An examination of attitudes involving cash flow accounting: Implications for the content of cash flow statements

This research surveyed the attitudes of financial analysts, investment advisors, accounting professors and accountants (public and private) towards certain cash flow accounting (CFA) disclosures that extend beyond the requirements of the various international cash flow pronouncements discussed in this paper. In general, the financial analysts and investment advisors were significantly more receptive toward the role of CFA in external financial reporting than were the other two groups. Both the financial analysts and the investment advisors were supportive of the proposal for the disclosure of the accounting number “operating cash flow per share” in annual reports. The findings suggest that perhaps in the U.S., the SEC and the FASB should allow more latitude in the reporting of CFA and permit this disclosure. The results are also relevant on an international level to countries that are either reviewing their cash flow reporting requirements or involved in initial deliberations involving cash flow