Standards, Reporting, and Enforcement

We discussed organizations and the general purpose of accounting for the module one TD.  This module, we’ll follow up with a closer look at various standards, reports, and enforcement mechanisms.

FASB promulgates US GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Standards) and IASB creates IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards).  US GAAP is a rule-based system while IFRS are principle-based.  The accounting standards only report on the financial dimension and stakeholders are demanding additional information.  GRI (The Global Reporting Initiative) is one effort and standardizing reporting on multiple dimensions.  In addition, SOX (Sarbanes-Oxley) was passed in 2002 as a response to numerous accounting scandals.

Accounting does not exist in isolation, and changes in accounting rules and enforcement impact business organizations on a global basis.

References

American Institute of Public Accountants (AICPA). (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.aicpa.org/Pages/Default.aspx

Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.fasb.org/home

Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). (n.d.). Convergence with the International Accounting Standards Board. Retrieved from http://www.fasb.org/intl/convergence_iasb.shtml

Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.globalreporting.org/Pages/default.aspx

International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.ifrs.org/Home.htm

International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.ifac.org/

The Sarbanes-Oxey Act. (2002). A Guide to the Sarbanaes-Oxley Act. Retrieved from http://www.soxlaw.com/

Paper Instructions:

Below are some questions for discussion.
(Q) How widespread are IFRS and what do think will happen to US GAAP?
(Q) What is the difference between a rule-based and principle-based system?
(Q) Discuss the Global Reporting Initiative, its purpose, the standard setting process, the use of its reporting system, etc.
(Q) How has SOX affected business organizations and the accounting profession?

You do not need to discuss every organization mentioned above.  Choose one or two relevant aspects for further investigation and share your knowledge with the class.  Try to add information not previously discussed by others.  Please, provide factual information (not merely opinions) backed up by details or examples.  Your comments should be in your own words and Include references in APA format.

Use the order calculator below and get started! Contact our live support team for any assistance or inquiry.

[order_calculator]