Towards the end of the 20th century it became apparent that companies were beginning to increasingly use an unconventional way of predicting their future performance in earnings. This alternative measure of anticipated earnings was fundamentally based on assumptions rather than historical evidence, which is why it was viewed as being unconventional when casting a business plan. Pro-forma earnings, is scrutinized as being deceptive because the calculations used to come up with the figures weren't a true reflection of the businesses profitability. The earnings reported by companies to no comply to the strict guidelines of the GAAP and companies can manipulate their data or measure to and report earning that are hypothetical (Epstein 2009; James …show more content…
Firstly, pro-forma earnings does not adhere to the strict guidelines that are enforced by GAAP, purely because the computed earnings results are projected and can be calculated by any number of measures that companies want to include, as there is not universal guidelines that must be followed when reporting pro-forma earnings. These measures that are included, or excluded, are decided by the company and they may not be recurring, and quite possibly be a once off occurrence. The occurrence of certain measure for accounting need to be stable and not just unsystematic because then the reported earnings will not be a true and accurate indication of future company performance and thus misleading investors when making decisions. The most common unaccepted practice when calculating pro-forma earnings is for companies to exclude information that could quite possibly be information that is important for shareholders to be aware of. Some of these measures may be excluded by companies to improve their reporting or make their future earnings performance look more promising. Companies may exclude but are not limited to information such as redundancies, depreciation in assets and obsolete stock to name a few. The intentional exclusion of information, or manipulation of measures, is widely unaccepted because investors are not informed of what is included and excluded. Although most firms exclude
3. The Garners ' take-home pay is over $4,500 a month. Yet, after all expenses are paid, there is only a $220 surplus each month. Based on the information presented in this case, what expenses, if any, seem out of line and could be reduced to increase the surplus at the end of each month?
Companies have to file tax returns that are in accordance with tax regulations and rules developed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The amounts reported under taxable income and financial income differs. These amounts are different because financial income is based on Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) which uses the accrual method to report revenues. Taxable income on the other hand, which is determined by rules and regulations of the IRS, follow a modified cash basis to determine revenue. Therefore, it can be seen that these amounts differ because of the differences between tax regulations and GAAP.
Currently there is a certain segment of companies who prefer the use of pro forma reporting. Technology and Biotech companies generally prefer to disclose earning through pro forma reporting due to the ability to leave disclosures such as stock options and exclude one time startup costs. Pro forma reporting allows for the financial statements to be forecasted and present a better earnings picture for investors and lenders. While this may be favorable for management, shareholders are exposed to forecasting errors that can ultimately plague the actual value of the company.
Pro-forma statements give an estimate of a company’s possible profit by removing one time charges. A company can use these statements to exclude anything the business believes takes away from the accuracy of its profit. One disadvantage to the pro-forma statements is they are not regulated as well as other statements under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The biggest advantage to pro-forma statements is that it can provide a more accurate view of the outlook and financial performance of a company.
The Pro-Forma Financial Statements, as can be seen in Appendix F, show the results of the alternative strategy for IBM as compared to the company remaining on their current course of business. One of the important moves for IBM under the new strategy is to bring new leadership into the company. Their current CEO, Rometty, has a hefty salary, and also stock options that are potentially worth more than her salary according to Melin (2017). Stock options is a common way companies can add compensation, without adding to the bottom line because of the way they are valued. While this method is within acceptable standards according to GAAP, Rometty’s issuance of options, and the way the board compensation committee used a variety of methods for their valuation has raised many eyebrows, especially after years of poor performance by the company (Melin, 2017). In the alternative strategy for IBM, Rometty would be relieved of her post as CEO at IBM. What can be viewed through the Pro-Forma Financials after taking this action in 2017, is that IBM will experience savings in their Selling and Administrative Expense as her successor would not come in at the excessive salary that she was collecting. According to Merlin (2017), Rometty’s
Tax Law and Accounting In today's society, income taxes are something that almost everyone is familiar with. However, the tax law and general purpose of income taxes is something in which the general society gives little thought. In addition, few tax preparers are aware that differences exist between the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and tax accounting, not to mention the ramifications of avoiding or evading to properly complete the reporting of income taxes. This paper will discuss the objectives of modern tax law, the differences between Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and tax accounting, as well as the differences between tax evasion and tax avoidance.
GAAP reporting standards (AICPA, n.d.). A private business owner can utilize the concise and familiar accounting principles and accrual income tax or cash basis method of financial reporting to assess the company’s performance and provide relatable decision-making information to stakeholders (AICPA, n.d.). Moreover, it is a cost-effective measure for business owners that do not have to comply with U.S. GAAP base financial statements. In addition, CPAs can provide value pricing by preparing meaningful and concise reporting to internal and external parties. However, a business owner should carefully consider and examine the available options before deciding on an appropriate reporting framework. In order to provide the best short-term and long-term solution, it is imperative to consider a company’s business structure and future
This paper will discuss these steps in detail. Because I work at home, I am not currently involved in any of the steps of the accounting cycle. The examples I give in this paper will be from various jobs I have held in the past.
Information on the financial statement can offer an overview of a company’s performance over the past fiscal year. However, gaining crucial investment insights requires financial manipulation that yields financial ratios.
In conclusion, we have realized the significance of including just the netted plan assets and the PBO and not including the full amount of the plan assets and the PBO on the balance sheet. This type of accounting flexibility by the FASB helps companies and ultimately hurts investors who are unaware of the consequences. Usually, the estimated PBO and plan assets are very large in relation to the debt and equity capitalization of the company. The financial situation is therefore skewed and is not represented correctly on the company’s balance sheet which then in turn distorts financial ratios. Investors who are unaware of these accounting rules will end up making erroneous conclusions. Also, this accounting flexibility allows managers to manipulate financial statements whether intentionally or unintentionally by influencing their actuarial assumptions.
With over twenty years of work experience I have witnessed managers at all levels utilize various tricks to manipulate short-term quarterly earnings. It seems like most managers have different views on what is ethical and unethical when it comes to managing short-term earnings and tend to use questionable practices to meet company numbers. This has been confirmed from The Dangerous Morality of Managing Earnings case study as according to Gibson the accounting practice of offering a fourth quarter sales incentive and allowing customers 120 days to pay in an attempt to increase fourth quarter sales numbers was posed to the managers in the case study and returned results indicating that the practice was viewed as ethical, questionable, and even unethical (1990/2013). Without a unanimous response for this practice it is confirmed that each manager views this practice differently and with so many ways for financial numbers to be manipulated it would be difficult at times to get an accurate picture of a company’s current financial well being.
As per paragraph 42 AASB 108, an entity shall correct material prior period errors retrospectively by restating the comparative amounts for the prior period(s) in which the error occurred, or if the error occurred before the earliest prior period presented, restating the opening balances of assets, liabilities and equity for the earliest prior period presented. In other words, the effect is to restate the current year’s financial statements as if the error had never occurred. The discovery of any prior period errors are excluded from current period’s profit or loss, but will be shown or hidden in retained earnings. It could be argued that this gives incentives to managers for using prior period corrections as a form of earnings management because it allows them to manipulate current earnings.
Marshall, D., McManus, W., & Viele, D. (2004). Accounting: What the numbers mean. [University of Phoenix Custom Edition e-text]. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Companies.
GAAP is exceptionally useful because it attempts to regulate and normalize accounting definitions, assumptions, and methods. Because of generally accepted accounting principles one is able to presuppose that there is uniformity from year to year in the methods that are used to prepare a company's financial statements. And even though variations might exist, one can make realistically confident conclusions when comparing one company to another, or when comparing one company's financial statistics to the statistics for the industry as a whole. Over the years the generally accepted accounting principles have become more multifaceted because financial transactions have become more intricate (Accounting Principles, 2011).
ABC LTD COMPREHENSIVE INCOME STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2012 NOTE 2012 Revenue 2 828,500 Cost of sales 3 (460,000) Gross profit 368,500 Other income 4 2,500 Operating expenses 5 361000 Profit before income tax 10000 Income tax expense (30%) 3,000 Profit for the year 7000 Other comprehensive income change in revaulation surplus 38500 Other comprehensive income for the year, net of tax 38500 Total comprehensive income for the year 45500 ABC LTD STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2012 NOTES 2012 ASSETS Current assets Cash and cash equivalents 6 100500 Trade and other receivables 7 45,200 Inventories 8 87700 Other current assets 9 7000