CICA seminar on integrated reporting features Robert Herz

Robert Herz, the recently retired chair of the US Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), will be in Toronto, Canada on November 23, 2011, for a breakfast seminar organized by the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (CICA). Mr. Herz will review the proposals outlined in a Discussion Paper, Towards Integrated Reporting – Communicating Value in the 21st Century, published by the International Integrated Reporting Committee (IIRC).

The IIRC was established in August 2010 by the Prince of Wales Accounting for Sustainability Project, the Global Reporting Initiative, and the International Federation of Accountants.  The IIRC brings together a cross section of representatives from the corporate, investor, accounting, securities, regulatory and standard-setting communities.

The Discussion Paper features proposals for the development of an International Integrated Reporting Framework and outlines the next steps toward its creation and adoption. The goal of integrated reporting is to provide more comprehensive and meaningful information about how an organization creates and sustains value.

(For more information, see the CICA media release on November 18, 2011.)

International Financial Reporting Standards - IASB Future Work Plan

In July 2011, the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) issued a Request for Views, “Agenda Consultation 2011.” This paper seeks input on the IASB’s future work plan and the areas of financial reporting it proposes to give priority to over the next three years. The comment deadline is November 30, 2011.

An important part of balancing the future work plan is to understand the financial reporting needs and challenges of stakeholders. As such, Canada’s Accounting Standards Board (AcSB) encourages all Canadian stakeholders to review the Request for Views and submit comments directly to the IASB. Your views will help shape the IASB’s future agenda.

The AcSB will be responding to the IASB, as well, and is seeking the views of Canadian stakeholders to develop an informed response. The AcSB has organized a program of public consultations between mid-October and early November 2011 to help form its response, including conference calls and roundtables in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal. More information on the IASB Agenda Consultation, and the related roundtables and conference calls, is available online.

(For an update on recent activities of Canada's Accounting Standards Board, see the FYI Newsletter October 2011.)

Canadian Standards in Transition - ASPE Resources Available

The Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (CICA) has recently issued three new resources to help private companies make a smooth transition to the new accounting standards for private enterprises (ASPE).

A Guide to Understanding Transitional Options and Accounting Policy Choices
This CICA guide helps practitioners understand the choices and decisions available under the new accounting standards for private enterprises (ASPE) and provides practical examples and worksheets.

A Case Study: Financial Statement Comparison
This publication presents an example of non-consolidated and consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with pre-changeover accounting standards - XFI Version, and financial statements restated in accordance with ASPE.

Transition Considerations for a Non-Complex Entity
This summary highlights significant changes in the new standards as well as items that require management consideration. The information, geared to non-complex entities, raises awareness for typical balances on a set of financial statements.

Reporting Implications of New Auditing and Accounting Standards, August 2011

There are a number of significant changes taking place to accounting and auditing standards in Canada. The Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (AASB) recognizes that these changes may have an impact on the form and content of practitioners’ reports. Therefore, the AASB formed a Task Force to develop guidance that will address complex reporting issues that may arise during this period of change with a view to promoting consistency in reporting.

This Guide presents a series of issues in Question and Answer format. It also presents a series of Illustrative Reports. These are designed to help practitioners understand and apply requirements and supporting guidance issued by the AASB relating to reporting. Practitioners are expected to use professional judgment in determining whether the material in this Guide is both appropriate and relevant to the circumstances of each audit engagement.

(Read the Guide, Reporting Implications of New Auditing and Accounting Standards, Issue No. 5 — August 2011.)

CICA conference explores post-transition issues

Now that IFRS is Canadian GAAP for most publicly-accountable enterprises, organizations with December 31 year-ends have already filed their first interim reports. There are experiences to learn from regarding the application of IFRS and the impact of new financial reporting frameworks on organizations.

IFRS and the new world of global accounting standards will be a continuous journey of learning. Issues such as how far to go with Canadian guidance, while still being true to the commitment to adopt IFRS without country- specific interpretations, will be a constant challenge. And, there will always be the need to keep up –to-date technically on new and proposed standards as they emerge.

Many of these important issues will be the subject of discussion and debate at CICA’s first post-transition Financial Reporting and Accounting Conference (FRAC), which runs September 26 to 28, 2011, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto. The robust agenda of this year’s conference includes a CFO panel discussion on lessons learned from their organizations’ transition, another panel discussion entitled IFRS — Walking the Tightrope between Canadian Guidance and Interpretation — How Far Can We Go? and a third on the application and implications of the New World of Fair Value Measurement. The conference also includes several technical IFRS updates, including revenue recognition, leases, joint arrangements and consolidations, and post-employment benefits.