Translation of Foreign Currency in Financial Statements
And
Preparation of Journal Entries
This week’s focus is on the translation of foreign currency financial statements for the purpose of
preparing consolidated financials and also posting journal entries.
When preparing consol...
Translation of Foreign Currency in Financial Statements
And
Preparation of Journal Entries
This week’s focus is on the translation of foreign currency financial statements for the purpose of
preparing consolidated financials and also posting journal entries.
When preparing consolidated financial statements on a worldwide basis, the foreign currency financial
statements prepared by foreign operations must be translated into the parent company’s reporting
currency.
Issues related to this translation:
1. Which method should be used, and
2. Where should the resulting translation adjustment be reported in the consolidated financial
statements.
Translation methods differ on the basis of which accounts are translated at the current exchange rate
and which are translated at historical rates. Accounts translated at the current exchange rate are
exposed to translation adjustment (balance sheet exposure).
Different translation methods give rise to different concepts of balance sheet exposure and translation
adjustments of differing sign and magnitude.
There are four major methods of translating foreign currency financial statements:
1. current/noncurrent method
2. monetary/non-monetary method
3. temporal method
4. current rate
We will be focusing on the temporal and current rate methods.
CURRENT RATE METHOD
All assets and liabilities are translated at the current exchange rate giving rise to a balance sheet
exposure equal to the foreign subsidiary’s net assets. Stockholders’ equity accounts are translated at
historical exchange rates. Income statement items are translated at the average exchange rate for the
current period.
Appreciation of the foreign currency results in a positive translation adjustment
Depreciation of the foreign currency results in a negative translation adjustment
Translating all assets and liabilities at the current exchange rate maintains the relationships that exist in
the foreign currency financial statements.
Translating assets carried at historical cost at the current exchange rate results in amounts being
reported on the parent’s consolidated balance sheet that have no economic meaning.
TEMPORAL METHOD
A method of foreign currency translation that uses exchange rates based on the time assets and
liabilities are acquired or incurred. The exchange rate used also depends on the method of valuation
that is used. Assets and liabilities valued at current costs use the current exchange rate and those that
use historical exchange rates are valued at historical costs. Source: INVESTOPEDIA
With the temporal method assets are carried at current or future value (cash, marketable securities,
receivables) and liabilities are re-measured at the current exchange rate.
Assets carried at historical cost and stockholders’ equity accounts are re-measured at historical
exchange rates.
Expenses related to assets re ...