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Achieving High Quality, Comparable Financial Reporting: A Review of Independent Enforcement Bodies in Australia and the United Kingdom

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  • PHILIP BROWN
  • ANN TARCA

Abstract

This article provides a review of the activities of two quite different types of national enforcement body, the U.K.'s Financial Reporting Review Panel (FRRP) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). We present material (some not available elsewhere) about their activities over the period 1998–2004 and show that both types of body can fulfil an enforcement role, albeit subject to political forces. We also assess the relevance of the bodies’ past activities for comparable international enforcement following the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in 2005. A review of cases reveals that for both bodies approximately half were related to recognition and measurement issues, where interpretation can be crucial. Although there is potential for cross‐country differences to arise, they may be mitigated by the participation of both bodies in international enforcement coordination activities. Past activities suggest that the scope of the bodies’ activities and the extent of comparability of enforcement decisions are likely to reflect political views held within the government, corporate sector and accounting profession.

Suggested Citation

  • Philip Brown & Ann Tarca, 2007. "Achieving High Quality, Comparable Financial Reporting: A Review of Independent Enforcement Bodies in Australia and the United Kingdom," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 43(4), pages 438-473, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:abacus:v:43:y:2007:i:4:p:438-473
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-6281.2007.00241.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Richard A. Posner, 1974. "Theories of Economic Regulation," Bell Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 5(2), pages 335-358, Autumn.
    2. Benston, George J. & Bromwich, Michael & Litan, Robert E. & Wagenhofer, Alfred, 2006. "Worldwide Financial Reporting: The Development and Future of Accounting Standards," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780195305838, Decembrie.
    3. Stuart McLeay, 1999. "Accounting Regulation in Europe," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Stuart McLeay (ed.), Accounting Regulation in Europe, chapter 13, pages 366-386, Palgrave Macmillan.
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    Cited by:

    1. Sylvain Chassang & Gerard Padro i Miquel, 2014. "Corruption, Intimidation, and Whistleblowing: A Theory of Inference from Unverifiable Reports," Working Papers 062-2014, Princeton University, Department of Economics, Econometric Research Program..
    2. Sylvain Chassang & Gerard Padró i Miquel, 2014. "Corruption, Intimidation, and Whistle-blowing: a Theory of Inference from Unverifiable Reports," NBER Working Papers 20315, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. John Preiato & Philip Brown & Ann Tarca, 2015. "A Comparison of Between-Country Measures of Legal Setting and Enforcement of Accounting Standards," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 42(1-2), pages 1-50, January.
    4. Larelle Chapple & Victoria J Clout & David Tan, 2014. "Corporate governance and securities class actions," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 39(4), pages 525-547, November.
    5. Christensen, Hans B. & Hail, Luzi & Leuz, Christian, 2013. "Mandatory IFRS reporting and changes in enforcement," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 56(2), pages 147-177.
    6. Philip Brown, 2011. "International Financial Reporting Standards: what are the benefits?," Accounting and Business Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 41(3), pages 269-285, August.
    7. Alexandros Garefalakis & Augustinos Dimitras, 2020. "Looking back and forging ahead: the weighting of ESG factors," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 294(1), pages 151-189, November.
    8. Cairns, David & Massoudi, Dianne & Taplin, Ross & Tarca, Ann, 2011. "IFRS fair value measurement and accounting policy choice in the United Kingdom and Australia," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 43(1), pages 1-21.
    9. Michael E. Bradbury & Tom Scott, 2021. "What accounting standards were the cause of enforcement actions following IFRS adoption?," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 61(S1), pages 2247-2268, April.
    10. Di Fabio, Costanza & Ramassa, Paola & Quagli, Alberto, 2021. "Income smoothing in European banks: The contrasting effects of monitoring mechanisms," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 43(C).
    11. Christensen, Hans B. & Liu, Lisa Yao & Maffett, Mark, 2020. "Proactive financial reporting enforcement and shareholder wealth," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(2).
    12. Millicent Chang & Andrew B. Jackson & Marvin Wee, 2018. "A review of research on regulation changes in the Asia‐Pacific region," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 58(3), pages 635-667, September.

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