Accounting & reporting

David M. Walker, comptroller general of the United States and head of the GAO, appoints 10 new members to three-year terms ( www.gao.gov/govaud/newmem02.htm ) on the watchdog agency’s advisory council on government auditing standards (the yellow book), replacing those whose terms have expired. The SEC names Lawrence E. Harris its

The International Federation of Accountants establishes the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board ( www.ifac.org/IAASB ) to replace the International Auditing Practices Committee. The new body provides guidance on audit and assurance functions and works to improve uniformity of practice throughout the world. In one of its first actions, the

For news from the AICPA and state societies, visit www.cpa2biz.com , which also offers online CPE, AICPA professional literature, practice management aids and links to state society Web sites. FASB staff members issue implementation guidance ( www.fasb.org/q&a87.pdf ) on FASB statement no. 87, Employers’ Accounting for Pensions. The advisory addresses

The Social Security board of trustees, in its 2002 annual report to Congress ( www.ssa.gov/OACT/TR/TR02/index.html ), says long-range program deficits remain although the short-term outlook has improved. According to the report, tax revenue will fall below program costs in 2017—one year later than the board estimated in 2001. The board

The International Federation of Accountants issues a paper, E-Business and the Accountant: Risk Management for Accounting Systems in an E-Business Environment. The study can be downloaded at www.ifac.org/store —the group’s Web site.

Less than two weeks before its self-imposed March 31 termination, the Public Oversight Board publishes a white paper, The Road to Reform, ( www.publicoversightboard.org/White_Pa.pdf ) proposing the creation—through federal legislation—of an independent organization that would assume the board’s responsibility for voluntary private-sector regulation of the profession. Among other things, the

The Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS) says it is closely monitoring compliance with a new law, the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT) Act of 2001. In March the OTS provided savings institutions with guidance ( www.ots.treas.gov/docs/48896.pdf ) on complying

The Council of Institutional Investors decides to support including the cost of stock options as an expense on businesses’ reported income statements—a reversal of its long-standing opposition to the practice ( www.cii.org/press/expensing.htm ). The group, which includes pension funds, money managers, other financial services entities and lawyers, says its new

Giovanni P. Prezioso replaces David M. Becker as the SEC’s general counsel. Coming from the Washington office of international law firm Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton, Prezioso has extensive experience in securities-related legal matters. Becker resigned to return to private practice after serving as the commission’s chief legal officer since

The IASB’s former standing interpretations committee—now the international financial reporting interpretations committee—issues guidance ( www.iasb.org.uk/cmt/0001.asp ) on accounting for Web site costs under international accounting standards (IASs). The interpretation clarifies existing requirements of IAS 38, Intangible Assets, that apply to expenses associated with an entity’s development and operation of an