Beyond the GAAP - the monthly newsletter on financial and sustainability reporting

Beyond the GAAP -September 2026 Issue

At its September meeting, the IASB completed its redeliberations on the revision of IAS 28 and made further progress on its statement of cash flows and amortised cost measurement projects.

Beyond the GAAP - July - August 2026 Issue

The autumn of 2026 begins with a packed IFRS agenda, featuring a number of major IASB initiatives: the withdrawal of the agenda decision on reverse factoring; a draft amendment to IFRS 18 on the presentation of certain tax expenses; the completion of the post-implementation review of IFRS 16; and preparations for the post-implementation review of IFRS 9 on hedge accounting. Aside from their technical...

Beyond the GAAP - June 2026 Issue

Since IFRS 18 was published in April 2024, preparations for its entry into force on 1 January 2027 have been gathering pace. The IASB has continued its work on clarifying certain points regarding application of the standard, as shown by its recent publication of targeted amendments to IAS 28 on the fair value option. However, many issues remain unresolved: the IFRS IC’s meeting agenda for this month...

Beyond the GAAP – May 2026 Issue

As we approach the half-yearly closing of accounts for 2026, Beyond the GAAP presents our traditional overview of the standards and interpretations published by the IASB, indicating where they are in the EU endorsement process. We highlight those texts that are now mandatory and those for which early application is permitted at this closing date.

Beyond the GAAP no. 209 – April 2026

This month, the IASB and IFRS IC have continued their work on supporting the implementation of IFRS 18 from 2027 onwards, signing off four new agenda decisions – including an eagerly-awaited decision on the presentation of a foreign exchange difference from an intragroup monetary liability (or asset).

Beyond the GAAP – March 2026 Issue

The IASB continues to update its accounting standards. Following the publication of IFRS 18 – Presentation and Disclosure in Financial Statements and IFRS 19 – Subsidiaries without Public Accountability, changes are coming for regulated activities with the publication, announced for the second quarter, of IFRS 20 – Regulatory Assets and Regulatory Liabilities.

Beyond the GAAP – February 2026

On 26 February 2026, exactly one year after the European Commission adopted its “Omnibus I” package of measures to simplify sustainability reporting requirements, the “Content” directive has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union. This directive amends the CSRD on sustainability information to be provided by companies and the CSDDD on due diligence. The EU member states now have...

Beyond the GAAP no. 206 – January 2026

This month, the IASB approved updates to six agenda decisions of the IFRS IC, a move made necessary by the application of IFRS 18 as of 1 January 2027, which will replace IAS 1. Regarding the Committee’s recommendation to withdraw the Agenda Decision “Supply Chain Financing Arrangements—Reverse Factoring”, the IASB decided to defer its decision, and will undertake targeted outreach to identify any...

Beyond the GAAP no. 205 – December 2025

This month, regulatory developments in the field of sustainability were marked by the final adoption, by the European co legislators, of a compromise text on the ‘Content’ Directive. This is part of the Omnibus I package, aimed at simplifying CSRD requirements on sustainability reporting and the CSDDD on due diligence.

Beyond the GAAP - November 2025 Issue

This month, sustainability reporting has been the focus of much of the news. On 3 December, after several months of intense work involving all stakeholders, EFRAG submitted its technical advice on the revised draft European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) to the European Commission (EC). The EC must now take this into account in order to produce a new delegated act on ESRS (“Set 2”), replacing...

Beyond the GAAP - October 2025 Issue

As we approach year-end 2025, Beyond the GAAP presents our traditional summary of the IASB texts in force at 31 December 2025, as well as an overview of ESMA’s priorities for this year’s closing of accounts. Given the uncertainties arising from the current economic and geopolitical environment, the regulator emphasises the need for transparent communication on significant judgements and estimates,...

Beyond the GAAP July-August 2026

Beyond the GAAP - May 2023 Issue

As the half-yearly reporting period draws to a close, Beyond the GAAP brings you the list of texts published by the IASB, including the IAS 12 amendments taking account of OECD's Pillar Two and the amendments to IAS 7 and IFRS 7 relating to supplier finance arrangements, both published this month. The list indicates whether these texts are mandatory or optional, depending on the progress of the European...

Beyond the GAAP - March 2023 Issue

With the first requirements of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) coming into effect from 1 January 2024, some questions have arisen in the short term regarding the content of the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) that companies must apply in this context. The European Commission (EC) has recently stated that it plans to reduce the reporting burden on companies...

Beyond the GAAP - February 2023 Issue

At its monthly meeting in February 2023, the IASB continued its discussions on the Financial Instruments with Characteristics of Equity project (FICE) and reached a number of tentative decisions, which we discuss in detail in this issue. Readers will recall that this project, based on a discussion paper published in June 2018, is intended to clarify the principles of IAS 32, to address the issues...

Beyond the GAAP - January 2023 Issue

With the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) coming into effect on 5 January 2023, EU countries can now begin the work of transposing it into national law. In practice, the member states have until 6 July 2024 to transpose the CSRD and to specify certain requirements of the new directive, which some large companies will have to apply from 1 January 2024.

Beyond the GAAP - December 2022 Issue

As 2022 gives way to 2023, the whole editorial team at Beyond the GAAP would like to wish you all the best for the coming year! While there will probably still be much to discuss on the accounting front, there is sure to be even more activity in terms of sustainability reporting, both at European and international level. In particular, the European Commission is expected to endorse the delegated acts...

Beyond the GAAP - November 2022 Issue

As 2022 year-end closing approaches, we present our traditional overview of the new standards and amendments applicable at 31 December. Once again, no major new standards have been published this year, but disclosures are required on the impact of standards issued by the IASB but not yet effective, particularly for insurers in view of the entry into force of IFRS 17 on 1 January 2023.

Beyond the GAAP - July - August 2022 Issue

The comment period for EFRAG’s public consultation on its first set of 13 draft European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRSs) closed on 8 August. EFRAG’s Sustainability Reporting Board, supported by its Technical Expert Group, now has to analyse the more than 750 responses received in order to submit the final version of its draft standards to the European Commission by next November. The EC...

Beyond the GAAP - September 2022 Issue

In September, the IASB issued amendments to IFRS 16 on leases to clarify the subsequent measurement of a lease liability arising from sale and leaseback transactions where the lease payments are variable and not dependent on an index or rate. As requested by stakeholders, the IASB has ultimately provided no clarification on how to measure the proportion of the seller-lessee's retained interest in...

Beyond the GAAP - October 2022 Issue

On 28 October, the EU’s financial markets regulator, ESMA, published its European Common Enforcement Priorities for the annual financial and non-financial reporting for 2022.

Beyond the GAAP - May 2022 Issue

As we approach the half-yearly closing of accounts, Beyond the GAAP presents a snapshot of the new standards and interpretations applicable from 1 January 2022 (both mandatory and optional). In addition to this overview, we bring you a summary of the ESMA recommendations published on 13 May. The European Securities and Markets Authority has identified the key issues to address in the interim financial...

Beyond the GAAP - June 2022 Issue

On 22 June, and after political negotiations, the European Council and Parliament reached a provisional agreement on a slightly revised version of the European Commission's initial proposal for a Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), published in April 2021. In this issue, Beyond the GAAP presents the highlights of this provisional agreement so far, bearing in mind that the final text...

Beyond the GAAP - April 2022 Issue

As reported in our previous issue, Turkey was recently added to the list of hyperinflationary economies. As a result, groups will need to apply IAS 29 to their Turkish operations for all financial periods that include 1 April 2022, notably the interim financial statements to 30 June. Beyond the GAAP provides a recap of this little-used standard, which can often prove complicated to apply.

Beyond the GAAP - March 2022 Issue

With the war in Ukraine raging for over a month now, it is time for companies to assess the impact of the crisis on their financial statements – though obviously, not all companies will have the same level of exposure. While market regulators and national authorities have already published statements drawing entities’ attention to their duty of transparency in disclosures, there are certain issues...

Beyond the GAAP - February 2022 Issue

While February 2022 has seen very little drama on the corporate reporting front, the current situation in Ukraine provides a stark and appalling contrast. Although the situation is changing rapidly, companies that close their accounts after 24 February must start thinking now about the impacts of these events and of the first sanctions imposed on Russia. For those whose reporting period ended before...

Beyond the GAAP - December 2021 Issue

As 2021 gives way to 2022, the Beyond the GAAP editorial team would like to wish you all the best for the coming year! We expect another busy year in terms of accounting news, with an obvious major development being the expected completion of the Primary Financial Statements project. However, the key focus of the year is likely to be the development of sustainability reporting standards.

Beyond the GAAP - November 2021 Issue

As 2021 approaches its close, we present our traditional year-end overview of the new standards and amendments applicable at 31 December. Once again, no major new standards have been published this year, but insurers should take note: the European Union has finally adopted IFRS 17 (with some tweaks) and it will come into effect from 1 January 2023. Early application is permitted.

Beyond the GAAP - June 2021 Issue

At the end of June, Hans Hoogervorst, Chair of the International Accounting Standards Board, has stepped down after a 10-year tenure. Andreas Barckow, who has previously served on several IFRS Foundation advisory bodies, has taken over for a first mandate as head of the IASB as of 1 July.

Beyond the GAAP - July August 2021 Issue

In mid-July, the European adoption process for IFRS 17 took a big step forward when the Accounting Regulatory Committee voted to endorse the new standard. EU endorsement is now expected in the fourth quarter of 2021.

Beyond the GAAP - October 2021 Issue

At the end of October, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) published its common priorities at European level for the 2021 reporting period.

Beyond the GAAP - September 2021 Issue

While many were waiting, sometimes apprehensively, for the IASB's (tentative) decision on the reintroduction of goodwill amortisation, the Board held off at its September meeting, asking the staff to conduct further research on the subsequent accounting for goodwill.