Everyone must have heard about the term “cooking the books”. This term is generally associated with Creative accounting. In simple words, Creative accounting is a method of accounting in which the management tries to show a better picture of the business than the reality. Let us now understand thisRead more
Everyone must have heard about the term “cooking the books”. This term is generally associated with Creative accounting. In simple words, Creative accounting is a method of accounting in which the management tries to show a better picture of the business than the reality. Let us now understand this concept in detail.
What is Creative accounting?
Creative accounting is a method of accounting in which the management manipulates the books of accounts by finding loopholes to showcase a better image of the business.
It is a practice of using accounting loopholes to make a company’s financial position look better than it really is. It is not exactly illegal but it is more of a gray area.
For example, a business may delay reporting expenses to increase the profits to present a better short-term position.
The goal of creative accounting is to impress the shareholders, investors, get loans or boost stock prices.
However, this can also be very risky and have serious consequences. It can reduce the trust of the investors and customers. In some cases, like Enron and WorldCom the world has seen how creative accounting lead to legal consequences.
Common Techniques of Creative Accounting
Some of the common techniques used by the business to manipulate the financial position are as follows:
- Revenue Recognition: Techniques such as recognizing revenue before it is actually earned is a method of creative accounting.
- Expense manipulation: Delaying the recognition of expenses to show a better position of the business in a short-term.
- Undervaluing liabilities: Undervaluing the liabilities of the business by not recognizing any future costs such as insurance or warranty etc.
- Asset Valuation: Overstating the value of asses or high amount of depreciation can be some ways of manipulating the value of assets.
- Tax avoidance: This is a way of reducing the tax liability by manipulating the financial statements to lower the profits.
- Cookie jar accounting: This is a method in which profits in the good years are saved in excess to use in the years of difficulty.
Ethical implications of Creative Accounting
There are several ethical implications with respect to creative accounting. Some of these are discussed below:
- Misleading Stakeholders: Creative accounting is a method to mislead the stakeholders including the investors, creditors, government, etc. This can lead to loss of trust.
- Loss of trust: The shareholders will lose trust over the company if the manipulation is discovered. Creative accounting breaches the fundamental of honesty.
- Non – compliance: Creative accounting leads to the non-compliance of the rules and regulations of the country which requires the businesses to follow certain accounting and reporting standards.
- Unfair competition: Creative accounting can make a company look more profitable and stable than it actually is, misleading investors and customers. This can leave honest businesses, who follow the rules, at a disadvantage.
- Moral responsibility: Management and business has the moral responsibility of working in the best interest of the society and the stakeholders.
Conclusion
The key takeaways from the above discussion are as follows:
- Creative accounting is the practice of using accounting loopholes to make a company’s financial position look better than it really is.
- The goal of creative accounting is to impress the shareholders, and investors, get loans, or boost stock prices.
- Revenue recognition, expense manipulation, and asset valuation are some of the common techniques of Creative accounting.
- The ethical implications of creative accounting include misleading stakeholders, eroding trust, compromising regulatory compliance, promoting unfair competition, neglecting moral responsibility, etc.
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Definition Goodwill is an intangible asset that places an enterprise in an advantageous position due to which the enterprise is able to earn higher profits without extra effort. For example, if the enterprise has rendered good services to its customers, it will be satisfied with the quality of its sRead more
Definition
Goodwill is an intangible asset that places an enterprise in an advantageous position due to which the enterprise is able to earn higher profits without extra effort.
For example, if the enterprise has rendered good services to its customers, it will be satisfied with the quality of its services, which will bring them back to the enterprise.
Features
The value of goodwill is a subjective assessment of the valuer.
• It helps in earning higher profits.
• It is an intangible asset.
• It is an attractive force that brings in customers to the business.
• It has realizable value when the business is sold out.
Need for goodwill valuation
The need for the valuation of goodwill arises in the following circumstances :
• When there is a change in profit sharing ratio.
• When a new partner is admitted.
• When partner retires or dies.
• When a partnership firm is sold as a going concern.
• When two or more firms amalgamate.
Classification of goodwill
Goodwill is classified into two categories:
• Purchased goodwill
• Self-generated goodwill
Purchased goodwill :
Is that goodwill acquired by the firm for consideration whether paid or kind?
For example: when a business is purchased and purchase consideration is more than the value of net assets the difference amount is the value of purchase goodwill.
Self-generated goodwill
It is that goodwill that is not purchased for consideration but is earned by the management’s efforts.
It is an internally generated goodwill that arises from a number of factors ( such as favorable location, efficient management, good quality of products, etc ) that a running business possesses due to which it is able to earn higher profits.
Methods of valuation
1. Average profit method
2. Super profit method
3. Capitalization method
Average profit method: goodwill under the average profit method can be calculated either by :
• Simple average profit method or
• Weighted average profit method
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