Whilst previous blogs from us may have looked at the arguments for applying IFRS 16 with a purpose developed software tool and without spreadsheets, here we will analyse, critique and review the arguments against the utilisation of just spreadsheets for such a business critical task – a task which should encompass transition to, and ongoing compliance with IFRS 16, audit trail of lease classification and updates and as importantly lease portfolio management.

IFRS 16 - A quick recap: Whether leasing real estate or more mobile assets there are changes in the way a business will account for its leases under the new accounting standards IFRS 16/ASC 842 which are required to be implemented by your business in time for accounting periods beginning on or after 1st January 2019. 

IFRS 16 specifies how a business reporting under IFRS will recognise, measure, present and disclose leases in its financial statements. The standard provides a single lessee accounting model, requiring lessees to recognise assets and liabilities for almost all leases.

Every business will have been aware of the introduction of IFRS 16 for accounting periods beginning on or after January 1st, 2019, even if that deadline does not necessarily apply to them as a Public Sector entity or SME.

This article discusses the public sector adoption of the new lease accounting standard - IFRS 16. It aims to explore some of the more prominent implementation challenges and considerations facing UK public sector bodies. 

The introduction of the new lease accounting standard – IFRS 16 Leases – issued by The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) will require lessees to account for their leases under a single accounting treatment, bringing almost all leases on balance sheet, recognising a right of use asset and an associated liability.

This article looks to explore what impact the introduction of the new lease accounting standards may have on the way businesses view, evaluate and consider leasing, as well as examining how business leasing strategies might be affected.

Following years of debate, the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) issued the new IFRS 16 standard for the treatment of leases.

2019 is the first accounting period for which the new lease accounting standards must be applied - do not let things drift but instead satisfy yourself that the following areas have been understood and addressed.

For as long as businesses have been “renting” assets, investors, credit-rating agencies, and analysts have had to assess the effect and impact that operating lease commitments might have on a company’s future performance by using difficult to calculate estimates based on entries in the Notes to the financial statements rather than the P&L or Balance Sheet.