Assess the extent to which images and imagery can be used to explore accounting

Accounting is referred to as the process of keeping track, identifying, measuring and communicating economic information, which in turn allows judgments and decisions to be made by the particular individuals who use the information. (Brooks, 2012) But having said that accounting was a process of keeping track and communication information, there were many ambiguities that existed and this was a time when accounting served as profession to many individuals all over the world. Therefore in the year 1971 the SSAP2 was introduced. The main aim behind introducing the SSAP2 was to provide a framework and bind it in the form of a specific set of rules. According to Samrat Pal (accountingstudy.org, 2012) the conceptual framework of accounting is itself divided into three different level an these three different levels are yet again divided into six other sub-sections; namely Objectives, Assumptions, Principles, Constraints, Primary qualities and Secondary Characteristics. Each of these particular sub sections are a result of years of research, contemplation, discernment and perspicacity. But however that is not the main aim of this particular paper. This specific essay dwells upon the fact as to how images and imagery were used in the field of accounting in order to postulate a more acceptable image to depict transparency. It has always been the aim in accountancy to create the image or aura of accounting in the sense of reality but this of course was not acceptable to researchers. In the due course of time some images were such that they facilitated in treating accounting more in terms of a historical record, albeit a lot of prominence was asserted upon the element of accuracy of the record being maintained with the postulation of recording the authentic exchange of procedures in an accurate and rational interpretation. (Morgan, 1988) Accounting was essentially perceived and reconnoitered by researchers as commercial dealings recorded with individuals and entities in and for the outside world. The main point is that when accounting as a whole is viewed from the angle of delivering a chronological or periodic record, a greater prominence is consigned to the fact that the record postulated is genuine and accurate and the information is consistent. This accounting system, which had been on from the Babylonian Empire, formed the first acceptable image of the commercial accounting system. On the contrary there were others like Tinker (1991, page 297) who believed that the prcised and succinct data that of a financial statement is merely a social edifice and is not in the realms of accuracy and realism, and on the other instance Solomons (1991, page 297) considered accountants to be nothing more than broadcasters who present the whole idea of accountancy faithfully and to the best or their ability. They try to present economics in the form of a reality, which makes way to the next image of accounting to be discussed in this paper. Economic reality forms the second image for financial accounting; scholars introduced this particular image in the initial part of this century, as a part of training in economics and what is extremely beneficial is that it demonstrates a strong sense of discipline. According to this particular image it is regarded that as a part of economic reality prices or values that exist today may not be the same or may change tomorrow or any definite point in the future and such

changes will bring about a change in the behavior of an enterprise and it is the binding duty of accountant/s to revaluate these values in the relevant financial statements and balance sheets in order to make sure that the information provided when required will reflect all the fiscal and bookkeeping changes that occurred in an organization over period of time. Along with that income or revenue is been seen as an element of change in terms of profit or lost or even wealth for that matter to a corporate over a period of time, which in normal terms is usually a period of twelve months. Bottom-line being that in this particular image of accounting the extents of economic values be it of assets or liabilities directly correlated to the amount of income received. But just like a coin there are always two sides to any image one being the constructive and the other being the adverse or in other words there are fortes as well as flaws of each image. On one hand the image of economic reality postulates that accounting is just based upon values and nothing else, as a result of which it inclines more towards overlooking the fact that there does exist a diverse set of users of accounting with their own diverse set of needs and uses which eventually affect the answerability and integrity of financial accounting. According to numerous stakeholders sentiments it can safely be alleged that accountants dont just epitomize economic reality but in its place under the impression of resourceful accounting in order to represent the furtherance of the company. Which is not very helpful, as it does not provide any current value information or resort to any form of frameworks or any form of finding out circumstances in which expenses might be miss-reported or revenue might not be properly recognized. The third image discussed in this particular paper confers into the fact that accounting is seen as an information system. Information is power and accounting systems image as an information system is overshadowing its previous images in the world at the moment. As an information system it has got basis for several different streams of methodologies as well as types of research for accounting. This particular image portrays accounting in the light of an information system, a system in its simplest form in which the role of information transmitter is assumed by the accountant, the roles of channel of communication and the receivers are assumed by external users and data is transferred through linking. (Davis et al, 1982) This particular image influences the accountant to get into the feel as to how the user would want the user to see, use and review the accounting information and design accordingly for the same. This image does tend to be a little knotty as considering that there are a lot of different types of users it is not humanely possible for the accountant to gratify all of them. According to Davis (1982) it was felt that accounting systems no longer needed to be vindicated in terms of their knack to generate true or factual income because many of its different users were able to find the information provided useful and hence as the result of that the utility of the system could be established. In terms of other images accounting could also be seen as an economics commodity, which was created due to the colossal demand for information tailor made to suite different needs and the accountants will have to supply in order to complete those demands. But on the other hand if accounting is deliberated with the image of a public commodity then it would need a special body, which would regulate and allocate the resources from time to time. Further more the accountants can also perform a cost benefit breakdown and provide more detailed analysis. Accountings image has the reflections of social conditions as well, at a any given point of time in future in a hypothetical situation based upon the levels of public interests accounting could be used as a tool to provide justifications to any policies or question or issues that need to be sorted out.

Lastly accounting may also be viewed as a basis for providing meaning to different occurrences as well as providing validations for imminent connections, or in order words this image tries to explore accounting by exhibiting the numbers that are provided by the accountants or bookkeepers are not just only figures but a concrete authentic creation of accounting that are issued in order to justify a precise verdict reserved. Therefore to conclude this particular essay I would like to state a few pointers in terms of the extent to which images have brought about a change in terms of viewing accounting. Firstly from the above-based images discussed through the paper it is evident that regulations and frameworks need to be more effectively and strictly enforced to provide a better understanding to the users. Secondly, as a result of these many new images that have come into the field of accounting, it has given the accounting field whole new fresh perspective though of familiar phenomena have ultimately helped by revealing many unexplored aspects of the financial accounting process. Finally even though there are no shortages of existing images in accounting but newer images, which allow the users to understand financial accounting, better will always be welcome but they have to be made sure that they are based upon proper frameworks that allow transparency in terms of flow of information and allow a diverse set of users to use and customize the data as and how they like.

Reference List

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