The importance of corporate financial reporting has increased over the years. Accountants have developed standards that ensure the financial information issued by companies is rigorous and assists the users of the information in making decisions. Initially counties developed their own standards but the increase in world-wide trade demonstrated the need for an international approach to standard setting. This led to the establishment of International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and the issue of international accounting standards. Although accounting standards originally focused on financial information that would be of interest to investors in a company, there is an increasing interest in all corporate activities that shape the way we live. In this book we discuss the specific pressures and decisions that influences the changes in corporate reporting with emphasis given to the U.K., the United Sates and Islamic countries. We also discuss the impact of advances in technology on corporate reporting and we review the nature of information provided by companies to a wider audience than shareholders.

This title provides accountants and auditors with easy to follow and well structured guidance on the preparation of group accounts in line with UK GAAP. Group accounts must be prepared, by law, for medium-sized and large groups. Listed companies are required to prepare their accounts in line with International Financial Reporting Standards but larger unlisted companies can prepare their statements using UK GAAP. Groups are very common in the UK and are likely to become even more common when corporation tax rates increase in the future as there are various tax advantages to operating under a group structure. Group structures can vary (e.g. horizontal, vertical, hybrid, D-shaped|) and preparing financial accurate financial statements can be complex as a result. While there is a lot of guidance on producing accounts under IFRS, there is every little in evidence dealing with the UK GAAP rules. This title addresses this gap. The commentary identifies the differences between IFRS and UK GAAP in the treatment of group accounts. The differences between accounts produced pre and post Brexit are also covered. All commentary is supported throughout by the inclusion of worked practical examples based on the authors experience dealing with clients and running training courses.