Fundamental ethical and professional principles (A)

Accounting ethics in the digital age
This article looks at a variety of ethical threats that a contemporary accountant working in the digital age may encounter and considers how these threats might be addressed.

Topic explainer video: Applying the ethical principles to earn marks
In this video, expert tutor Tom Clendon demonstrates how to apply the ethical principles to earn marks (YouTube)

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The financial reporting framework (B)

Profit, loss and other comprehensive income
This article looks at what differentiates profit or loss from other comprehensive income and where items should be presented.

The Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting
In March 2018, the International Accounting Standards Board finished its revision of The Framework for Financial Reporting.

Topic explainer video: Conceptual Framework                                      
In this video, expert tutor Aleena Kareem unpacks the Conceptual Framework (YouTube).

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Reporting the financial performance of a range of entities (C)

IFRS 9 Financial Instruments, part 1 | part 2
Part 1 of this article covers recognition, measurement of financial assets, measurement of financial liabilities, derecognition and reclassification impairment. Part 2 then goes on to look at derivatives and hedge accounting.

IFRS for SMEs® Accounting Standard
The principal aim when developing accounting standards for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is to provide a framework that generates relevant, reliable and useful information which should provide a high quality and understandable set of accounting standards suitable for SMEs.

Deferred tax
This article considers the aspects of deferred tax that are relevant to the Financial Reporting exam before moving on to the more complicated situations that may be tested in the Strategic Business Reporting exam.

IFRS 2 Share-based Payment
IFRS 2 applies when a company receives goods and services in exchange for its own equity instruments or a cash amount based on the price of its own equity instruments.

IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement
IFRS 13 has required a significant amount of work by entities to simply understand the nature of the principles and concepts involved

Impairment of financial assets
This article considers the International Accounting Standards Board’s proposals of new regulations for the impairment of financial assets.

Measurement
This article considers the relevance of information provided by different measurement methods and explains the effect that they may have on the financial statements.

Revenue revisited
This two-part article considers the application of IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers.

When does debt seem to be equity?
The difference between debt and equity in an entity’s statement of financial position is not easy to distinguish for preparers of financial statements. Many financial instruments have both features with the result that this can lead to inconsistency of reporting.

Cryptocurrencies
Digital tokens are built on a distributed ledger infrastructure often referred to as a blockchain. These tokens can provide various rights. Cryptocurrency is a type of digital token, and is designed as a medium of exchange. Other digital tokens provide rights to use assets or services, or can represent ownership interests.

Topic explainer video: Deferred tax / deferred tax and group scenarios
In this video, expert tutor Tom Clendon examines the topic of 'Deferred tax' (YouTube)

Topic explainer video: Financial instruments (Debt vs Equity)
In this video, expert tutor Tom Clendon examines the topic of 'Financial instruments (Debt vs Equity)' (YouTube)

Topic explainer video: Financial instruments (Financial assets)
In this video, expert tutor Tom Clendon examines the topic of 'Financial instruments (Financial assets)' (YouTube)

Topic explainer video: Share-based payments & deferred tax implications                                                                                           In this video, expert tutor Aleena Kareem examines the topic of 'Share-based payments, including deferred tax implications' (YouTube)

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Financial statements of groups of entities (D)

Business Combinations – IFRS 3 (Revised)
This article provides an introduction to IFRS® 3 and IAS® 27, including piecemeal acquisitions and disposals.

Impairment of goodwill
This article discusses and shows both ways of measuring goodwill following the acquisition of a subsidiary, and how each measurement of goodwill is subject to an impairment review.

Topic explainer video: Foreign operations and consolidated financial statements
In this video, expert tutor Aleena Kareem unpacks the topic of 'Foreign operations and consolidated financial statements' (YouTube)

Topic explainer video: Disposal of investments                                    In this video, expert tutor Aleena Kareem unpacks the topic of 'Disposal of investments' (YouTube)

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Interpret financial statements for different stakeholders (E)

Additional performance measures
For many years, regulators and standard-setters have debated how companies should best inform users about financial performance without misleading them.

Giving investors what they need
This article looks at how reporting capital structure is challenging, but markets are keen for the information.

Using the business model of a company to help analyse its performance
Understanding the business model of an entity is helpful in analysing and communicating the essence of a business, and for predicting the implications of a change in circumstance on a business.

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The impact of changes and potential changes in accounting regulation (F)

IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards
From September 2024, the SBR exam will test candidates on the IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards. Candidates will need to be able to use their knowledge of IFRS S1 and IFRS S2 to assess disclosures of climate-related risks and opportunities.

Climate change and IFRS Accounting Standards
The International Sustainability Standards Board has now issued its first IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards. These will help entities communicate material sustainability-related risks and opportunities that might affect its prospects. One of these standards, IFRS S2 Climate-related Disclosures, is specifically concerned with climate-related risks and opportunities.

Bin the clutter
The phenomenon of financial statement clutter is increasingly under discussion, with initiatives launched to combat it.

IAS 21 The Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates – does it need amending?
This article examines the issues raised by International Accounting Standards Board (IASB®) research that referred to a Korean Accounting Standards Board (KASB) study into whether IAS 21 The Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates needs amending.

The definition and disclosure of capital
This article is structured in two parts – first, it considers what might be included as the capital of a company and, second, why this distinction is important for the analysis of financial information.

The Sustainable Development Goals
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are 17 goals tackling major world issues agreed by 193 UN member states to be achieved by 2030. These goals include zero hunger, decent work and economic growth, and reduced inequalities.

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Technical articles on multiple syllabus sections

Crowdfunding and impairment of financial instruments
This article addresses the application of accounting principles in contemporary contexts (an exam technique issue) and the impairment of financial instruments (a technical knowledge issue).

Business combinations, share-based payments, and the accounting implications of a global pandemic or natural disaster
This article identifies the issues that candidates should take into account when deciding whether or not an investor has control over an investee. It also reflects upon how share-based payments should be accounted for when they are part of the purchase consideration for a subsidiary in a business combination. Finally, using a global pandemic as context, it provides guidance on the application of IFRS Accounting Standards to contemporary situations.

Asset ceiling test, initial coin offerings, non-GAAP, and non-financial performance measures
This article explains a complex area of the SBR syllabus, the asset ceiling test in IAS 19 Employee Benefits, and explains how many IFRS® Accounting Standards and principles might be relevant to an accounting issue for which there is no existing IFRS Accounting Standard (in this case Initial Coin Offering (ICO)). Finally, it examines some non-financial performance measures that have been reported in practice in a global digital entity.

Onerous lease contracts and impairments, and investor issues
This article addresses the technical matter of onerous lease contracts and their impairment and then considers two types of approach to SBR exam questions: (i) investors issues in SBR questions and (ii) the application of knowledge to SBR question scenarios.

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