ACCOUNTING THEORY:
TEXT AND READINGS
RICHARD G. SCHROEDER
MYRTLE CLARK
JACK CATHEY
CHAPTER 1
THE DEVELOPMENT OF
ACCOUNTING THEORY
Introduction

What is theory?

Webster defines theory as:
“Systematically organized knowledge, applicable in a relatively wide
variety of circumstances, a system of assumptions, accepted principles
and rules of procedure to analyze, predict or otherwise explain the
nature of behavior of a specified set of phenomena.”
Normative theory
Positive theory


Why is the development of a general theory of
accounting important?
What is the relationship of accounting research
to accounting theory?
THE EARLY HISTORY OF
ACCOUNTING


The Zenon Papyri
The impact of the Renaissance





Fra Luca Pacioli
The evolution of joint ventures into ongoing
businesses
The impact of the industrial revolution and the
progressive movement
The concept of capital maintenance
The accountant as a protector of business
interests
ACCOUNTING IN THE UNITED
STATES SINCE 1930



Meetings between NYSE and AIA
AAA
SEC
Securities Act of 1933
Securities Exchange Act of 1934



Committee on Accounting Procedure
Accounting Principles Board
Financial Accounting Standards Board
THE ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES
BOARD


Formation and structure
Types of pronouncements
APB Opinions



The flap over accounting for the investment
tax Credit
Rule 203
Criticism of the APB
THE FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING
STANDARDS BOARD




The Wheat Committee
The Trueblood Committee
The FASB was established
The structure of the FASB
is illustrated in the
following diagram
Structure of the FASB
Appoint and
fund
------|
|
|
Financial
Accounting
Foundation
Govern
Board of
Trustees
Appoint
Appoint and
fund
Financial
Accounting
Standards
Advisory
Committee
(approx.
20 members)
Admin.
Staff
Financial
Accounting
Standards
Board
(7 members)
Appoint
Research Staff
Task Forces
of the
Standards
Board
Electors
FASB

Mission

Types of pronouncements
Statements of Financial Accounting Concepts
Statements of Financial Accounting Standards
Interpretations
Technical Bulletins
FASB




Emerging Issues
Standards Overload
Standard setting as a political process
Economic Consequences
GAAP

Evolution of phrase:




Changed wording of auditor’s certificate brought about by
meetings between NYSE and AIA
The APB’s definition
The Auditing Standards Executive Committee’s definition
The current sources of GAAP consist of four levels
described as A, B, C, and D by Statement of Auditing
Standards No 69
GAAP Hierarchy
LEVEL A:
FASB Statements
FASB Interpretations
SEC Rules and Interpretive Releases
Accounting Principles Board Opinions (unless amended)
Account Research Bulletins (unless amended)
LEVEL B:
FASB Technical Bulletins
AICPA Industry Audit Guides that have been reviewed by the FASB
GAAP Hierarchy
LEVEL C:
AcSEC Practice Bulletins that have been reviewed by the FASB
Consensuses reached by the EITF
LEVEL D:
AICPA Accounting Interpretations (no longer issued)
FASB Implementation Guides
Other widely recognized or prevalent accounting practices
The Business Reporting Research Project


Steering Committee
Working Groups
THE ROLE OF ETHICS IN
ACCOUNTING

The public accountant as a
watchdog
Accounting in Crisis – The Events of
the Early 2000s

Enron and the Accounting Scandals
Accounting in Crisis – The Events of
the Early 2000s

1.
Two major changes in the accounting profession have
taken place in the wake of the accounting scandals:
Arthur Andersen


formerly one the Big 5 audit firms
has gone out of business
Sarbanes-Oxley Act
2.


President Bush signed into law July 2002
imposes a number of corporate governance rules on publicly traded
companies (Discussed in Chapter 17).
International Accounting Standards
The concept of harmonization
The IASB
The IASB’s objectives:



1.
2.

To formulate and publish in the public interest accounting
standards to be observed in the presentation of financial
statements and to promote their worldwide acceptance and
observance
To work generally for the improvement and harmonization of
regulations, accounting standards, and procedures relating
to the presentation of financial statements.
41 Statements of Accounting Standards and 5
Statements of Financial Reporting Standards to date