The paper outlines the development of accounting service centers in the world and in Poland. There are explained different types of transactions identified due to the theory of transaction costs. The organizational boundaries of the accounting system are explained. The accounting system is regarded to be a process in cor-porations and it is possible to reduce its costs (as well as of other processes) in the area of transaction costs. The greatest reduction of transaction costs in the process of accounting is achieved due to the use of hybrid transactions in the purchase of accounting services. This type of transactions results in the expansion of organizational boundaries of the accounting system beyond legal and organizational boundaries of the corporation, which means that managing this process also ex-pands beyond its boundaries.
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IASB and FASB justify the revision of financial reporting as attempt to increase its utility for investors. Therefore, the article concentrates on that group of financial information users. The article presents chosen results of a survey con-ducted by the author for the Polish market based on a sample representative of Polish society, and in particular on target groups: individual investors, sell-side analysts and companies listed on Warsaw Stock Exchange. It was found that the financial community does not postulate revolutionary changes in financial reporting. They rather are looking for more information in cross-section of branches, segments and geographical areas. The main postulates are: - parallel synthetic information and maximally detailed information on the ele-ments which influence profitability, - wider context of information such as domestic and international competition, and macroeconomic environment, - responsibility for information accuracy and reliability. If accounting is to be more widely understood, appreciated and used, this opinion cannot be ignored. Accounting has always been closely related to business practice and oriented to the needs of financial information users. But this time the proposed change seems to fail to meet their expectations.
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The objective of the paper is to analyse the determinants of recognising impair-ment losses by companies listed on Warsaw Stock Exchange. We hypothesised that both the probability of impairment losses and their amounts depend on four groups of determinants: the company’s performance, other economic indicators and the capacity to absorb the consequences of write-offs, managerial and reporting factors, and the recurrence effect. Our research included univariate analysis and multivariate analysis.
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This article presents the key aspects of the presentation of the statement of comprehensive income. The authors examined information published in financial statements of companies included in the WIG 20 index in 2009 and companies which participated in this index in the last five years. The aim of the analysis was to find answers to the following questions: 1) what form of the presentation was adopted by companies (one or two state-ments)? 2) does the presentation of comprehensive income and equity allow the relations between these two categories to be analyzed? 3) has the new concept of comprehensive income increased the transparency of the financial statements?
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This paper reviews changes in the perception of the role of management accountants in English-speaking countries in the light of definitions of management accounting formulated by experts associated in organizations promoting develop-ment of management accounting theory and practice (IFAC, IMA). It also presents the qualification requirements that are set by the Institute of Management Accoun-tants for professional certification of management accountants in the USA. This information provides insights useful in defining the knowledge and skills required of management accountants in Poland – an issue topical in the context of management accounting profession being included in the new classification of professions and specializations introduced in Poland in 2010, and accounting profession certification, carried out by the Accountants Association in Poland since 2010.
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Changes in regulations relating to the principles of university-level education induce reflection on the model of accountancy teaching. The purpose of this article is to propose a conception of accounting education at universities which is con-sistent with the National Qualifications Framework. After reviewing the assumptions and objectives of the National Qualifications Framework, the authors presented: 1) proposals regarding the character of accounting studies (general profile, prac-tical profile), 2) examples of results of first and second degree education, 3) the nature and role of the competence matrix in constructing of the schedule and program of studies.
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The paper discusses the question of relations between management accounting theories and good accounting practice. It argues that theories and good practices continue to coexist within management accounting in spite of a theoretical break-through in it. CVP, ABC, TOC and Time-Driven ABC are presented as examples of theories with reconstructed paradigms. The appearance of CVP is considered to be a theoretical breakthrough in management accounting. Good practices are characterized in terms of the type of knowledge they create and use (know-what and know-how) and effectiveness. Six Sigma, Just in Time, Re-engineering, and Lean Production are given as examples of good practices being theoretical generalizations of good practices in companies. Balanced Scorecard, on the other hand, is a good practice created by science in the situation where it is not possible to formulate proper theory. There is a feedback between good practices development after starting BSC projects in companies and development of BSC as a good practice created by science.
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The article presents advantages and disadvantages of two basic approaches to valuation of assets and liabilities – historical cost and fair value. Emphasis has been put on role of fair value in international regulations, methodology for its measurement and impact of its implementation on the form and content of financial statements. In the final part of the article the author presents a new approach to valuation and a new layout of the balance sheet and income statement.
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The article presents selected directions of improvement of the process of fi-nancial statements examination. The author describes the changes made in the 21st century, which are designed to raise the quality of audit in conditions of increasing globalization of the economy and financial market. The paper also discusses new proposals for audit improvement set out in the Green Paper published by the European Commission in 2010.
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This paper discusses the place of legal regulations of accounting within the system of law. It also examines the validity of separating this set of norms as a branch of law and presents the basis for classification of accounting norms in light of the views of selected representatives of contemporary philosophy of law: N. Luhmann, J. Habermas, H.L.A. Hart and R. Dworkin.
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Globalization of economic processes entails increased risk of the occurrence of factors which threaten the continuation of business operations. The threats may be caused by external and internal factors. Information generated by the accounting system is needed to reduce the possibility of occurrence of risk factors. Accounting information can serve two purposes in the context of crisis – it can protect a company against its harmful effects (the creation of reserves) and can help to diagnose and overcome it (hazard prediction methods, restructuring). In the case of discontinuation of business operations accounting information ought to be used in such a way as to maximally satisfy the claims of the enterprise’s creditions (valuation, forecasting revenues from sale of bankrupt’s estate, proper management of the costs of the bankruptcy process).
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The aim of the paper is to analyse the results of survey studies on the implementation of management accounting methods oriented towards relations with customers in Polish listed companies. The paper presents a model for implementation of these methods, developed on the basis of findings of empirical research (sample of 34 companies), and formulates conclusions as to the path of introducing these methods into practice. In the model four implementation levels were identified and their link to the application of certain methods were proved.
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