4.9 Illiteracy
Before Lucas Pacioli, published his first book on double entry in 1494 there was hardly a system designed
specifically for training and research in accounting. This period of "Dark Age" culminated into absolute
ignorance and lack of statistical data towards early accounting development. Today, the situation is however
different only to the extent to which we appreciate the presence of science and information technology, (Mootze,
1983).
5. SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Under this section a summary is made and conclusions drawn, cumulating into specific recommendation.
5.1 Summary
Accounting unconsciously developed from socio-economic and political needs of the society by tracking down
the historical and current events in business and economics. The inherent problems of measurement, proportion,
recording and coincidence of wants eased out by the introduction of standard unit of measurement. The growth
in business that culminated into industrial revolution compelled accounting to move to another stage of
development called decomputis, or 'charge' and 'discharge' system of bookkeeping. This system however did not
facilitate the determination of profit because it lacks method of inventory valuation, cost ascertainment and
provision for depreciation. The emergence of double entry system was to minimize fraud, errors,
misappropriation and pilfering of assets. The system in most cases allowed equity owners to have confidence on
the works and reports of the stewards (management), who were entrusted with the capital assets of the owners.
The subsequent issues and development in accounting relates to the Generally Accepted Accounting principles
(GAAP), a period when owners entrust their resources to the management group for target objective. Auditing
and investigation however emerged to resolve conflict among users of financial statements. Users however, with
the exception of management, gain assurance on the financial statement when auditors certify that the accounts
have been prepared in line with the generally accepted accounting principles. Decisions by stakeholders on
investment, takeover, merger and acquisition were normally based on non-qualification of auditors' reports.
Finally today, accounting packages cum information technology and computing are readily available to ensure
timely production of financial reports at minimum cost, high speed and accuracy.
5.2 . Conclusion and Recommendation
Accounting like business and economics or any other system has experienced changes, modifications, updates
and improvement in recent years. Stagnation between 1400 to early 1990 was due to cultural, political and
ideological differences, government policies, and language and currency barriers. Others include lack of
statistical data, non-availability of research personnel and institutions, illiteracy and superiority complex among
academic and professional accountants. The situation is however, better off now than before because of the
introduction of regional grouping, international accounting standard committee, exposure draft and statement of
intent, including the availability of research institutes. These developments have made possible the universality
and comparability of financial statements regionally and internationally. The current pressures exacted on
contemporary accounting decisions were unresolved issues in accounting history. Individual interests, place,
time, and event, have significant influence in computing cost, revenue, expenses and even choice of depreciation.
Significantly, costs may mean different things to different people at different time and place. There are different
methods of providing for depreciation in which the choice will however have effect on the net profit. The
conflict resolution on current pressures exerted on contemporary accounting decisions includes consistency and
absolute adherence to the prescribed accounting standards and financial regulations. The pressure exerted on
contemporary accounting decisions is unified under a general pattern in which all financial records and reports
are presented and adopted. Audited financial reports, similarly gave strength to universal acceptability and less
biased though on the current pressures exerted on contemporary accounting decision.
It is recommended that implementation prescriptions of these theories by International Financial Reporting
Standard Committee and Practicing Accountants should be adhered to and simplified so as to avoid confusing
and scandalous reporting of financial statements.