Gaining a deeper understanding of organisational performance requires the most recent financial data available. One of the best methods to get the most up-to-date financial data is generating interim reports.

Many business owners don’t frequently make and examine their interim financial statements. This is disadvantageous because they are losing out on timely and crucial business insights and expansion opportunities.

What is Interim Reporting?

Interim reporting involves the disclosure of financial results for a duration of less than a fiscal year. Interim financial statements communicate a company’s performance before the end of the typical full-year financial reporting cycles. It gives investors access to current information in-between yearly reporting periods.

An interim financial report may be a full or condensed set of financial statements. Similar to the fiscal year reports, these financial statements act as a roadmap to show how the firm is doing throughout the year.

Accurate and timely interim reporting allows investors, creditors, and other parties to better comprehend an entity’s capability to generate earnings and assess its financial situation and liquidity.

Why Your Business Needs an Interim Report

Reviewing interim financial accounts reveals the company’s financial health and where adjustments may be made before problems arise. Disclosing areas where prospective revenue streams may be improved assists business owners in identifying and utilising growth prospects.

On several occasions, interim reports may be required to demonstrate that the company can afford to take on more debt or will profit from an investment. Examples of these situations include:

grant application
securing funding opportunity
merger and acquisition
operational restructuring
required for BOD oversight
financing and lending

Importance of Timely Interim Reporting

Timely Financial Information

Interim reports bridge the gap between annual reports, allowing stakeholders to stay updated on the company’s financial status.

Performance Evaluation

By comparing the current interim period with previous periods or industry benchmarks, stakeholders can assess trends, identify strengths and weaknesses, and make informed decisions based on the company’s financial progress.

Monitoring Changes

Interim data provide insights into fluctuations in asset values, changes in liabilities, and variations in equity. Monitoring these changes can help identify trends, assess the effectiveness of financial strategies, and highlight areas that require attention.

Regulatory Compliance

In many jurisdictions, publicly traded companies are required by regulatory bodies. Compliance with regulations is crucial to meet legal obligations and maintain good standing in the industry.

Risk Assessment

By analysing interim financial statements, stakeholders can identify potential risks, such as liquidity challenges, debt levels, or changes in market conditions. This information helps stakeholders make risk assessments and develop risk mitigation strategies.

Operational Decision-Making

Data provided by interim reports allow management to assess the financial impact of decisions. It also enables them to evaluate the effectiveness of strategies and make necessary adjustments to optimise operations.

External Stakeholder Confidence

Interim reports provide transparency and demonstrate the company’s commitment to financial reporting, strengthening relationships with external stakeholders.

Accounting Standard for Interim Financial Reporting

Interim financial reporting was developed into Accounting Standard AASB 134 by the Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB). AASB 134 Interim Financial Reporting incorporates IAS 34, which is issued and amended by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB).

The standard’s goals are to:

Establish the minimum requirements for an interim financial report’s content, and
Set the rules for asset recognition and cost accounting for interim reporting.

Covered Entities

AASB 134 does not specify which businesses are required to generate interim reports. It also does not provide how frequently interim financial reports must be published.

However, publicly traded companies are frequently required or encouraged to produce interim financial reports by governments, securities regulators, stock exchanges, and accounting bodies.

Particularly, publicly traded companies are urged to:

provide interim financial reports that follow the rules for recognition, measurement, and disclosure outlined in AASB 134;
to deliver interim financial reports as of the end of the first half of their fiscal year, at the very least; and
to make their interim financial reports public not later than 60 days following the conclusion of the interim period;

Disclosure Requirements

An entity may be compelled to or may choose to submit less information at interim dates than it does in its annual financial statements. They may do this to

meet deadlines
save money
avoid repeating information already reported

At the very least, an interim financial report must contain condensed financial statements and a limited number of explanatory comments. It must not repeat previously published information and instead concentrates on the latest activities, events, and circumstances.

Nothing in the standard restricts or prevents a company from including a full set of financial statements rather than condensed financial statements in its interim financial report. It neither forbids nor discourages an organisation from including any additional line items or explanatory notes beyond the minimal requirements.

Minimum Interim Financial Statements

An interim financial report shall include, at a minimum, the following components:
(a) Condensed statement of financial position
(b) Either (i) a condensed statement of comprehensive income or (ii) a condensed statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income
(c) Condensed statement of changes in equity
(d) Condensed statement of cash flows
(e) Selected explanatory notes

Periods to Be Covered by the Interim Financial Statements

Statement	Period Covered
Balance Sheet	as of the end of the current interim period
Statement of Comprehensive Income	current interim period and cumulatively for the current financial year to date
Statement of Changes in Equity	cumulatively for the current financial year to date
Statement of Cash Flows	cumulatively for the current financial year to date

Generate Interim Reports Without Hassle

Interim reports enable companies to have a better understanding of their company’s financial situation. But generating timely interim reports require standard expertise and a proper accounting system. This may be challenging for businesses with limited capacity.

Don’t let the complexity of financial statements and compliance burden you. Take advantage of our expertise at Pacific Accounting to streamline your interim financial reporting process and unlock valuable insights for your business’s success.

Contact Pacific Accounting at info@pacificaccounting.com.au and let us be your trusted partner in delivering accurate, compliant, and insightful financial reports.

The Importance of Interim Reporting (Infographic)