, under
a. The financial capital concept c. Both a and b
b. The physical capital concept d. Neither a nor b
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