Powered by MOMENTUM MEDIA
accountants daily logo

Inappropriate accounting treatment dominates ASIC results

Tax

Inappropriate accounting treatment and unrealistic assumptions about future cash flows are among some of the key concerns the corporate regulator has expressed in its latest review of financial reports.

By Jotham Lian 9 minute read

ASIC has announced the results from a review of the 31 December 2018 financial reports of 125 entities, including 85 full-year financial reports and 40 half-year reports.

The review of half-year reports focused on the application of major new accounting standards on revenue and financial instruments.

The corporate regulator made inquiries of 26 entities on 40 matters, with impairment of non-financial assets and revenue recognition forming the largest number of inquiries.

“Directors and auditors need to focus on impairment of non-financial assets in financial reports to ensure that the market is properly informed about asset values and the expected future performance implied by those values,” ASIC said.

“There continue to be cases where the cash flows and assumptions used by entities in determining recoverable amounts are not reasonable or supportable having regard to matters such as historical cash flows, economic and market conditions, and funding costs.”

ASIC has also warned companies and auditors to focus on the impact of the new accounting standards on revenue and financial instruments, repeating its previous warnings last year.

It also previously announced its focus for 30 June 2019 financial reports, with new accounting standards on revenue recognition and financial instrument values now needed to be complied with.

“New accounting standards can significantly affect results reported to the market by companies, require changes to systems and processes, and affect businesses,” ASIC commissioner John Price said.

“It is important that directors and management ensure that companies inform investors and other financial report users of the impact on reported results. Required disclosure on the effect of the new standards is more extensive than that made by many companies for the 31 December 2018 half-year.”

ASIC’s risk-based surveillance of the financial reports of public interest entities for reporting periods ended 30 June 2010 to 30 June 2018 has led to material changes to 4 per cent of the financial reports of public interest entities reviewed by ASIC.

The main changes related to impairment of assets, revenue recognition and expense deferral.

Jotham Lian

Jotham Lian

AUTHOR

Jotham Lian is the editor of Accountants Daily, the leading source of breaking news, analysis and insight for Australian accounting professionals.

Before joining the team in 2017, Jotham wrote for a range of national mastheads including the Sydney Morning Herald, and Channel NewsAsia.

You can email Jotham at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

You are not authorised to post comments.

Comments will undergo moderation before they get published.

accountants daily logo Newsletter

Receive breaking news directly to your inbox each day.

SUBSCRIBE NOW