This course examines the main reasons for differences which exist in international accounting practice and explores the extent to which these differences can be eliminated with the move towards convergence of international accounting standards. The aim is to enable students to analyse the similarities and differences in accounting, reporting and regulation around the world, and to introduce the growing body of research into international accounting practices.

Weekly 2-hour synchronous seminar.  There will also be asynchronous material to complete.

ILO

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

The aim of this course is to provide students with an understand-ing of the nature of, and influences on, financial reporting practices in different countries. Emphasis is placed on the importance of a country's cultural, social, economic, legal and political environment, including its history, in determining the nature of the rules and regulations which govern its financial reporting practices.  The course also seeks to develop more general transferable skills such as team work, presentation skills, group report writing and critical thought and also to develop critical analysis through the study of relevant research papers and professional publications.

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

1)Critically evaluate the factors that have influenced the development of accounting systems of nation states.

2)Critically evaluate the harmonisation programmes of the IASB, the EU and the IASB's and FASB's convergence project.

3)Critically evaluate non-mandatory harmonisation programmes, such as the GRI, UN, OECD and ISSB.

4)Assess the impact of the adoption of IASs/IFRSs in different national contexts.

5)Work collaboratively in a group by liaising with others, allocating tasks and co-ordinating group meetings and communicating the combined results.

  None