The International harmonisation process of Accounting Standards

Abstract: Background: Growth in international trade and capital flows has triggered a rising economic integration. Because of these developments there has been an international homogenising effect upon many customs, practices and institutions. In business life it led among other things to a desire to harmonise Accounting Standards among countries. Purpose: Our purpose is to answer the question: What is the international harmonisation process of Accounting Standards, what is its status quo and how important is the International Accounting Standard Board (IASB) in it? Realisation: In order to fulfil this purpose, we have chosen a descriptive approach, which is based on secondary data from textbooks, articles and homepages. Result: The international harmonisation of Accounting Standards is a process, which brings international Accounting Standards into some sort of agreement, in order to achieve a common set of principles, according to which financial statements from different countries are prepared. With the support of the IASB of the European Union (EU), 7000 European companies have to use International Accounting Standards (IAS) beginning 2005. Furthermore, the long existing rejection of IAS of the U.S. seems to change. Co-ordination of agendas of both standard-setting boards (IASB and Financial Accounting Standard Board (FASB) have been announced. We conclude, that the IASB plays a major role in the field of international harmonisation. This could be explained with achievements of the IASB, as for example the International Organisation of Security Commissions (IOSCO) Endorsement, EU regulation or the recent agreement of FASB and IASB to co-ordinate their work.