Future of IFRS: what purpose(s) do we want annual accounts to serve?
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-Today’s global economy requires global standards to allow transparency and comparability of financial accounts of listed companies across the world
- However, serious concerns linked to the conceptual framework of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) need to be solved, namely the concepts of prudence and stewardship, as well as the issue of quality, complexity and reliability of the standards
These were the main conclusions of a roundtable organized recently by ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) and hosted by MEPs Kamall and Stolojan in the European Parliament in Brussels.
A lively debate around IFRS is presently taking place at European level. IFRS are prepared by the London-based International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) with the aim to standardise accounting practices internationally. In order to enhance the development of the single capital market in Europe, they were introduced for consolidated accounts of EU-listed companies in 2005 as a result of a Regulation in 2002, which is currently being evaluated by the European Commission.
This week, Syed Kamall MEP and Theodor Dumitru Stolojan MEP co-hosted a high level debate organised by ACCA in the European Parliament on the “Future of IFRS: what purpose(s) do we want annual accounts to serve?” to discuss and debate the issue. A range of experts from various backgrounds, including the IASB, the European Commission, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), national standard setters, the investor community, financial analysts, the accounting profession, businesses, as well as academics and think tanks exchanged views on the relevance of IFRS in today’s economic environment and whether are they still fit for purpose, but also what needs to change as IFRS in Europe enters its second decade.
MEP Syed Kamall, who opened the debate, said: “Over time I have come to a few conclusions about what we need to learn from the crisis. One is that in the future there should be no more bailouts by taxpayers. Secondly, we need to increase liability standards and clarify the company directors' responsibilities. The third issue revolves around accounting standards, where I believe not enough prudence has been exercised.
“We need to discuss what we are trying to achieve with accounts. The European accounting model, which has developed over several centuries, is about far more than simply providing information to the capital markets - unlike the US model- , it is also meant to be a driver of better governance. The G20 commitment is to strengthen the global financial system. We have to ask ourselves whether converging around complex, wordy accounting standards is something that will protect us from future crises.”
The debate revealed a great diversity of views between panellists, though a consensus on the need for global accounting standards to prevent any new financial crisis seemed to emerge. Most panelists agreed that given the global nature of our economy, IFRS are a valuable tool that helps Europe’s capital markets and in attracting foreign investment in the EU. It was stressed that allowing more flexibility in the implementation of IFRS into EU law could run the risk of resulting in different set of regional/local standards and thus potentially undermining the agreed - and reaffirmed by the G20 – objective of pursuing a single set of comparable and transparent financial reporting standards,. This might diminish the real added value of the financial statements and reinforce the already negative perception of “fortress Europe”.
However, the debate revealed too that there is a mounting dissatisfaction among a certain number of people, including users and preparers of financial accounts, on the quality of IFRS linked to their complexity and relevance, as well as their endorsement process in the EU. It was argued that the long-running convergence project with the US has led to a loss of prudence, a concept embedded in the European accounting tradition but not in the US one.
Richard Martin, Head of Corporate Reporting at ACCA said: “The debate clearly showed that there are a certain number of issues linked to the conceptual framework of the IASB, such as the issues of prudence, reliability and stewardship, which are being questioned by several stakeholders and need to be included in the forthcoming consultation of the IASB.
“The debate on whether IFRS are fit for purpose in Europe has been tainted by the failings in the financial statements of banks. The IASB’s proposed solution is currently out for comment. All parties should be encouraged to respond to IASB and to EFRAG, so that these bodies can judge the strength of opinions on these contentious matters.”
The questions of the governance of the IASB and IFRS foundation and of the role of EFRAG and the Accounting Regulatory Committee (ARC) were also discussed, namely in the light of the debate currently taking place in the European Parliament on both the Union programme to support specific activities in the field of financial reporting and auditing for the period of 2014-2020 - on which MEPs Stolojan and Kamall are respectively rapporteur and shadow rapporteur - , and of the work of Special Adviser Philippe Maystadt. The former President of the European Investment Bank has indeed been recently appointed by Internal Market and Services Commissioner Michel Barnier to carry out an in-depth review of the IASB -EU relationship, of the governance of the EU advisory bodies, the implementation of IFRS in the EU, and the potential improvements, and/or need for reform.
Theodor Dumitru Stolojan MEP concluded: “Listening to experts is the traditional way we do our work in the European Parliament. The variety of views expressed today, though very instructive, does not ease my task of rapporteur on the proposal for the co-financing of EFRAG, the IFRS foundation and the PIOB for 2014-2020. It shows the difficulty to reach the right balance between the necessity to preserve the independence of the accounting standard setter while at the same time trying to strengthen the influence of the EU voice.
“We are also facing a timing dilemma: while it would make sense to wait for Special Adviser Maystadt’s conclusions and recommendations planned for end of November 2013, we as the European Parliament have a political responsibility to ensure that some co-financing for these bodies is in place for 2014.”
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Notes to editor
1.ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) is the global body for professional accountants. We aim to offer business-relevant, first-choice qualifications to people of application, ability and ambition around the world who seek a rewarding career in accountancy, finance and management.
2.We support our 154,000 members and 432,000 students in 170 countries, helping them to develop successful careers in accounting and business, with the skills required by employers. We work through a network of over 80 offices and centres and more than 8,400 Approved Employers worldwide, who provide high standards of employee learning and development. Through our public interest remit, we promote appropriate regulation of accounting and conduct relevant research to ensure accountancy continues to grow in reputation and influence.
3.Founded in 1904, ACCA has consistently held unique core values: opportunity, diversity, innovation, integrity and accountability. We believe that accountants bring value to economies in all stages of development and seek to develop capacity in the profession and encourage the adoption of global standards. Our values are aligned to the needs of employers in all sectors and we ensure that through our qualifications, we prepare accountants for business. We seek to open up the profession to people of all backgrounds and remove artificial barriers, innovating our qualifications and delivery to meet the diverse needs of trainee professionals and their employers.