Log In Accounting Standards: Definition & An Overview
If a potential investor or business wants to gain information about a company, they need to have access to relevant and clear information. Publicly traded businesses have a legal obligation to be open and honest, especially about their accounting and policies.
This is where accounting standards come into play. So what exactly is an accounting standard? Read on as we give you a detailed definition and answer some common questions.
Table of Contents
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- An accounting standard is defined as a set of practices and policies. They are used for accounting functions such as bookkeeping, determining estimates, preparing financial statements, and required note disclosures.
- GAAP, or generally accepted accounting principles, are set at the international level by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and at the national level by various national accounting bodies.
- Accounting standards apply to all aspects of a business including assets, revenue, liabilities, expenses, and shareholders’ equity.
- All financial entities rely on accounting standards to provide accurate and relevant information.
- Accounting standards work as a way to ensure transparency and accuracy in financial reporting and set the boundaries for reporting measures.
What Is an Accounting Standard?
An accounting standard is a common set of standards, procedures, and principles that define the basis of financial accounting practices and policies. They were put in place to ensure accuracy, transparency, and consistency in accounting practices. Accounting standards apply to every aspect of a business’s financial landscape including their revenue, expenses, liabilities, assets, as well as shareholders’ equity.
Regulatory agencies, investors, and banks rely on accounting standards to make sure that any information they are given about a company is accurate and relevant. This allows them to make informed and educated business decisions.
Any business that doesn’t follow the rules can mask or cloud the performance of the business, and a lack of properly prepared financial statements can lead to misleading information. This can therefore mislead investors.
Why Do We Use Accounting Standards?
Rigorous accounting standards are used to improve the transparency of financial reporting. They specify how and when economic events are to be measured, as well as recognized, and disclosed.
These standards are also used by external entities like banks, investors, and regulatory agencies. They rely on accounting standards to make sure that they are receiving accurate and relevant information.
Therefore, accounting standards work as a way to ensure transparency and comparability in financial reporting, as well as setting the boundaries for reporting measures.
Summary
Accounting standards are a vital part of worldwide accounting. They help to bring consistency, as well as make documents easily comparable. They also allow investors to get a clear view on a business’s operations and make an informed decision on whether or not to invest.
FAQs on Accounting Standards
Examples of accounting standards include:
- Revenue recognition
- Asset classification
- Lease classifications
- Outstanding share measurements
It can be argued that there are a number of limitations of accounting standard rules. These include:
- Inflexibility
- Time-consuming
- A lack of alternative treatments
Financial reporting is the process of tracking, analyzing, and reporting your business income, assets, and liabilities. Typical financial reports may include:
- Income statements
- A balance sheet
- A cash flow statement
The standards used for accounting are provided by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). The FASB sets high-quality, globally accepted accounting standards, known as the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, or GAAP.
The FASB, is an independent nonprofit organization. They have the authority to interpret and establish GAAP in the United States. This is for private companies, public companies, and nonprofit organizations.
In 1973, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants created the rules. They developed and enacted the first set of accounting standards. These responsibilities were given to the FASB. When published, this was known as the Generally Accepted Accounting Practices, or GAAP.
The Securities and Exchange Commission requires any company that is listed to follow the U.S. GAAP accounting standards. This must be followed in the preparation of their financial statements.
The International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) serve as a guideline for non-U.S. GAAP companies to report their financial statements. It is done in a way that brings consistency to accounting practices on a global scale.
IFRS are a more dynamic set of rules compared to GAAP because it is regularly being revised to respond to the ever-evolving global financial environment.
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