Exemplifying the Effect of Big Bath Accounting in the Pandemic

Abstract

Currently, the economic environment is significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The effects are visible in the area of accounting and financial reporting policies and practice as well. The aim of this article is to show how accounting estimates can be affected by the current macroeconomic context and the COVID-19 crisis. The discussion focuses especially on the area of accruals reported to cover the risk of uncollectable receivables, as addressed in IFRS 9 Financial Instruments. The example illustrates specific risks generated by the higher uncertainty in the economic environment caused by the COVID-19 crisis and by the customers’ issues with liquidity in these times. The overall conclusion is that financial statements related to the pandemic period have to be carefully reviewed as they are subject to accounting measurement estimates that could be significantly affected by discretionary professional judgment or by the lack of suficient guidelines provided by enforcement authorities.