A Major Controversy in the Issuance of Statement of Financial

question 30

Essay

A major controversy in the issuance of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.95¸ "Statement of Cash Flows," centered around the possibility of the Board's requiring the direct method of reporting operating cash flows.Bankers who responded to the Exposure Draft preceding the issuance of the pronouncement on cash flows expressed a preference for the direct method.Practicing CPAs have been shown in studies to favor the indirect method.The Board has allowed both the indirect and direct methods to be used,although the Board expressed a preference for the direct method.
Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the direct and indirect methods and why you believe the Board decided to allow preparers of financial statements a choice between the two methods.

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Definitions:

Ownership Structure

The way in which ownership rights and responsibilities are distributed among the various owners of a corporation, including shareholders and stakeholders.

Shares

represent units of ownership interest in a corporation or financial asset, providing shareholders with a claim on part of the company's assets and profits.

Non-Controlling Interest

An ownership interest in a subsidiary held by investors other than the parent company, reflecting their share of the equity and earnings of the subsidiary.

Consolidation Adjustments

Modifications made to combine the financial statements of parent and subsidiary companies into a single set of statements.