"Obligationenrecht" or Swiss Code of Obligations
The legal provisions on financial reporting as specified in Art. 957-963b OR (“Obligationenrecht” or Swiss Code of Obligations) have been in effect since 2015.
These now allow accounting and financial reporting to be performed in a company’s functional currency.
This act prescribes a minimum level of detail for the balance sheets and income statements of all entities concerned as well as an expansion of the minimum information content of the notes.
Valuations must be made prudently, without obstructing a reliable assessment of the financial situation. Hidden reserves continue to be acceptable.
Financial reporting for larger & listed companies
Financial reporting for larger entities subject to an ordinary audit also includes a cash flow statement, supplementary disclosures in the notes and a management report.
Recognized financial reporting standards have been included in the law for the first time. These comprise true and fair view standards such as Swiss GAAP FER, IFRS for small and medium-sized entities, IFRS, US GAAP and IPSAS.
Listed companies, cooperatives with more than 2000 members and foundations subject to an ordinary audit must also prepare their financial statements according to one of these standards.
Consolidated financial statements must be prepared if a company controls one or more entities. These are subject to the principles of proper financial reporting.
Only the consolidated financial statements of public limited companies, large cooperatives and foundations subject to an ordinary audit must be prepared in accordance with a true and fair view standard.
KPMG's financial reporting expertise
- Clarifying application-related issues
- Implementing the new financial reporting requirements
- Understanding the options and the room to maneuver each one offers
- Preparing cash flow statements and management reports for larger entities
- Preparing financial statements as per a recognized standard for large cooperatives and foundations
Related articles
- Revaluation of land and investments under CO (article in German)
- Share-based payments and Circular no. 37A (article in German)
- Hedge Accounting in accounting according to Swiss Code of Obligations (article in German)
- Recognizing ICOs with Utility Tokens in financial statements under CO (article in German)
- Depicting cash flow hedges under the accounting principles of the Swiss Code of Obligations (article in German)
