An Abstract of International Accounting Disclosure Standards

My thesis examines similarities and differences of disclosure standards from three different countries in three different areas from one multi-national corporation. 1995 financial statements from honeywell Incorporated, the United States parent company, and two Honeywell subsidiaries, one each located in the United Kingdom and Australia are examined for disclosure of accounting policies, accounting for contingencies and accounting for goodwill. Comparisons are given for the standards themselves, as well as the accounting policy chosen by each company. International Accounting Standards are also compared for the three disclosure areas. Comparability, especially for potential investors, is the main focus of harmonizing accounting disclosure standards internationally and my conclusion emphasizes the growing demand for improved comparability through the voluntary compliance with International Accounting Standards. A brief history of the International Accounting Standards Committee is also included