ACCOUNTING REGULATORY AGENCIES
Introduction
Accounting standards are needed so that financial statements will fairly and consistently describe financial performance. Without standards, users of financial statements would need to learn the accounting rules of each company, and comparisons between companies would be difficult. Numerous accounting bodies govern the accounting environment and accommodate the success of a business. The four main financial governing bodies include the following: • Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) • Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) • Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) • International Accounting Standards Board (IASB)
…show more content…
While the GASB has jurisdiction over financial reporting by governmental entities, the FASB establishes rules for private sector accounting. Both boards are independent, nongovernmental bodies whose members are appointed by the trustees of the Financial Accounting Foundation (FAF). Before issuing its standards, the GASB follows the set of “due process” activities enumerated in its published rules of procedure. Due process is stringent and is designed to permit a thorough and open study of financial accounting and reporting issues by the preparers, auditors, and users of financial reports, in order to encourage broad public participation in the standards setting process. Significant steps in the process are announced publicly. The GASB’s meetings are open to public observation and a public record is maintained. One difference between the two organizations is that the rules of the GASB need not apply to that of FASB. If the GASB had not covered an accounting topic that the FASB had, then the FASB standards would be used by the government entities. This sets up kind of like a default so that there are not so many different rules and possibly double standards. The GASB and the FASB both have the authority to create rules, with the GASB having the ability
Both the FASB and the GASB have a lot of similarities and a few contrasts. One similarity being to establish standards in accounting and financial reporting. One of the big contrast is that the FASB is non-governmental entities and the GASB is
The FASB Accounting Standards Codification® is the source of authoritative generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) recognized by the FASB to be applied by nongovernmental entities.
GASB Governmental Accounting Standards Board (Yes. The correct acronyms are GAAP Generally Accepted Accounting Principles; FASB Financial Accounting Standards Board; GASB Governmental Accounting Standards Board
In 1973 the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) was established to set the financial accounting standards in the United States of America for nongovernmental entities. These standards are collectively called U.S. Generally accepted Accounting Principles, or U.S. GAAP. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants acknowledge the authority of these standards (FASB, n.d). A “proven, independent due process” is used to collect the viewpoints of the financial statements prepares and users for the constant improvement of these standards. An Accounting Status Update(ASU) is not an authoritative source however documents the amendments to communicate the changes in the FASB Codification for a user to understand the reason and future of those changes (FASB, n.d).
SFAC No. 8 addresses the cost constraint on useful financial reporting, “Cost is a pervasive constraint that standard setters, as well as providers and users of financial information, should keep in mind when considering the benefits of a financial reporting requirement.” (SFAC No. 8 BC 3.47) However, the ability to place a dollar value and fully enumerate a cost or benefit is almost an impossible task for standard-setters. Additionally, there is no way to successfully identify and measure all of the economic consequences associated with a new standard. The FASB should be applauded though for advancing uniformity in accounting standards, however; uniform financial reporting suggests a one size fits all approach. “Smaller, non-publicly listed firms (and their auditors) argue that accounting standards are formulated mainly for larger, publicly traded firms” and that “compliance costs are disproportionately higher and the
The FASB is an agency of the federal government that has the broad powers to prescribe accounting standards to be employed by companies that fall within its jurisdiction.
The FASB Accounting Standards Codification® is the source of authoritative generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) recognized by the FASB to be applied to nongovernmental entities.
In 1973, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) was created and their mission is “to establish and improve standards of financial accounting and reporting for the guidance and education of the public, including issuers, auditors, and users of financial information.” (FASB.org, 2009a). The FASB is a private, not-for-profit organization whose primary purpose is to develop generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) within the United States. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) designated the FASB as the organization responsible for setting accounting standards for public companies in the U.S. Therefore, the FASB plays a vital and important role in protecting the financial well being and the overall stability of our
The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) sets the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States. The FASB Accounting Standards codification implements a system for organizing non-governmental generally accepted
The field of accounting is constantly evolving. This is true not only for the theory of accounting itself but also the entities that govern its theory and practice. Presently, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) are faced with some of the biggest challenges to date. To understand the significance of these two boards, it is necessary to understand their histories, relations between the boards, and the standards that they set. Also how the knowledge of these boards and the field they lead, gained through the masters of science in accountancy
The FASB mission is to establish and improve financial accounting standards and reporting. This sets the guidance for nongovernmental entities that provide decision-useful information to users. Users include issuers, auditors, and other users of financial information.
This thesis will discuss the proposed changes of pensions and the new updated leases issued by FASB, which are important issues for entities such as corporations. FASB is the Financial Accounting Standards Board. It is a seven-member independent board consisting of accounting professionals who establish and communicate standards of financial accounting and reporting in the United States. FASB was created to provide users accurate information in one location. Recently, FASB developed the FASB Codification Research System: a web-based system allowing registered users to electronically research accounting issues.
Regulation is defined as a set of rules that is designed to control and govern conduct by authority (Deegan 2009, p.59). On the basis of this definition, Deegan (2009, p.59) has defined regulations relating to financial accounting as rules that are developed by independent authoritative body to govern the preparation of financial statements which are accounting standards. Since decades ago, there have been arguments for and against the existence of accounting regulations. With a stance of pro-regulation, this essay is going to examine the reasons that financial accounting and reporting should be regulated and the merits of accounting regulations.
The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) are working together to eliminate a variety of difference between the United States generally accepted accounting procedures (U.S. GAAP or GAAP) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). This convergence project grew out of an agreement reached by the two boards in 2002 (Deloitte, 2004).
The board acknowledges the diverse nature of regulatory framework in developing concrete and uniform standards. These standards help in proposing and clarifying a complete guidance as well as demonstrating the understanding of complex issues in accounting. Moreover, help in demonstrating advanced knowledge in the application of accounting standards in the preparation and analysis of financial statements.