Comparative Issues in Local Government Accounting


Book Description

In recent years there have been a number of significant reforms in local government accounting practices around the world. While the specific reasons for these changes vary, a common factor is the increasing need for governments to measure the efficacy and efficiency of their performance. Nowhere is this trend more apparent than at the local government level. This book aims to give a comparative international perspective on local government accounting innovations, and offers specific cases involving different economic, political and cultural conditions. Countries receiving extended treatment include Belgium, China, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States. Together, the essays offer a state-of-the-art take on these issues and identify key issues for future research.




Public Sector Accounting


Book Description

As change sweeps across the public sector, a huge range of accounting and financial management challenges are created. This textbook analyses the reforms that are being introduced to deal with these challenges and their global impact on the public sector. Readers are provided with an international overview of government accounting, reporting, management control, cost accounting, budgeting and auditing. In explaining how innovative financial management tools are utilized in the public sector, the authors address a number of emerging issues: Harmonization trends in public financial management and International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSASs) Financial reporting and consolidated financial statements in the public sector Public sector management accounting and control methods Financial and performance auditing in the public sector This concise and accessible textbook will be core reading for public sector accounting and financial management students and will also be required reading for students of public management and administration more generally. Managers, accountants, consultants and auditors working in the public sector will also find the book a useful reference.







Accounting and Corporate Reporting


Book Description

We have spent a great deal of time on the continued development of accounting and auditing standards, which are used as a primary component of corporate reporting, to reach today's financial reporting framework. However, is it possible to say that, currently, financial statements provide full and prompt disclosure? Or will they still be useful as a primary element with their current structures in corporate reporting? Undoubtedly, we are deeply concerned about these issues in recent times. This volume contains chapters to discuss the today's and tomorrow's accounting and corporate reporting phenomena in a comprehensive and multidimensional way. Therefore, this book is organized into six sections: "Achieving Sustainability through Corporate Reporting", "International Standardization", "Financial Reporting Quality", "Accounting Profession and Behavioral Aspects", "Public Sector Accounting and Reporting", and "Managerial Accounting".







Accounting Theory


Book Description

Presents complex materials in a clear and understandable manner. Incorporating the latest accounting standards and presenting the most up-to-date accounting theory from the top academic journals in accounting and finance throughout the world.




The International Handbook of Public Financial Management


Book Description

The Handbook is a virtual encyclopedia of public financial management, written by topmost experts, many with a background in the IMF and World Bank. It provides the first comprehensive guide to the subject that has been published in more than ten years. The book is aimed at a broad audience of academics/students, government officials, development agencies and practitioners. It covers both bread-and-butter topics such as the macroeconomic and legal framework for budgeting, budget preparation and execution, procurement, accounting, reporting, audit and oversight, as well as specialist subjects such as government payroll systems, local government finance, fiscal transparency, the management of fiscal risks, sovereign wealth funds, the management of state-owned enterprises, and political economy aspects of budgeting. The book sets out numerous examples and case studies describing good practice in public financial management, and is highly relevant for use in both advanced and developing countries.




Practice-Relevant Accrual Accounting for the Public Sector


Book Description

This book addresses the necessary developments and adjustments that can be regarded as a promising starting point for making accrual accounting a more practice-relevant for the public sector entities. Specifically, the main focus is on Reshaping the application of accrual accounting principles and assumptions to fit the context of public sector entities; Developing a practice-relevant holistic accounting approach for governmental capital assets, which has been based on developing and reshaping the assets recognition criteria; Scope of general purpose financial reporting from an accountability perspective; Suggesting a sustainable accounting approach for reporting on the long-term fiscal sustainability; Developing a dynamic model for making public sector accrual accounting a more user practice relevant; and finally, Developing a theory of accounting information usefulness, which explains how cognitive aspects do influence the use/non-use of accounting information by the politicians. Fundamentally, the book has tackled these necessary developments and adjustments from both the producer’s and the user’s perspectives.




Interpretation and Application of IPSAS


Book Description

Clear, practical IPSAS guidance, explanation, and examples Interpretation and Application of IPSAS provides practical guidance on the implementation and application of the International Public Sector Accounting Standards. This book brings readers up to date on the standards, and describes their proper interpretation and real-world application. Examples and mini-case studies clarify the standards' roles throughout, giving readers a better understanding of complex processes, especially where the IPSAS deviate from IFRS. Readers also gain insight into smoothly navigating the transition for a public sector entity, which is moving to either IPSAS under accrual basis of accounting or to cash accounting IPSAS, plus an overview of IPSAS adoption status and methods around the world. Global public sector accounting is highly diversified, resulting in ongoing moves to harmonise standards worldwide. The IPSAS are international standards that largely follow the IFRS model, but differ in some key areas and include standards in places where IFRS has none. This book provides complete guidance to IPSAS, with clear explanation and expert insight. Understand the meaning and role of each standard Apply the standards to real-world scenarios Manage the process of transition to IPSAS These standards are meant to be followed by all public sector entities, including national and regional governments and local authorities. They've been adopted by the UN, NATO, the European Commission, and others, and either have been or soon will be adopted in Malaysia, Switzerland, Spain, and more.