

Then management decides to change accounting policy, so they need to go back and change all relevant information in the previous statements. It happens when the company has prepared the financial statement for several accounting periods. Retrospective accounting is the accounting concept in which any change in accounting policy will impact all prior financial statements. For example, company uses accounting estimates for allowance for bad debt, depreciation expense, and so on.īoth accounting policy and estimate can be changed due to the business operation as well as the situation. Any different between actual and estimate amount will be reflect in the next accounting period when company knows the exact amount. It is impossible or impractical to get the exact amount, so management uses the estimation for recording purposes. Accounting estimates the approximate amount that company record into financial statement. In addition, the company also use accounting estimate which bases on management judgment. They may decide to use FIFO for the inventory valuation and straight line for the depreciation method. Accounting policy is the management decision in practicing the accounting standard. The accounting standard may provide many options regarding inventory valuation, fixed assets depreciation method, and so on. The policy includes the measurement, accounting method, and disclosure procedures in the financial statements.

The company can design their own policy which complies with guidelines and fit with their business.Īccounting policy is the basic principle, arrangement, rule, and practice that the company uses as the guideline to prepare financial statements. International accounting standard (IFRS) allows the company to have a broad selection of accounting policies. Financial statements are prepared based on the company’s internal policy which is under the guideline of the accounting framework.
