Financial reporting is traditionally external.
It is concerned with collating and providing information to external stakeholders, the financial markets and the public.
Contrasted with management accounting, which provides information for internal stakeholders.
The term 'financial reporting' is also used by some organisations in a broader sense, to include internal reporting (as well as external).
Financial reporting is also known as financial accounting.
- The objective of financial reporting (IFRS)
- The users of financial information need to assess:
- Prospects for future net cash inflows to the reporting entity; and
- Management's stewardship of the entity's economic resources.
- Accordingly, financial reporting seeks to provide information about:
- The entity's economic resources (assets), claims against the entity (liabilities) and changes in those resources and claims; and
- How efficiently and effectively management has discharged its responsibilities to use the entity's economic resources.