1 Accounting in Action

Learning Objectives
1 Identify the activities and users associated with accounting.

Explain the building blocks of accounting: ethics, principles, and

2 assumptions.

3 State the accounting equation, and define its components.

Analyze the effects of business transactions on the accounting

4 equation.

Describe the four financial statements and how they are

5 prepared.
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LEARNING Identify the activities and users
1
OBJECTIVE associated with accounting.

Accounting consists of three basic activities—it

 identifies,

 records, and

 communicates

the economic events of an organization to interested users.

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 Three Activities
Illustration 1-1
The activities of the accounting process

The accounting process includes

the bookkeeping function.

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 Who Uses Accounting Data

INTERNAL
USERS

Illustration 1-2
Questions that internal
users ask

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 Who Uses Accounting Data

EXTERNAL
USERS

Illustration 1-3
Questions that external
users ask
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 DO IT! 1 Basic Concepts

Indicate whether the following statements are true or false.

1. The three steps in the accounting process are identification,

recording, and communication.

2. Bookkeeping encompasses all steps in the accounting process.

3. Accountants prepare, but do not interpret, financial reports.

4. The two most common types of external users are investors and
company officers.

5. Managerial accounting activities focus on reports for internal users.

Solution: 1. True
2. 3. 4. False
5. False False True

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LEARNING Explain the building blocks of accounting:
2
OBJECTIVE ethics, principles, and assumptions.

Ethics in Financial Reporting

 Recent financial scandals include: Enron, WorldCom,
HealthSouth, AIG, and other companies.
 Regulators and lawmakers concerned that economy would
suffer if investors lost confidence in corporate accounting. In
response,
► Congress passed Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX).

 Effective financial reporting depends on sound ethical

behavior.

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 Ethics in Financial Reporting

Illustration 1-4
Steps in analyzing ethics cases
and situations
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 Ethics in Financial Reporting

Question
Ethics are the standards of conduct by which one's actions
are judged as:
a. right or wrong.
b. honest or dishonest.
c. fair or not fair.
d. all of these options.

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 Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

Financial Statements
Various users 
 Balance
Balance Sheet
Sheet
need financial 
 Income
Income Statement
Statement

 Statement
Statement of
of Owner's
Owner's Equity
Equity
information 
 Statement
Statement of
of Cash
Cash Flows
Flows

 Note
Note Disclosure
Disclosure

The accounting profession

has developed standards
Generally Accepted
Accounting
that are generally accepted
Principles (GAAP)
and universally practiced.

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 Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) – Standards

that are generally accepted and universally practiced. These
standards indicate how to report economic events.

Standard-setting bodies:
► Financial Accounting Standards
Board (FASB)
► Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC)
► International Accounting
Standards Board (IASB)

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 Measurement Principles

HISTORICAL COST PRINCIPLE (or cost principle) dictates

that companies record assets at their cost.

FAIR VALUE PRINCIPLE states that assets and liabilities

should be reported at fair value (the price received to sell an asset
or settle a liability).

Selection of which principle to follow

generally relates to trade-offs
between relevance and faithful
representation.

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 Assumptions

MONETARY UNIT ASSUMPTION requires that companies

include in the accounting records only transaction data that can
be expressed in terms of money.

ECONOMIC ENTITY ASSUMPTION requires that activities of

the entity be kept separate and distinct from the activities of its
owner and all other economic entities.
 Proprietorship
Forms of Business
 Partnership
Ownership
 Corporation

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 Forms of Business Ownership

Proprietorship Partnership Corporation

 Owned by one  Owned by two or  Ownership

person more persons divided into
 Owner is often  Often retail and shares of stock
manager/operator service-type  Separate legal
 Owner receives businesses entity organized
any profits, suffers  Generally under state
any losses, and is unlimited corporation law
personally liable personal liability  Limited liability
for all debts  Partnership
agreement

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 Assumptions

Question
Combining the activities of Kellogg and General Mills
would violate the
a. cost principle.
b. economic entity assumption.
c. monetary unit assumption.
d. ethics principle.

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 Assumptions

Question
A business organized as a separate legal entity under state
law having ownership divided into shares of stock is a
a. proprietorship.
b. partnership.
c. corporation.
d. sole proprietorship.

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 DO IT! 2 Building Blocks of Accounting

Indicate whether each of the following statements presented

below is true or false.

1. Congress passed the Sarbanes-Oxley Act to reduce

unethical behavior and decrease the likelihood of True
future corporate scandals.

2. The primary accounting standard-setting body in the

United States is the Financial Accounting Standards
True
Board (FASB).

3. The historical cost principle dictates that companies

record assets at their cost. In later periods, however, False
the fair value of the asset must be used if fair value is
higher than its cost.
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 DO IT! 2 Building Blocks of Accounting

Indicate whether each of the following statements presented

below is true or false.

4. Relevance means that financial information matches

False
what really happened; the information is factual.

5. A business owner’s personal expenses must be

separated from expenses of the business to comply True
with accounting’s economic entity assumption.

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LEARNING State the accounting equation, and define
3
OBJECTIVE its components.

Owner's
Assets = Liabilities +
Equity

Basic Accounting Equation

 Provides the underlying framework for recording and
summarizing economic events.
 Assets are claimed by either creditors or owners.
 If a business is liquidated, claims of creditors must be paid
before ownership claims.

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 Basic Accounting Equation

Owner's
Assets = Liabilities +
Equity

Assets
 Resources a business owns.
 Provide future services or benefits.
 Cash, Supplies, Equipment, etc.

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 Basic Accounting Equation

Owner's
Assets = Liabilities +
Equity

Liabilities
 Claims against assets (debts and obligations).
 Creditors (party to whom money is owed).
 Accounts Payable, Notes Payable, Salaries and Wages
Payable, etc.

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 Basic Accounting Equation

Owner's
Assets = Liabilities +
Equity

Owner's Equity
 Ownership claim on total assets.
 Referred to as residual equity.
 Investment by owners and revenues (+)
 Drawings and expenses (-).

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 Owner’s Equity Illustration 1-6
Expanded accounting
equation

Increases in Owner’s Equity

 Investments by owner are the assets the owner puts into the
business.
 Revenues result from business activities entered into for the
purpose of earning income.
► Common sources of revenue are: sales, fees, services,
commissions, interest, dividends, royalties, and rent.

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 Owner’s Equity Illustration 1-6
Expanded accounting
equation

Decreases in Owner’s Equity

 Drawings An owner may withdraw cash or other assets for
personal use.
 Expenses are the cost of assets consumed or services used in
the process of earning revenue.
► Common expenses are: salaries expense, rent expense,
utilities expense, tax expense, etc.

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 DO IT! 3 Owner's Equity Effects

Classify the following items as investment by owner, owner’s

drawings, revenue, or expenses. Then indicate whether each
item increases or decreases owner’s equity.

Classification Effect on Equity

1. Rent Expense Expense Decrease

2. Service Revenue Revenue Increase

3. Drawings Drawings Decrease

4. Salaries and Wages
Expense Expense Decrease

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LEARNING Analyze the effects of business transactions
4
OBJECTIVE on the accounting equation.

Transactions are a business’s economic events recorded

by accountants.
 May be external or internal.
 Not all activities represent transactions.
 Each transaction has a dual effect on the accounting
equation.

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 Transaction Analysis

Illustration: Are the following events recorded in the accounting

records?
Illustration 1-7
Discuss product
Purchase
Event design with Pay rent
computer
potential customer

Criterion Is the financial position (assets, liabilities, or

owner’s equity) of the company changed?

Record/
Don’t Record

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 Transaction Analysis

TRANSACTION 1. INVESTMENT BY OWNER Ray Neal decides to start

a smartphone app development company which he names Softbyte. On
September 1, 2017, he invests $15,000 cash in the business. This
transaction results in an equal increase in assets and owner’s equity.

Assets = Liabilities + Owner's Equity

Trans- Accounts Accounts Owner's Owner's
Cash + + Supplies + Equipment = + + + Rev. - Exp.
action Receivable Payable Capital Drawings

1. +15,000 +15,000

Illustration 1-8
Tabular summary of
Softbyte transactions

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 TRANSACTION 2. PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT FOR CASH Softbyte
Inc. purchases computer equipment for $7,000 cash.
Illustration 1-8

Assets = Liabilities + Owner's Equity

Trans- Accounts Accounts Owner's Owner's
Cash + + Supplies + Equipment = + + + Rev. - Exp.
action Receivable Payable Capital Drawings

1. +15,000 +15,000
2. -7,000 +7,000
3. +1,600 +1,600
4. +1,200 +1,200
5. +250 -250
6. +1,500 +2,000 +3,500
7. -1,700 -600
-900
-200
8. -250 -250
9. +600 -600
10. -1,300 -1,300
$8,050 + $1,400 + $1,600 + $7,000 = $1,600 + $15,000 + $4,700 - $1,950 - $1,300
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 TRANSACTION 3. PURCHASE OF SUPPLIES ON CREDIT Softbyte Inc.
purchases for $1,600 headsets and other accessories expected to last
several months. The supplier allows Softbyte to pay this bill in October.
Illustration 1-8 Assets = Liabilities + Owner's Equity
Trans- Accounts Accounts Owner's Owner's
Cash + + Supplies + Equipment = + + + Rev. - Exp.
action Receivable Payable Capital Drawings

1. +15,000 +15,000
2. -7,000 +7,000
3. +1,600 +1,600
4. +1,200 +1,200
5. +250 -250
6. +1,500 +2,000 +3,500
7. -1,700 -600
-900
-200
8. -250 -250
9. +600 -600
10. -1,300 -1,300
$8,050 + $1,400 + $1,600 + $7,000 = $1,600 + $15,000 + $4,700 - $1,950 - $1,300
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 TRANSACTION 4. SERVICES PERFORMED FOR CASH Softbyte Inc.
receives $1,200 cash from customers for app development services it has
performed. Illustration 1-8

Assets = Liabilities + Owner's Equity

Trans- Accounts Accounts Owner's Owner's
Cash + + Supplies + Equipment = + + + Rev. - Exp.
action Receivable Payable Capital Drawings

1. +15,000 +15,000
2. -7,000 +7,000
3. +1,600 +1,600
4. +1,200 +1,200
5. +250 -250
6. +1,500 +2,000 +3,500
7. -1,700 -600
-900
-200
8. -250 -250
9. +600 -600
10. -1,300 -1,300
$8,050 + $1,400 + $1,600 + $7,000 = $1,600 + $15,000 + $4,700 - $1,950 - $1,300
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 TRANSACTION 5. PURCHASE OF ADVERTISING ON CREDIT Softbyte
Inc. receives a bill for $250 from the Daily News for advertising on its
online website but postpones payment until a later date. Illustration 1-8

Assets = Liabilities + Owner's Equity

Trans- Accounts Accounts Owner's Owner's
Cash + + Supplies + Equipment = + + + Rev. - Exp.
action Receivable Payable Capital Drawings

1. +15,000 +15,000
2. -7,000 +7,000
3. +1,600 +1,600
4. +1,200 +1,200
5. +250 -250
6. +1,500 +2,000 +3,500
7. -1,700 -600
-900
-200
8. -250 -250
9. +600 -600
10. -1,300 -1,300
$8,050 + $1,400 + $1,600 + $7,000 = $1,600 + $15,000 + $4,700 - $1,950 - $1,300
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 TRANSACTION 6. SERVICES PERFORMED FOR CASH AND CREDIT.
Softbyte performs $3,500 of services. The company receives cash of
$1,500 from customers, and it bills the balance of $2,000 on account.
Illustration 1-8 Assets = Liabilities + Owner's Equity
Trans- Accounts Accounts Owner's Owner's
Cash + + Supplies + Equipment = + + + Rev. - Exp.
action Receivable Payable Capital Drawings

1. +15,000 +15,000
2. -7,000 +7,000
3. +1,600 +1,600
4. +1,200 +1,200
5. +250 -250
6. +1,500 +2,000 +3,500
7. -1,700 -600
-900
-200
8. -250 -250
9. +600 -600
10. -1,300 -1,300
$8,050 + $1,400 + $1,600 + $7,000 = $1,600 + $15,000 + $4,700 - $1,950 - $1,300
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 TRANSACTION 7. PAYMENT OF EXPENSES Softbyte Inc. pays the
following expenses in cash for September: office rent $600, salaries and
wages of employees $900, and utilities $200. Illustration 1-8

Assets = Liabilities + Owner's Equity

Trans- Accounts Accounts Owner's Owner's
Cash + + Supplies + Equipment = + + + Rev. - Exp.
action Receivable Payable Capital Drawings

1. +15,000 +15,000
2. -7,000 +7,000
3. +1,600 +1,600
4. +1,200 +1,200
5. +250 -250
6. +1,500 +2,000 +3,500
7. -1,700 -600
-900
-200
8. -250 -250
9. +600 -600
10. -1,300 -1,300
$8,050 + $1,400 + $1,600 + $7,000 = $1,600 + $15,000 + $4,700 - $1,950 - $1,300
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 TRANSACTION 8. PAYMENT OF ACCOUNTS PAYABLE Softbyte Inc.
pays its $250 Daily News bill in cash. The company previously (in
Transaction 5) recorded the bill as an increase in Accounts Payable.
Illustration 1-8 Assets = Liabilities + Owner's Equity
Trans- Accounts Accounts Owner's Owner's
Cash + + Supplies + Equipment = + + + Rev. - Exp.
action Receivable Payable Capital Drawings

1. +15,000 +15,000
2. -7,000 +7,000
3. +1,600 +1,600
4. +1,200 +1,200
5. +250 -250
6. +1,500 +2,000 +3,500
7. -1,700 -600
-900
-200
8. -250 -250
9. +600 -600
10. -1,300 -1,300
$8,050 + $1,400 + $1,600 + $7,000 = $1,600 + $15,000 + $4,700 - $1,950 - $1,300
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 TRANSACTION 9. RECEIPT OF CASH ON ACCOUNT Softbyte Inc.
receives $600 in cash from customers who had been billed for services
(in Transaction 6). Illustration 1-8

Assets = Liabilities + Owner's Equity

Trans- Accounts Accounts Owner's Owner's
Cash + + Supplies + Equipment = + + + Rev. - Exp.
action Receivable Payable Capital Drawings

1. +15,000 +15,000
2. -7,000 +7,000
3. +1,600 +1,600
4. +1,200 +1,200
5. +250 -250
6. +1,500 +2,000 +3,500
7. -1,700 -600
-900
-200
8. -250 -250
9. +600 -600
10. -1,300 -1,300
$8,050 + $1,400 + $1,600 + $7,000 = $1,600 + $15,000 + $4,700 - $1,950 - $1,300
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 TRANSACTION 10. WITHDRAWAL OF CASH BY OWNER Ray Neal
withdraws $1,300 in cash in cash from the business for his personal use.
Illustration 1-8
Assets = Liabilities + Owner's Equity
Trans- Accounts Accounts Owner's Owner's
Cash + + Supplies + Equipment = + + + Rev. - Exp.
action Receivable Payable Capital Drawings

1. +15,000 +15,000
2. -7,000 +7,000
3. +1,600 +1,600
4. +1,200 +1,200
5. +250 -250
6. +1,500 +2,000 +3,500
7. -1,700 -600
-900
-200
8. -250 -250
9. +600 -600
10. -1,300 -1,300
$8,050 + $1,400 + $1,600 + $7,000 = $1,600 + $15,000 + $1,300 - $4,700 - $1,950

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 Summary of Transactions

1. Each transaction is analyzed in terms of its effect on:

a. The three components of the basic accounting
equation.

b. Specific of items within each component.

2. The two sides of the equation must always be equal.

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 DO IT! 4 Tabular Analysis

Transactions made by Virmari & Co., a public accounting firm, for

the month of August are shown below. Prepare a tabular analysis
which shows the effects of these transactions on the expanded
accounting equation, similar to that shown in Illustration 1-8.
1. The owner invested $25,000 cash in the business.
2. The company purchased $7,000 of office equipment on credit.
3. The company received $8,000 cash in exchange for services
performed.
4. The company paid $850 for this month’s rent.
5. The owner withdrew $1,000 cash for personal use.

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 DO IT! 4 Tabular Analysis

1. The owner invested $25,000 cash in the business.

Assets = Liabilities + Owner's Equity

Trans- Accounts Owner's Owner's
Cash + Equipment = + + + Rev. - Exp.
action Payable Capital Drawings
1. +25,000 +25,000

2. +7,000 +7,000

3. +8,000 +8,000

4. -850 -850

5. -1,000 -1,000

$31,150 + $7,000 = $7,000 + $25,000 + $8,000 - $850 - $1,000

$18,050 $18,050
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 DO IT! 4 Tabular Analysis

2. The company purchased $7,000 of office equipment on credit.

Assets = Liabilities + Owner's Equity

Trans- Accounts Owner's Owner's
Cash + Equipment = + + + Rev. - Exp.
action Payable Capital Drawings
1. +25,000 +25,000

2. +7,000 +7,000

3. +8,000 +8,000

4. -850 -850

5. -1,000 -1,000

$31,150 + $7,000 = $7,000 + $25,000 + $8,000 - $850 - $1,000

$18,050 $18,050
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 DO IT! 4 Tabular Analysis

3. The company received $8,000 cash in exchange for services

performed.
Assets = Liabilities + Owner's Equity
Trans- Accounts Owner's Owner's
Cash + Equipment = + + + Rev. - Exp.
action Payable Capital Drawings
1. +25,000 +25,000

2. +7,000 +7,000

3. +8,000 +8,000

4. -850 -850

5. -1,000 -1,000

$31,150 + $7,000 = $7,000 + $25,000 + $8,000 - $850 - $1,000

$18,050 $18,050
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 DO IT! 4 Tabular Analysis

4. The company paid $850 for this month’s rent.

Assets = Liabilities + Owner's Equity

Trans- Accounts Owner's Owner's
Cash + Equipment = + + + Rev. - Exp.
action Payable Capital Drawings
1. +25,000 +25,000

2. +7,000 +7,000

3. +8,000 +8,000

4. -850 -850

5. -1,000 -1,000

$31,150 + $7,000 = $7,000 + $25,000 + $8,000 - $850 - $1,000

$18,050 $18,050
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 DO IT! 4 Tabular Analysis

5. The owner withdrew $1,000 cash for personal use.

Assets = Liabilities + Owner's Equity

Trans- Accounts Owner's Owner's
Cash + Equipment = + + + Rev. - Exp.
action Payable Capital Drawings
1. +25,000 +25,000

2. +7,000 +7,000

3. +8,000 +8,000

4. -850 -850

5. -1,000 -1,000

$31,150 + $7,000 = $7,000 + $25,000 + $1,000 + $8,000 - $850

$38,150 $38,150
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LEARNING Describe the four financial statements
5
OBJECTIVE and how they are prepared.

Companies prepare four financial statements :

Owner’s Statement
Income Balance
Equity of Cash
Statement Sheet
Statement Flows

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 Financial Statements

Question
Net income will result during a time period when:
a. assets exceed liabilities.
b. assets exceed revenues.
c. expenses exceed revenues.
d. revenues exceed expenses.

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 Net income is needed to determine the
Financial Statements ending balance in owner’s equity.

SOFTBYTE
Income Statement
For the Month Ended September 30, 2017

Illustration 1-9
Financial statements and
their interrelationships

SOFTBYTE
Owner’s Equity Statement
For the Month Ended September 30, 2017

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 SOFTBYTE
Owner’s Equity Statement
For the Month Ended September 30, 2017

Illustration 1-9
The ending
balance in SOFTBYTE
owner’s equity Balance Sheet
is needed in September 30, 2017
preparing the
balance sheet.

Illustration 1-9
Financial statements
and their
interrelationships

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 SOFTBYTE
Financial Balance Sheet
September 30, 2017

Statements

Balance sheet and

income statement
are needed to
prepare statement of
cash flows.
SOFTBYTE
Statement of Cash Flows
For the Month Ended September 30, 2017

Illustration 1-9
Financial statements
and their
interrelationships

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 Income Statement

 Reports the revenues and expenses for a specific

period of time.
 Lists revenues first, followed by expenses.
 Shows net income (or net loss).
 Does not include
investment and
withdrawal transactions
between the owner and
the business in
measuring net income.

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 Owner’s Equity Statement

 Reports the changes in owner’s equity for a specific

period of time.
 The time period is the same as that covered by the
income statement.

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 Balance Sheet

 Reports the assets, liabilities, and owner's equity at a

specific date.
 Lists assets at the top, followed by liabilities and owner’s
equity.
 Total assets must equal total liabilities and owner's
equity.
 Is a snapshot of the company’s financial condition at a
specific moment in time (usually the month-end or year-
end).

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 Statement of Cash Flows

 Information on the cash receipts and payments for a

specific period of time.
 Answers the following:
► Where did cash come from?
► What was cash used for?
► What was the change in the
cash balance?

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 Financial Statements

Question
Which of the following financial statements is prepared as
of a specific date?
a. Balance sheet.
b. Income statement.
c. Owner's equity statement.
d. Statement of cash flows.

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 DO IT! 5 Financial Statement Items

Presented below is selected information related to Flanagan Company

at December 31, 2017. Flanagan reports financial information monthly.
Equipment $10,000 Utilities Expense $ 4,000
Cash 8,000 Accounts Receivable 9,000
Service Revenue 36,000 Salaries and Wages Expense 7,000
Rent Expense 11,000 Notes Payable 16,500
Accounts Payable 2,000 Owner’s Drawings 5,000

(a) Determine the total assets of at December 31, 2017.

(b) Determine the net income reported for December 2017.
(c) Determine the owner’s equity at December 31, 2017.

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 DO IT! 5 Financial Statement Items

Presented below is selected information related to Flanagan Company

at December 31, 2017. Flanagan reports financial information monthly.
Equipment $10,000 Utilities Expense $ 4,000
Cash 8,000 Accounts Receivable 9,000
Service Revenue 36,000 Salaries and Wages Expense 7,000
Rent Expense 11,000 Notes Payable 16,500
Accounts Payable 2,000 Owner’s Drawings 5,000

(a) Determine the total assets of at December 31, 2017.

The total assets are $27,000, comprised of

• Cash $8,000,
• Accounts Receivable $9,000, and
• Equipment $10,000.

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 DO IT! 5 Financial Statement Items

Presented below is selected information related to Flanagan Company

at December 31, 2017. Flanagan reports financial information monthly.
Equipment $10,000 Utilities Expense $ 4,000
Cash 8,000 Accounts Receivable 9,000
Service Revenue 36,000 Salaries and Wages Expense 17,500
Rent Expense 11,000 Notes Payable 16,500
Accounts Payable 2,000 Owner’s Capital 5,000

(b) Determine the net income reported for December 2017.

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 DO IT! 5 Financial Statement Items

Presented below is selected information related to Flanagan Company

at December 31, 2017. Flanagan reports financial information monthly.
Equipment $10,000 Utilities Expense $ 4,000
Cash 8,000 Accounts Receivable 9,000
Service Revenue 36,000 Salaries and Wages Expense 7,000
Rent Expense 11,000 Notes Payable 16,500
Accounts Payable 2,000 Owner’s Drawings 5,000

(c) Determine the owner’s equity at December 31, 2017.

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LEARNING APPENDIX 1A: Explain the career
6
OBJECTIVE opportunities in accounting.

Public Accounting Private Accounting

Careers in auditing, taxation, Careers in industry working in
and management consulting cost accounting, budgeting,
serving the general public. accounting information systems,
and taxation.

Governmental Accounting Forensic Accounting

Careers with the IRS, the FBI, Uses accounting, auditing, and
the SEC, public colleges and investigative skills to conduct
universities, and in state and investigations into theft and
local governments. fraud.

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 “Show Me the Money”

Salary estimates for jobs in public and corporate accounting

Illustration 1A-1

Upper-level management salaries in corporate accounting

Illustration 1A-2

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LEARNING Describe the impact of international accounting
OBJECTIVE
7
standards on U.S. financial reporting.

Key Points
Following are the key similarities and differences between GAAP and
IFRS as related to accounting fundamentals.

Similarities
 The basic techniques for recording business transactions are the
same for U.S. and international companies.
 Both international and U.S. accounting standards emphasize
transparency in financial reporting. Both sets of standards are
primarily driven by meeting the needs of investors and creditors.

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 Key Points
Similarities
 The three most common forms of business organizations,
proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations, are also found in
countries that use international accounting standards.

Differences
 International standards are referred to as International Financial
Reporting Standards (IFRS), developed by the International
Accounting Standards Board. Accounting standards in the United
States are referred to as generally accepted accounting principles
(GAAP) and are developed by the Financial Accounting
Standards Board.

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 Key Points
Differences
 IFRS tends to be simpler in its accounting and disclosure
requirements; some people say it is more “principles-based.”
GAAP is more detailed; some people say it is more “rules-based.”
 The internal control standards applicable to Sarbanes-Oxley
(SOX) apply only to large public companies listed on U.S.
exchanges. There is continuing debate as to whether non-U.S.
companies should have to comply with this extra layer of
regulation.

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 Looking to the Future
Both the IASB and the FASB are hard at work developing standards that
will lead to the elimination of major differences in the way certain
transactions are accounted for and reported.

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 A Look at IFRS

IFRS Self-Test Questions

Which of the following is not a reason why a single set of high-
quality international accounting standards would be beneficial?
a) Mergers and acquisition activity.
b) Financial markets.
c) Multinational corporations.
d) GAAP is widely considered to be a superior reporting system.

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 A Look at IFRS

IFRS Self-Test Questions

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act determines:
a) international tax regulations.
b) internal control standards as enforced by the IASB.
c) internal control standards of U.S. publicly traded companies.
d) U.S. tax regulations.

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 A Look at IFRS

IFRS Self-Test Questions

IFRS is considered to be more:
a) principles-based and less rules-based than GAAP.
b) rules-based and less principles-based than GAAP.
c) detailed than GAAP.
d) None of the above.

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 Copyright

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