Abstract
Accounting information presented in financial statements is likened to a set of symbols. These symbols are expected to represent certain realities, which are called semantic meanings. One of the symbols presented in the financial statements is profit. As a communication medium, the presentation of profits must be interpreted exactly the same as the intended meaning, so that accounting information becomes unbiased. The purpose of this study is to reveal the understanding of the concept of profit based on semantic meaning from the point of view of the accounting accountant. This study uses an interpretive qualitative approach. Data were obtained from structured interviews with informants, namely educator accountants in Indonesia with “mainstream and anti-mainstream” schools of thought. The results of the study reveal that the tendency has been a shift in thinking from educator accountants that originated from idealism to being pragmatic. The meaning of profit at the semantic level is not only materially interpreted. Although profit is used as an indicator of the success of the company, profit is interpreted as a representation of changes in the company’s economic reality. That, the meaning of profit reflects the company’s efforts to improve its economic capacity and its usefulness to the wider community. In other words, that profit is an economic information instrument that is expected to provide value-added to its users.
Highlights
Accounting products are financial statements that are expected to communicate as well as provide a benchmark for the success of the company
This study focuses on the understanding of the meaning of profit at the semantic level, which is intended to obtain an understanding of the reality of meaning represented in the profit symbol
Triyuwono cator of performance achievement, profit is seen (2006) states that humans have subjectivity, if the to be able to capture various financial phenomena, subjectivity is integrated in the process of scien- namely various events or transactions that can be tific construction, the resulting science will measured with units of money and presented in necessarily be full of value
Summary
Accounting products are financial statements that are expected to communicate as well as provide a benchmark for the success of the company. Accounting information presented therein is likened to a set of symbols. These symbols are expected to represent certain realities, which are called semantic meanings. Triyuwono (2003) states that through symbols, accounting has affected the environment. One of the symbols presented in the financial statements is profit. The presentation of profits must be interpreted exactly as the intended meaning. The presentation of profits must be able to represent the reality, so that the accounting information presented becomes unbiased
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
