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Nov 24, 2024

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ACC706: Accounting Theory & Practice Semester 2 – 2023 Tutorial 7 1. Explain the key characteristics of Defined Contribution Plans, where the employer's contribution is set as a specified amount or percentage of salary, and the employee's final payout depends on factors such as investment earnings. Describe the accounting issue associated with these plans, including the employer's commitment and liability. Provide examples to illustrate your explanation. Characteristics: retirement savings schemes where the employer's contribution is fixed at a specified amount or percentage of the employee's salary. final payout an employee receives upon retirement is not predetermined but depends on factors such as the earnings generated by the contributions and investments made within the plan. the employer does not guarantee a specific retirement benefit to the employee but commits to contributing a set amount to the plan. Accounting Issue: The accounting issue associated with Defined Contribution Plans arises from the employer's commitment and liability. Here are the key points: Limited Employer Commitment : In a Defined Contribution Plan, the employer's commitment is restricted to the amount of the agreed contributions. For example, if an employer agrees to contribute 10 percent of an employee's current salary to a retirement fund, the commitment is limited to this percentage. Expense Recognition : The actual contribution made by the employer is recognized as an expense in the company's financial statements. This expense is typically recorded in the income statement and reflects the cost of providing retirement benefits to employees. Liability Limited to Unpaid Amount : The associated liability on the employer's balance sheet is limited to the amount of the obligation that is unpaid as of the end of the financial year. This means that if the employer has not yet made the full 10 percent contribution for the year, the unpaid portion is recorded as a liability. Example: Suppose Company XYZ has an agreement with its employees to contribute 10 percent of their current annual salary to a Defined Contribution Plan. In a given year, an employee earns a salary of $50,000, and the company contributes $5,000 (10 percent of the salary) to the retirement fund. At the end of the year, if the company has only made a contribution of $4,000, the remaining $1,000 would be recognized as a liability on the company's balance sheet until it is paid.
2. ABC Corporation operates a defined contribution superannuation plan for its employees. In the first year of the plan's operation, ABC Corporation contributes 8 percent of its employees' annual salaries to a superannuation fund, which is managed by an external trustee. The salaries and corresponding contributions for the two employees are as follows: John's annual salary is $90,000, and Sarah's annual salary is $110,000. Required: Provide the necessary accounting entries to recognize ABC Corporation's superannuation obligation for the year. 3. Explain the key characteristics and accounting issues associated with Defined Benefit Plans in superannuation, highlighting the complexities arising from the employer's risk. In contrast, describe how Defined Benefit Plans differ from Defined Contribution Plans, focusing on the determination of retirement benefits and the associated financial risks. Provide examples or scenarios to illustrate these differences. Defined Benefit Plans are retirement savings schemes where the benefits to be paid to employees at their normal retirement age are specified or determined, at least in part, by factors such as years of membership and salary levels.
The accounting issues associated with Defined Benefit Plans are more complex than those associated with Defined Contribution Plans. Here are the key points: Complex Accounting : Defined Benefit Plans require complex accounting due to the uncertainties and estimation involved. The employer bears the risk of ensuring that the promised benefits will be met. For example, if an employer commits to providing a pension of 40 percent of the employee's final salary after they reach the age of 60, there are several estimations that need to be made. Estimations : To determine the amount to contribute to the fund and meet the obligation, estimations must be made regarding: Projected final salary of the employee. Earnings rates of the fund over the years. Costs associated with managing the fund. The probability that the employee will stay with the organization until retirement. Employer Risk: In Defined Benefit Plans, the employer effectively bears the risk associated with the earnings of the fund. This is because the employer has committed to paying a set amount (the defined benefit) to the employee upon retirement, either as a lump sum or as a pension. If the fund's investments underperform or if the employee lives longer than expected, it is the employer's responsibility to cover the shortfall Contrast with Defined Contribution Plans: Defined Contribution Plans differ significantly from Defined Benefit Plans: Determination of Retirement Benefits : In Defined Contribution Plans, the employer contributes a fixed amount to the employee's retirement account. The final retirement benefit depends on how much the plan has earned through investments and contributions over time. There are no predetermined benefits based on salary or years of service. Risk Allocation : In Defined Contribution Plans, the employee bears the investment risk. The retirement benefit depends on the performance of the investments chosen by the employee and the employer's contributions. If the investments perform well, the employee may have a larger retirement fund; if not, the fund may be smaller. Example: Consider two employees, one in a Defined Benefit Plan and another in a Defined Contribution Plan: In a Defined Benefit Plan, Employee A is promised a pension of 40 percent of their final salary. The employer is responsible for ensuring this benefit, even if investment returns are low. In a Defined Contribution Plan, Employee B receives a fixed contribution from the employer, say 10 percent of their salary. The final retirement benefit depends on how well these contributions have grown through investments.
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4. Discuss the concept of accrued benefits in employee provisions and the potential risks employees face when companies encounter financial difficulties. Highlight the limitations of accruals in ensuring payment to employees. Accrued Benefits and Employee Claims: Accrued benefits in the context of employee provisions refer to the obligations a company has to its employees for services rendered but not yet paid. These obligations are recognized on the company's financial statements as accruals, even though no cash movement has occurred. The creation or increase in the size of employee benefit provisions does not involve any actual cash transactions. However, it's essential to understand that making an accrual does not guarantee that there will be sufficient cash reserves available to pay employees their accrued entitlements if the employer organization becomes insolvent. Companies can have substantial amounts in provisions accounts on paper, but in reality, they may have no cash reserves. When a firm faces financial difficulties, the payment for employee services can become doubtful. Employee Risks during Financial Difficulties: Employees do have some preferential access to payment when a company encounters financial difficulties. Still, the existence of secured creditors, those with claims to specific assets due to contractual arrangements, can affect the available assets for employees. Regardless of their ranking among claimants, employees will receive payment only to the extent that the organization has assets available to meet the claims, and assets may not always be available. 5. To address the risks faced by employees during corporate collapses, there have been calls for the establishment of central funds or protection schemes. Identify and discuss the various forms of protection schemes that can safeguard employee entitlements. Government-Backed Compulsory Insurance: In some countries, the government mandates that companies purchase insurance to cover employee entitlements. In the event of insolvency, the insurance fund ensures that employees receive their due payments. Compulsory Trusts: Employers may be required to contribute to a trust fund, managed independently, specifically dedicated to safeguarding employee entitlements. These trusts can act as a safety net in case of financial difficulties.
Government Intervention: Governments can play a crucial role in protecting employee claims by stepping in during corporate collapses. They may provide financial support or guarantees to ensure that employees receive their accrued benefits. THE END