All financial statements are prepared in accordance with a financial reporting framework. The term financial reporting framework is defined as a set of criteria used to determine measurement, recognition, presentation, and disclosure of all material items appearing in the financial statements.
Examples of financial reporting frameworks are generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).
The Framework sets out the concepts that underlie the preparation and presentation of financial statements for external users.
The purpose of the Framework is to:
(a) assist preparers of financial statements in applying Accounting Standards and in dealing with topics that have yet to form the subject of an Accounting Standard;
(b) assist the Accounting Standards Board in the development of future Accounting Standards and in its review of existing Accounting Standards;
(c) assist the Accounting Standards Board in promoting harmonisation of regulations, accounting standards and procedures relating to the preparation and presentation of financial statements by providing a basis for reducing the number of alternative accounting treatments permitted by Accounting Standards;
(d) assist auditors in forming an opinion as to whether financial statements conform with Accounting Standards;
(e) assist users of financial statements in interpreting the information contained in financial statements prepared in conformity with Accounting Standards; and
(f) provide those who are interested in the work of the Accounting Standards Board with information about its approach to the formulation of Accounting Standards.
