Quality Financial Reporting

This text presents the concepts, principles and strategies of reporting financial and accounting information. It takes a practical approach to understanding financial reporting, why it is important and how to create and analyze financial reports so that the value of the company is clearly reported.

This review lays out a research perspective on earnings quality. We provide an overview of alternative definitions and measures of earnings quality and a discussion of research design choices encountered in earnings quality research. Throughout, we focus on a capital markets setting, as opposed, for example, to a contracting or stewardship setting. Our reason for this choice stems from the view that the capital market uses of accounting information are fundamental, in the sense of providing a basis for other uses, such as stewardship. Because resource allocations are ex ante decisions while contracting/stewardship assessments are ex post evaluations of outcomes, evidence on whether, how and to what degree earnings quality influences capital market resource allocation decisions is fundamental to understanding why and how accounting matters to investors and others, including those charged with stewardship responsibilities. Demonstrating a link between earnings quality and, for example, the costs of equity and debt capital implies a basic economic role in capital allocation decisions for accounting information; this role has only recently been documented in the accounting literature. We focus on how the precision of financial information in capturing one or more underlying valuation-relevant constructs affects the assessment and use of that information by capital market participants. We emphasize that the choice of constructs to be measured is typically contextual. Our main focus is on the precision of earnings, which we view as a summary indicator of the overall quality of financial reporting. Our intent in discussing research that evaluates the capital market effects of earnings quality is both to stimulate further research in this area and to encourage research on related topics, including, for example, the role of earnings quality in contracting and stewardship.

Financial reports today have become hopelessly complex, and impossible for investors and other capital markets professionals to understand. This hurts everyone involved. Quality Financial Reporting outlines the rules for QFR, a financial reporting revolutionin which essential figures are reported clearly, truthfully, and in a language that everyone can understand.Quality Financial Reporting is groundbreaking in its theory, comprehensive in its presentation, and destined to become required reading for accountants and investors alike. A long-overdue recipe for change, it provides readers with:Strategies and techniques for adopting a QFR standard Relevant empirical research that supports QFR End-of-chapter evaluation checklists and questions

This book provides an overview of earnings quality (EQ) in the context of financial reporting and offers suggestions for defining and measuring it. Although EQ has received increasing attention from investors, creditors, regulators, and researchers in different areas, there are various definitions of it and different approaches for its measurement. The book describes the relationship between EQ and earnings management (EM) since they can be considered related challenges, especially in the context of international financial reporting standards (IAS/IFRSs). EM occurs when managers make discretionary accounting choices that are regarded as either an efficient communication of private information to improve the informativeness of a firm’s current and future performance, or a distorting disclosure to mislead the firm’s true performance. The intentional manipulation of earnings by managers, within the limits allowed by the accounting standards, may alter the usefulness of financial reporting and lead to lower quality of earnings. The use of fair value in financial reporting has created a current debate about the impact it might have on EQ. At times, the high subjectivity in estimating fair value can allow opportunities for the exercise of management judgments and intentional bias, which can reduce the quality of financial reporting. Management discretion can result in high EM and hence in a reduction of EQ. Particularly during difficult financial periods, managers engage in EM to mask the negative effects of the turmoil, and in such circumstances accruals and earnings smoothing are attempts to reduce abnormal variations of earnings in such circumstances. This book is a valuable resource for those interested in wider perspectives on EQ and it adds to the research studies on this topic in the context of financial reporting.

A compact guide to evaluating financial statements and uncovering the realities behind the numbers. This edition has been updated with new information and examples which reflect today's financial actualities.

International Financial Statement Analysis provides the most up-to-date detail for the successful assessment of company performance and financial positions. This rich, clear reference covers all aspects from financial reporting mechanics and standards to understanding income and balance sheets. Comprehensive guidance toward effective analysis techniques helps readers make real-world use of the knowledge presented, with this new third edition containing the most current standards and methods for the post-crisis world. Coverage includes the complete statement analysis process, plus information on income tax accounting, employee compensation, and the impact of foreign exchange rates on the statements of multinational corporations. Understand the accounting mechanics behind financial reporting Discover the differences between statements from around the world Learn how each financial statement element affects securities valuation Master analysis for clues into operations and risk characteristics International Financial Statement Analysis provides the latest rules and best practices, with clarity and expert advice. International Financial Statement Analysis Workbook helps busy professionals understand and apply the concepts and methodologies essential to accurate financial analysis. A companion to the IFSA text, this workbook offers learning objectives, chapter summaries, and practice problems that reinforce the practitioner-oriented material to give readers the confidence they need before applying these concepts to real cases. Readers will test their understanding of the standards and mechanics of financial reporting, and make use of the tools and techniques described in the text. This informative study guide is designed to facilitate information retention, helping readers build a strong foundation in financial statement analysis, with practical applications across borders. The volatile global economy makes accurate international financial statement analysis a valuable skill, where insufficient mastery makes precise valuation impossible. International Financial Statement Analysis provides the most up-to-date knowledge, and this workbook offers readers a chance to practice applying that knowledge with carefully constructed problems. Work topic-specific practice problems to facilitate intuitive understanding Review each topic quickly using clear chapter summaries Understand each chapter's objective to avoid missing key information Practice important methods and techniques before applying them in the real world It's impossible to tell how well a subject is mastered without applying the relevant concepts to a real-life situation. Valuation depends upon an accurate financial analysis, and practitioners need a solid grasp of the standards, formats, and documentation they may encounter on the international level. Practice makes perfect, and International Financial Statement Analysis Workbook provides plenty of practice and essential tools for understanding.

By January 2012 all major economies, apart from the US, will provide financial reports using International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). This book sets out the key differences between IFRS and US GAAP from a practitioner's perspective, although financial analysts will also benefit from the material presented. The financial crisis has been attributed to, among other things, a perceived lack of transparency in the financial markets. In general, transparency implies an ability to see the reported results of an entity's financial activities clearly and to use these results in making investment decisions. At question is the belief that transparency in financial reporting will lead to transparency in financial markets. Unfortunately, this link may be more subjective than most of us wish. Ruth Ann McEwen presents an analysis of reporting issues affecting transparency under IFRS, compared with US GAAP, and suggests areas of concern for preparers and users of financial reports. Providing an invaluable guide for all accountancy professionals, the book also contains a technical analysis of major accounting issues raised by convergence, and indicates areas of interest during initial adoption of IFRS by US entities. This authoritative book provides all the essential information required for advanced practitioners and analysts at this critical juncture.

Practice the concepts, tools, and techniques of international financial statement analysis International Financial Statement Analysis Workbook gives busy professionals and those aspiring to a financial career a hands-on reference for understanding and applying the concepts and methodologies essential to accurate financial analysis. A companion to the International Financial Statement Analysis text, this practical workbook includes learning outcomes, chapter summaries, and problems that are designed to build skills and boost confidence before applying the concepts to real-world cases. The workbook offers an opportunity to test your understanding of the standards and mechanics of financial reporting and makes use of the text’s tools and techniques. This informative guide—which has practical application across international borders—aids in the understanding of financial reporting standards, income statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements, inventories, long-lived assets, income taxes, and much more. International Financial Statement Analysis Workbook is designed to facilitate information retention and build a strong foundation in financial statement analysis. It’s impossible to tell how well a subject is mastered without applying the relevant concepts to situations based in the real world. International Financial Statement Analysis Workbook offers the opportunity to: • Work topic-specific practice problems to facilitate intuitive understanding • Review each topic quickly using clear chapter summaries • Understand each chapter’s objective to avoid missing key information • Practice important methods and techniques before applying them in the real world International Financial Statement Analysis Workbook, Fourth Edition provides the most up-to-date knowledge and helps to apply that knowledge with carefully constructed problems.