The Statement of Cash Flows Turns 30

Common Reporting Deficiencies and Recent Changes

James Schmutte, DBA, CPA, and James R. Duncan, PhD, CPA

This past year marked the 30th anniversary of the statement of cash flows as a required financial statement. FASB's efforts in developing the then-new standard were heavily influenced by the objectives and concepts set forth in Statement of Financial Accounting Concepts (SFAC) 1, Objectives of Financial Reporting by Business Enterprises, and SFAC 5, Recognition and Measurement in Financial Statements of Business Enterprises. Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) 95, Statement of Cash Flows, intended to overcome the questioned usefulness of the previously required statement of changes in financial position and the inconsistences in preparers' definition of “funds.” SFAS 95, as amended, is now incorporated in Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 230, “Statement of Cash Flows.”