What is the highest level of authoritative rules for state and local government accounting?

What Is the Hierarchy of GAAP?

The hierarchy of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) refers to a four-level framework that classifies the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) guidance on accounting practices and standards by their level of authority. Top-level guidance typically addresses broad accounting issues while those at a lower level deal with more technical issues.

Key Takeaways

• The GAAP hierarchy is a four-tiered framework for selecting the principles that accountants should use in preparing financial statements of nongovernmental entities.
• Because multiple organizations regulate separate parts of the accounting world, there was a need to identify the most relevant standards for various accounting topics.
• The hierarchy of GAAP identifies which standards and best practices are the most authoritative for a particular instance or problem.
• If no information on the topic is given at the higher levels, the accountant should look to the next level down for relevant pronouncements.

Understanding the Hierarchy of GAAP

With multiple regulatory bodies overseeing various parts of the accounting profession, there was a need to pinpoint the most relevant and authoritative guidance on accounting topics. Additionally, each regulatory body releases accounting guidance in multiple formats that have varying levels of authority. The hierarchy of GAAP is designed to improve consistency and comparability within financial reporting. It is a framework for selecting the principles that accountants should use in preparing financial statements of nongovernmental entities in conformity with U.S. GAAP.

Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB)

The FASB, formed in 1973, is an independent nonprofit organization that is responsible for establishing accounting and financial reporting standards for public and private companies and nonprofit organizations in the United States. This allows for more standardized reporting, enabling investors and other financial statement users to better compare the financial statements of multiple companies within a common sector or industry.

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

The SEC, created in 1934, is an independent federal government agency responsible for protecting investors, maintaining fair and orderly functioning of the securities markets, and facilitating capital formation. The SEC sets forth reporting standards and regulations for public companies.

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)

The AICPA, founded in 1887, is the non-profit professional organization that represents certified public accountants (CPAs) in the United States. Among other tasks, the AICPA develops standards for external audits of private companies.

Requirements for the Hierarchy of GAAP

There are four levels of the GAAP hierarchy. The top of the hierarchy is the most authoritative guidance. An accountant researching a given topic should consult first with the highest level for relevant advice. If no information on the topic is given at the higher levels, the accountant should look to the next level for relevant pronouncements.

1. At the top of the GAAP hierarchy are statements and interpretations by the FASB, rules and interpretive releases by the SEC (for all SEC registrants), and accounting research bulletins and opinions issued by the AICPA.
2. The second level consists of FASB Technical Bulletins and, if cleared by the FASB, the AICPA Industry Audit and Accounting Guides and Statements of Position.
3. On the third level are AICPA Accounting Standards Executive Committee Practice Bulletins, consensus positions of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF), and topics discussed in Appendix D of EITF Abstracts.
4. On the lowest level are FASB implementation guides, AICPA Accounting Interpretations, and AICPA Industry Audit and Accounting Guides and Statements of Position not cleared by the FASB. Also included on the lowest level are accounting practices that are widely recognized and commonly used, either in general or within a given industry.

The FASB's Statement of Accounting Standards No. 162 provides a detailed explanation of the hierarchy.

3.Award:10.00 points4.Award:10.00 pointsJones College, a public institution of higher education, must prepare financial statementsAs if the college was an enterprise fund.Following the same rules as state and local governments.According to GAAP.As if the college was a fiduciary fund.In the same manner as private colleges and universities.ReferencesMultiple ChoiceDifficulty: 2 MediumLearning Objective: 17-11 Understand the presentationof financial statements for a public college oruniversity.For the purpose of government-wide financial statements, the cost of cleaning up a government-owned landfill and closing thelandfillIs not recognized until the costs are actually incurred.Is accrued and amortized over the expected useful life of the landfill.Is accrued on a pro-rated basis each period based on how full the landfill is.Is accrued in full at the time the costs become estimable.Is treated as an encumbrance at the time it become estimable, and then as an expenditure when it is actually paid.ReferencesMultiple ChoiceDifficulty: 2 MediumLearning Objective: 17-05 Report leased assets for thegovernment as lessee and the government as lessor.

Which accounting rules should state and local governments follow?

Which of the following organizations provide authoritative resources for state and local governmental accounting and reporting?

What are the three broad sections of a state or local government CAFR?

Which organization has the authority to establish generally accepted accounting principles for state and local government entities?