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SEC Road Map for Transition to IFRS Available

UPDATE: SEC Extends Comment Period on IFRS Road Map   The SEC on Friday released a long-awaited road map for the transition by U.S. public companies to the use of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The Commission set a longer-than-expected 90-day comment period for the proposal, which puts forth milestones

GASB Explains Service Efforts and Accomplishments Reporting Project

GASB released a fact sheet to explain its project to develop service efforts and accomplishments (SEA) reporting by governments. According to the GASB release, Basic Facts about Service Efforts and Accomplishments Reporting, the public reporting of key service performance indicators provides decision-useful information about the government’s actual accomplishments in pursuit

XBRL: Who Are the Early Adopters?

View the PowerPoint presentation narrated by JofA Senior Editor Matthew Lamoreaux. XBRL is evolving everywhere, but unevenly, driven by various stakeholders such as governments, stock exchanges, banks and other industry sectors. While the SEC has been finalizing its proposed rule requiring public companies and mutual funds to file their financial reports

Standard Setters Schedule Round Tables on Global Financial Crisis

FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) announced details of three public round-table discussions to identify financial reporting issues highlighted by the global financial crisis. The discussions will be held in London on Nov. 14, in Norwalk, Conn., on Nov. 25 and in Tokyo on Dec. 3. The boards

IPSASB Issues First Conceptual Framework Consultation Paper

The International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB), an independent standard-setting board of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), has issued for comment the first in a series of consultation papers focused on developing an international public-sector conceptual framework. The consultation paper, Conceptual Framework for General Purpose Financial Reporting by

IASB Amends Two Financial Instruments Standards

In response to the global financial crisis, the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) amended two of its standards to more closely align with U.S. GAAP. The amendments to IAS 39, Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement, and IFRS 7, Financial Instruments: Disclosures, permit the reclassification of some financial instruments. The amendments

141(R)’s Effect on Goodwill

In reading your article, “A New Day for Business Combinations,” (June 08, page 34) I had some questions regarding [FASB] statement 141(R). A client purchases a company for $20 million. The company has $10 million of tangible assets, mainly cash, receivables and some property. The purchase is highly leveraged and

Highlights

     The AICPA’s Professional Ethics Executive Committee (PEEC) issued an exposure draft, Interpretation 101-17, Networks and Network Firms, under Rule 101, Independence, of the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct. Along with new or revised definitions for network, network firm and firm, the ED proposes that when CPA firms form

Shaking Up Financial Statement Presentation

In April 2004, FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) created a joint project on financial statement presentation. The project is part of the memorandum of understanding between the two bodies that set out a road map for convergence between IFRS and U.S. GAAP. The goal is to create

Watching Your Weighted Average

Thank you for your great article, “Currency Translation Adjustments” (July 08, page 42). I used it as a learning opportunity for our International Accounting group. I have one question on a calculation on page 46 in the right-hand column toward the bottom: “To examine a situation where the dollar has

Noncontrolling Interest: Much More Than a Name Change

In December 2007, FASB adopted two new business combination standards: Statement no. 141(R), Business Combinations, and Statement no. 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements. Both culminated years of work directed at improving reporting for consolidated entities. An article in the June 2008 issue of the JofA (“A New Day

Highlights

The rescue package, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, allows the Treasury Department to buy up problem assets in an effort to improve the balance sheets of financial institutions and keep credit flowing. The final version of the plan passed by Congress and signed by President Bush on Oct.

PCPS Publications Recognized for Excellence

Over the last year, publications from the AICPA’s Private Companies Practice Section received 10 awards in five national and international communications competitions. The publications honored are: ■ Seasonality Success—Award of Excellence in the 2008 Apex Awards for Publication Excellence ■ Small Firm Solutions—Gold award in the 2008 Hermes Creative Awards

Financial Reporting

The AICPA’s Accounting Standards Executive Committee issued an exposure draft of a proposed Audit and Accounting Guide, Gaming. The proposed guide addresses new accounting issues that have emerged over the years. It also includes guidance dedicated specifically to governmental gaming entities. Comments are due Dec. 9. The ED is available

International

The International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB), an independent standard-setting board within the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), is seeking comments on its proposed changes to IPSAS 5, Borrowing Costs, set forth in Exposure Draft 35, Borrowing Costs (Revised 200X). Most notably, ED 35 proposes amendments to reflect that

Investments

SEC Chairman Christopher Cox, the Australian Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law, and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) chairman entered into a mutual recognition arrangement among the SEC, the Australian government and ASIC. Through the arrangement, the SEC and the Australian authorities agreed to consider providing exemptions to

AICPA Files Comment Letter on Review of IASCF Constitution

The AICPA filed a comment letter on the review of the IASC Foundation’s (IASCF) Constitution. While expressing strong support for the objectives of the IASCF and the IASB, the Institute:  Urged the IASCF to continue its efforts to secure permanent funding for the IASB’s activities. The Institute said the SEC

IRS Commissioner: Tax Collections Must Be Fair Amid Tough Economic Times

The IRS and tax preparers can reach out to taxpayers hurt by the current economic downturn to help them meet their tax obligations, IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman told the AICPA National Tax Conference on Oct. 27. (Watch the speech here.)   While the Service is mindful that many taxpayers are

SEC Releases “Mark-to-Market” Accounting Study Details

The SEC released preliminary details on its study on “mark-to-market” accounting, as authorized in October by section 133 of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA). The study is to be completed by Jan. 2 in consultation with the Treasury secretary and the Board of Governors of the Federal

FASB, IASB Publish Financial Statement Presentation Paper for Comment

FASB and the IASB published for public comment a discussion paper on financial statement presentation. The paper contains an analysis of issues in financial statement presentation and presents the boards’ initial thinking on addressing those issues. International Financial Reporting Standards and U.S. GAAP provide only limited presentation guidance. In addition, presentation

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