FRS36 and post-transition compliance quality among Singapore firms

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to contemplate the degree to which Singaporean firms comply with the highly technical disclosure requirements required under International Accounting Standards (IAS) IAS 36 specific to goodwill impairment testing. Design/methodology/approach - The adoption of IAS in Singapore from 1 July 2004 introduced a highly technical standard (financial reporting standards - FRS 36) which has challenged many preparers. While it is generally accepted that accounting compliance may be suboptimal in transition periods as preparers accommodate change, it is assumed compliance quality improves with the passage of time. This study examines compliance of the largest 168 Singaporean goodwill-intensive firms over a three year period, 2005-2007, to interrogate compliance quality post-transition. Findings - The paper reports distinctly poor compliance systemically over the three years across many facets of goodwill impairment testing disclosures including cash-generating unit (CGU) definition and goodwill allocation, and key input variables used in estimating CGU recoverable amounts. Practical implications - The results raise questions about the quality of accounting information among goodwill-intensive firms in Singapore and the robustness of regulatory oversight institutions operating within Singapore. Originality/value - The paper illustrates a novel approach to examining the issue of accounting quality under IFRS by examining compliance quality through large sample time-series analysis focusing on note-form disclosures.