Accounting Principles and Qualitative Characteristics of Accounting Information in Brazil

This theoretical essay analyzes the conflicts between Accounting Principles and the Qualitative Characteristics of Information in the Brazilian context, from the perspective of Accounting Theory. It highlights the importance of accounting information for decision-making, as evidenced by the study A Statement of Basic Accounting Theory (ASOBAT, 1966). The analysis addresses the process of convergence of Brazilian accounting to international standards and the challenges faced in the application of principles in light of regulatory changes, divergent interpretations, and ethical dilemmas. The study discusses the relevance of the Conceptual Framework and the absence of an explicit approach to accounting principles in the current version issued by the Brazilian Accounting Pronouncements Committee (CPC). It emphasizes the contribution of principles to the understanding and evaluation of entities’ financial performance and their evolution in the national context. Finally, the conflicts resulting from the changes introduced in the IASB Conceptual Framework and their repercussions on Brazilian accounting regulation are discussed, stressing the need for an ethical, coherent, and transparent approach to ensure the reliability and relevance of financial information.