GAAP consolidation rules compliance and implications

In corporate finance, where the stakes are high and the margin for error is slim, meticulous accounting processes like generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) consolidation are indispensable. GAAP is an accounting framework that ensures transparent and reliable financial reporting. This post explores GAAP consolidation, focusing on its applications, core principles, and benefits for finance teams.

What GAAP consolidation means

What is GAAP in the United States?

GAAP is a set of accounting best practices and standards issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). These rules serve as a guide for how public companies in the United States should prepare and present their financial statements. Some private companies also voluntarily follow GAAP guidelines to improve the accuracy and transparency of their financial statements.

What is GAAP consolidation?

GAAP consolidation is when a parent company undertakes financial consolidation under the guidance of GAAP rules. Financial consolidation involves combining the financials of an organization's business arms and investments into a single financial statement. The primary aim of GAAP consolidation is to ensure a reliable and transparent approach to consolidation accounting.

Key principles of GAAP consolidation

GAAP promotes these 10 key principles:

1. Regularity: Finance teams must fully comply with all GAAP rules and regulations.
2. Consistency: Finance teams must apply the same standards throughout the reporting process.
3. Sincerity: Finance teams must embrace accurate and unbiased accounting.
4. Permanence of methods: Finance teams must take a consistent and comparable approach to financial documentation and reporting.
5. Non-compensation: Finance teams must report the highs and lows of a company's financials without expecting debt compensation.
6. Prudence: Finance teams must provide financial information that is grounded in facts and free from ambiguity. 
7. Continuity: When valuing assets, it is assumed that the company's activities will continue without interruption.
8. Periodicity: Income presentation must be distributed across defined accounting timeframes.
9. Materiality: Finance teams must ensure complete disclosure of all relevant financial information, with nothing withheld.
10. Utmost good faith: It is assumed that all parties involved are acting with complete honesty.

Why GAAP consolidation standards matter

Consolidation itself is critical to the success of parent companies as it provides a 360-degree view of an entity's economic performance, stability, and outlook. These insights allow both investors and stakeholders to make well-informed investment decisions. Other benefits include improved balance sheet accuracy, better parent company oversight, and enhanced financial data management.

By following GAAP standards, companies can ensure an entirely transparent and consistent consolidation process—effectively unlocking the maximum benefits of consolidation.

Scope of GAAP consolidation

What is ASC 810? 

Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 810 is a section in the FASB's accounting standard. It defines how a reporting entity should determine when it must consolidate another legal entity. This framework essentially outlines the rules for assessing control over business entities, making it a critical reference for GAAP consolidation.

When to consolidate according to GAAP

GAAP-compliant companies or reporting entities must consolidate any legal entities in which they maintain a controlling financial interest. There are two primary consolidation models based on how much control a parent company has over a particular legal entity. ASC 810 provides specific guidelines for consolidation under the Voting Interest Entity and the VIE Models.

Voting interest entity model

This model is used when a reporting entity controls a particular legal entity primarily due to its ownership of the majority voting interest. In other words, the reporting entity has complete authority over the financial and operational decisions of the target entity and can therefore consolidate it directly.

Variable interest entity (VIE) model

This model is used when a reporting entity has a variable interest in a variable interest entity (VIE). Variable interest is a business arrangement that exposes the reporting entity to the economic benefits and losses of the target legal entity.

In short, a variable interest entity doesn't have enough decision-making control to run its operations. VIEs can be further characterized by insufficient equity investment, non-substantive voting rights, limited obligation to absorb financial losses, and limited rights to receive residual returns.

If a reporting entity determines that it holds a variable interest in a VIE, the next step is to find the primary beneficiary of the VIE. 

Primary beneficiary

A primary beneficiary maintains a controlling interest in a VIE as a result of having:

1. The power to make decisions that could significantly impact the VIE's economic performance
2. The responsibility to absorb losses or receive significant benefits from the VIE

If it's determined that the reporting entity is the primary beneficiary, the entity must consolidate the VIE's financials. Conversely, if the reporting entity is not the primary beneficiary, it must not consolidate the VIE's financial statements.

Instead, the VIE's financials remain separate, but the reporting entity must still make appropriate disclosures in its consolidated financial statements about its involvement with the VIE. These disclosures can include the variable interest held and any associated risks and rewards related to the interest agreement. You can further explore consolidation in accounting by reviewing our comprehensive guide.

How GAAP compares with IFRS

GAAP consolidation rules are often compared to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Developed by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and used by various countries around the world, IFRS accounting rules emphasize credible and accountable financial reporting. Below, we explore the similarities and differences between GAAP and the IFRS in the U.S.

Similarities

• Both GAAP and IFRS require clear, transparent, and comparable consolidated financial statements
• Both frameworks require a reporting company to consolidate entities that it controls as a result of having a majority ownership of the voting rights
• Both frameworks allow the first-in, first-out (FIFO) and weighted average-cost accounting methods for valuing inventories

Differences

Outlined below is the key differences between GAAP and IFRS:

Approach 

GAAP is rules-based, meaning it provides specific guidelines for accounting practices. 

IFRS is principles-based and offers a broader framework without as many specific rules.

Inventory methods 

GAAP allows the use of the last-in, first-out (LIFO) inventory accounting method. 

IFRS does not allow the use of the LIFO method.

Jurisdictions

GAAP is FASB-issued and is used only in the United States.

IFRS is IASB-issued and is used by a variety of nations across Europe and Asia.

Reversal of earlier write-downs

GAAP doesn't allow entities to reverse earlier write-downs.

Under IFRS, a company is allowed to reverse the earlier write-down if the market value increases, essentially restoring the inventory value to its original level.

Classification of cash flows

Under GAAP, the cash flows related to interest income, interest expenses, and received dividends are considered part of the core operational activities of the company, while dividends paid are considered financing activities.

Under IFRS, entities have the option to classify all interest and dividends either as operating cash flows or as financing cash flows. 

Revaluation of assets

Under GAAP, the revaluation of assets is typically limited to marketable securities, such as investments and stocks. GAAP allows companies to update the carrying value of these assets to reflect their current fair market value, which can lead to changes in their book values.

Under IFRS, companies have the flexibility to adjust the carrying value of a more extensive set of assets based on their fair values, potentially impacting the financial statements.

The secret to transparent and reliable financial reporting

In short, GAAP consolidation helps ensure transparent, consistent, and accountable economic reporting. GAAP not only streamlines the finance departments of public entities but also ensures transparent financial reporting among compliant private firms. Moreover, GAAP-adherent entities can get a comprehensive understanding of their financial position, which, in turn, helps their investors and stakeholders to make well-informed decisions.

With the Anaplan Financial Close and Consolidation application, finance teams can better navigate the complexities of GAAP consolidation. Our products and services ensure that companies are guided by the right consolidation model when preparing their consolidated financial statements.