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How to approach performance appraisal questions

Guidance on how to approach performance appraisal questions. Performance appraisal is an important topic in Financial Reporting (FR). This article is intended to give candidates some guidance as to what is expected from a good answer to performance appraisal questions and how to approach such questions. The scenario of a performance appraisal question can take…

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Financial Reporting – examiner’s approach

This article should be read in conjunction with other related published material including the Syllabus and Study Guide, study support, examining team guidance, CBE past papers and specimen exam.  The Financial Reporting (FR) exam aims to develop knowledge and skills in the understanding and application of accounting standards and the conceptual and regulatory frameworks of accounting to…

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Suspense accounts and error correction

Suspense accounts and error correction are popular topics for examiners because they test understanding of bookkeeping principles so well. A suspense account is a temporary resting place for an entry that will end up somewhere else once its final destination is determined. There are two reasons why a suspense account could be opened: A bookkeeper is…

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Property, plant and equipment, and tangible fixed assets – part 2

Part 2 This is the second of two articles, and considers revaluation of property, plant and equipment (PPE) and its derecognition in accordance with International Accounting Standard (IAS®) 16, Property, Plant and Equipment (PPE). It also summarises the provisions of International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS®) 5, Non-current assets held for sale and discontinued operations. The first…

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Property, plant and equipment, and tangible fixed assets – part 1

Part 1 This is the first of two articles which consider the main features of International Accounting Standard (IAS®) 16, Property, Plant and Equipment (PPE). This standard deals with the four main aspects of financial reporting of PPE that are likely to be of major relevance in the FR exam, namely: initial measurement and depreciation –…

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Deferred tax

This article starts by considering aspects of deferred tax that are relevant to Financial Reporting, before moving on to the more complicated situations that may be tested in Strategic Business Reporting. Deferred tax is a topic that is consistently tested in Financial Reporting (FR) and is often tested in further detail in Strategic Business Reporting…

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Performance appraisal

Performance appraisal requires good interpretation and a good understanding of what the information means in the context of the question Performance appraisal is an important aspect of Paper F7, Financial Reporting and of interest to Paper P3 students. At this level you are not only required to prepare financial statements but understand the information underpinning…

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Accounting for property, plant and equipment

This article is designed to outline the key areas of IAS 16, Property, Plant and Equipment that you may be required to attempt in the Financial Reporting exam. The accounting for International Accounting Standard (IAS®) 16, Property, Plant and Equipment is a particularly important area of the Financial Reporting syllabus. You can almost guarantee that in every exam you…

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IFRS 16, Leases

1.  Introduction and context setting International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS®) 16 – Leases –  was issued in January 2016 and, in comparison to its predecessor International Accounting Standard (IAS®) 17 makes significant changes to the way in which leasing transactions are reported in the financial statements of lessees (although not in the financial statements of…

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IAS 37 – Provisions, contingent liabilities and contingent assets

For some ACCA candidates, specific IFRS® standards are more favoured than others. IAS® 37 appears to be less popular than other standards because, usually, answers to Financial Reporting (FR) questions required a balanced discussion of whether criteria are met, as opposed to calculating numbers. However, IAS 37 is often a key standard in FR exams,…

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The use of fair values in the goodwill calculation

For ACCA candidates studying Financial Reporting (FR), consolidated financial statements are a key topic. A central part of this syllabus area is accounting for the acquisition of a subsidiary which will test the concept of fair value; this is the value that the consideration paid for the subsidiary must be recorded. In addition to this,…

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Financial instruments

International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS®) 9 Financial Instruments is a complex standard, especially for users and preparers of financial statements. It is therefore no surprise that ACCA candidates also find it complex. Indeed, there is a well-known quote from a previous Chair of the International Accounting Standards Board (the Board) who said: ‘If you understand…