COVID-19: Financial Reporting and Disclosures

Assessing the financial impact and required disclosures

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is spreading around the globe rapidly. The virus has taken its toll on not just human life, but businesses and financial markets too, the extent of which is currently indeterminate. Entities need to carefully consider the accounting implications of this situation.

While the outbreak has had an impact on almost all entities either directly or indirectly, some of the worst hit sectors are aviation, hospitality and retail with more and more sectors coming under its radar with widespread lockdowns being enforced across the world. The aviation industry is facing massive disruption with travel restrictions imposed by most jurisdictions. The hospitality sector has been impacted with low occupancy in business and holiday destinations having to close down entirely. Other affected sectors are automobiles, apparel, consumer durables, pharmaceuticals, leather goods, electronics and others where the supply chain is dependent on countries worst hit by COVID-19. Financial services have also been affected with the inability of borrowers to keep up with repayment schedules.

This article identifies key financial reporting areas that entities need to consider when determining the impact on their business, and on the results, financial position and disclosures in their financial statements. This is not an exhaustive list and there may be other areas not included in this article that entities should consider. The areas are not listed in order of importance.