The requirement that a company keep proper books of account is contained in Section 282 of the Companies Act 2014, which states that every company shall cause to be kept adequate accounting records, whether in the form of documents or otherwise that:
Section 282 of the Companies Act 2014 requires the accounting records to contain:
Adequate accounting records are deemed to be maintained if they comply with Section 283 of the Companies Act 2014 and explain the company’s transactions and facilitate the preparation of financial statements that give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of the company.
In any case where there has been a breach of Sections 281 to 285 of the Companies Act 2014, the statutory auditor is, not later than seven days after notice is served on the company, required to notify the Registrar using a Form H4. The Registrar then informs the Corporate Enforcement Authority.
Currency in which internal bookkeeping records ought to be maintained.
In order to comply with Section 282 of the Companies Act 2014, internal books of account should be maintained in a currency which will enable the financial position of the company to be determined with reasonable accuracy, and an audit to be carried out without difficulty.
Currency in which formal company accounts ought to be maintained.
Formal company accounts which are prepared in a currency which has legal effect as at the date on which the financial year ends are accepted for filing by the CRO.
Formal company financial statements include the following:
Annual financial statements: The requirement to prepare annual financial statements is contained in Section 290 of the Companies Act 2014. A balance sheet, a profit and loss account and any other additional statements and information required by the financial reporting framework adopted in relation to the company are required to be prepared once at least in every financial year. The format of the balance sheet and profit and loss account is laid down in Sections 291 and 292 of the Companies Act 2014 prescribe the financial statements which are required to be annexed by a company to its annual return.
Group financial statements are permitted to be annexed to a company’s annual return pursuant to Section 293 of the Companies Act 2014 and are prepared in accordance with Sections 294 and 295 of the 2014 Act.
Annual financial statements and consolidated financial statements of banks and other financial institutions must be prepared pursuant to European Union (Credit Institutions: Financial Statements) Regulations 2015 (SI 266 of 2015).
Annual financial statements and consolidated financial statements of insurance undertakings must be prepared pursuant to European Union (Insurance Undertakings: Financial Statements) Regulations 2015 (S.I. No.262 of 2015).
Certain partnerships are required by Regulation 12 of European Communities (Accounts) Regulations 1993 (S.I. 396 of 1993) to prepare annual financial statements, being a profit and loss account and a balance sheet.
In addition to the above types of financial statements, summary financial statements are permitted by Section 324 of the Companies Act 2014. Abridged financial statements pursuant to Section 353 and Section 354 of the Companies Act 2014, may be filed with an annual return by a small or medium sized company. Section 340 of the 2014 Act governs the publication of full or abbreviated financial statements.