Miles CMA Review: 2018 Updates

Summary of updates:
- Part 1, Section A - FASB Pronouncements on Subsequent
Measure of Inventory (eligible for testing January 2018)
- Part 1, Section A - Statement of Cash Flows: US GAAP vs. IFRS

- Part 2, Section F - Updated IMA Professional Ethics Statement

Part 1, Section A - FASB Update on Inventory (tested from Jan 2018)
VI C) Inventory Valuation – LCM or LCNRV
 Under US GAAP, Inventory is valued at:
 Lower of Cost or Market (LCM) - if LIFO or retail inventory method,
 Lower of Cost or NRV (LCNRV) - if methods other than LIFO or retail inventory method (e.g.,
FIFO, average cost)
where
 Cost = Original cost measured by one of the inventory costing methods like FIFO, Average Cost, LIFO,
Retail Inventory method
 NRV (Net Realizable Value) = Net selling price - Cost to complete & dispose
 Market = Middle of the following 3 numbers:
 Ceiling = NRV
 Floor = NRV - normal profit margin
 Replacement cost = Cost to purchase or reproduce (which could be more than the ceiling, between
the floor and the ceiling or less than the floor)

Note:

- FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2015-11 simplifying the measurement of inventories by
replacing “Lower of Cost or Market” test with a “Lower of Cost or NRV” test. However, the new
guidance applies only to inventories for which cost is determined by methods other than LIFO and
retail inventory method - i.e., entities using LIFO or retail inventory methods continue with “Lower
of Cost or Market” [IFRS always required “Lower of Cost or NRV”]
 The Board released the new guidance as part of its simplification initiative, which, as
explained in the ASU, is intended to “identify, evaluate, and improve areas of US GAAP for
which cost and complexity can be reduced while maintaining or improving the usefulness
of the information provided to the users of financial statements”
 Effective Dec 15, 2016, for public companies, and Dec 15, 2017, for non-public companies
- Earlier: US GAAP required “Lower of Cost or Market” for all methods

 LCNRV / LCM is based on the principles of Conservatism & Matching

 If NRV < Cost (or Market < Cost for LIFO/retail methods), recognize loss immediately on I/S:
Loss on Inventory due to decline in NRV (Market price for LIFO/retail methods) XXX
Inventory XXX
 On inventory write-off, new cost basis of the inventory is created; even if NRV (or Market price)
increases subsequently, reversal of write-down is not allowed (recovery only on sale of goods)
 In case of rising costs, inventory would generally be valued at Cost while in case of falling costs, inventory
would tend to be valued at NRV (or Market)
 Exceptions to the LCNRV / LCM rule:
 Sale price of goods not affected by market value (value at cost)
 Company has a firm sales price contract (value at cost)
  Precious metals & farm products (value at NRV even if higher than cost, but fully disclose in F/S)
 Under IFRS, inventories are always valued at LCNRV - Lower of Cost or Net Realizable Value
 Note: Same calculation for US GAAP if other than LIFO & retail inventory method
 Exception for biological assets (living plants & animals) which are carried at NRV; agricultural produce
is carried at fair value less costs to sell at point of harvest
 Further, IFRS allows reversal of previously recognized write-downs of inventory (similarly, IFRS also
allows reversal of fixed asset impairment - to be covered in Fixed Assets section)

Example for Inventory Valuation:

Part 1:

LCM Co. determines that as of 12/31/2010 the replacement cost of its inventory is $100,000. Estimated selling price
is $140,000 which includes selling expenses of $20,000 and a normal profit margin of $30,000. Cost of inventory is
calculated to be $110,000 (assume same cost under both LIFO and FIFO). Calculate the value of inventory as of
12/31/2010 under LIFO and FIFO methods (both under US GAAP).

Part 2:

If replacement cost is re-calculated to be $80,000, what would be the new value of inventory

Solution - Part 1 of 2:

INVENTORY @COST INVENTORY @MARKET

$110,000 Ceiling (NRV) = $140,000 - $20,000 = $120,000

Floor (NRV - profit) = $120,000 - $30,000 = $90,000

Replacement = $100,000

US GAAP - LIFO:

Market (Middle of the 3) = Replacement cost of $100,000

 Lower of Cost ($110,000) or Market ($100,000) = $100,000

US GAAP - FIFO (same calculation for IFRS):

NRV = $120,000

 Lower of Cost ($110,000) or NRV ($120,000) = $110,000

Solution - Part 2 of 2:

INVENTORY @COST INVENTORY @MARKET

$110,000 Ceiling (NRV) = $140,000 - $20,000 = $120,000

Part 1, Section A – Cash Flows (US GAAP vs. IFRS)
IV) Statement of Cash Flows

 IFRS allows more flexibility in classifying cash flows related to interest, dividends, and income taxes
 IFRS classifies taxes paid as Operating, but allows allocation to Investing or Financing for portions
specifically identified with investing and financing activities
 Interest or Dividends “received” may be Operating or Investing
 Interest or Dividends “paid” may be Operating or Financing

Transaction US GAAP Classification IFRS Classification

Taxes Paid Operating Operating, Investing or Financing
Interest Received Operating Operating or Investing
Interest Paid Operating Operating or Financing
Dividends Received Operating Operating or Investing
Dividends Paid Financing Operating or Financing
Part 2 – Section F [Introduction to Professional Ethics]

 IMA updated its Professional Ethics Statement, effective July 1, 2017

 Key changes noted:
 One element shifted from Competence standard to the Credibility standard
 Addition of a new element to the Integrity standard
 Overall “softening” of what were once very detailed steps to take when resolving conflict
 Replace content on Pf F-4 and F-7 by the revised content on following two pages
 IMA’s four standards of ethical conduct - Based on the application of the four principles. An IMA
member's failure to comply with ethical standards may result in disciplinary action
 Competence - The rules in accounting are as diverse as they are dynamic. Keeping up to date with
changes in regulations and the adoption of new laws and standards in the industry is essential. Failing
to do so may unknowingly lead to unethical behavior. Each member has a responsibility to:
 Maintain an appropriate level of professional leadership and expertise by enhancing knowledge
and skills
 Perform professional duties in accordance with relevant laws, regulations, and technical
standards.
 Provide decision support information and recommendations that are accurate, clear, concise,
and timely. Recognize and help manage risk
 Confidentiality - While the confidentiality standard is fairly straightforward, today’s technological
advances may actually hinder management accountants from following it as diligently as they must.
Not only should paper & electronic documents be properly secured, but all conversations, especially
those on cell phones, should be conducted only in a private setting and never in public locations like
airports & cafes. Each member has a responsibility to:
 Keep information confidential except when disclosure is authorized or legally required
 Inform all relevant parties regarding appropriate use of confidential information. Monitor to
ensure compliance
 Refrain from using confidential information for unethical or illegal advantage
 Integrity - Integrity includes the responsibility to communicate both the good and the bad, whether it
is news, analysis, judgment or professional opinion. Each member has a responsibility to:
 Mitigate actual conflicts of interest. Regularly communicate with business associates to avoid
apparent conflicts of interest. Advise all parties of any potential conflicts of interest
 Refrain from engaging in any conduct that would prejudice carrying out duties ethically
 Abstain from engaging in or supporting any activity that might discredit the profession
 Contribute to a positive ethical culture and place integrity of the profession above personal
interests
 Credibility - Credibility ties in closely with competence. In order to be credible, an individual must be
competent. Underlying credibility is the management accountant’s duty to plan ahead and assess
potential risks, gather enough information to be fully informed about all relevant facts and
communicate unfavorable news promptly. Each member has a responsibility to:
 Communicate information fairly and objectively
 Provide all relevant information that could reasonably be expected to influence an intended
user’s understanding of the reports, analyses, or recommendations
 Report any delays or deficiencies in information, timeliness, processing, or internal controls in
conformance with organization policy and/or applicable law
 Communicate professional limitations or other constraints that would preclude responsible
judgment or successful performance of an activity
 Resolution of Ethical Conflict -
 In applying the Standards of Ethical Professional Practice, the member may encounter unethical issues
or behavior. In these situations, the member should not ignore them, but rather should actively seek
resolution of the issue. In determining which steps to follow, the member should consider all risks
involved and whether protections exist against retaliation
 When faced with unethical issues, the member should follow the established policies of his or her
organization, including use of an anonymous reporting system if available
 If the organization does not have established policies, the member should consider the following
courses of action:
 The resolution process could include a discussion with the member’s immediate supervisor. If the
supervisor appears to be involved, the issue could be presented to the next level of management
 IMA offers an anonymous helpline that the member may call to request how key elements of the
IMA Statement of Ethical Professional Practice could be applied to the ethical issue
 The member should consider consulting his or her own attorney to learn of any legal obligations,
rights, and risks concerning the issue
 If resolution efforts are not successful, the member may wish to consider disassociating from the
organization