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July 19, 2021

FASB alters accounting for certain leases with variable lease payments

FASB issued guidance that’s designed to help lessors more faithfully account for the underlying economics of leases that would have been classified as a sales-type lease or a direct financing lease and would have recognized a day-one loss.

July 1, 2021

Vacation and sick pay accruals resulting from the pandemic

Travel restrictions led to a buildup of compensated absences and a corresponding liability that has implications for financial reporting, auditing, and management.

June 24, 2021

FASB asks for feedback on standard-setting agenda

FASB is seeking comment on what the board’s future standard-setting priorities should be. Stakeholders are asked to provide feedback by Sept. 22 to help FASB identify areas where there’s a pervasive need to improve generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).

June 16, 2021

FASB proposes discount rate relief for nonpublic lessees

FASB proposed guidance that would permit nonpublic lessees to use a risk-free rate as the discount rate for leases by class of underlying asset rather than at the entitywide level.

June 14, 2021

AICPA, CAQ support SEC’s exploration of climate change disclosures

The AICPA and the Center for Audit Quality sent letters to the SEC supporting its exploration of disclosures related to climate change and environmental, social and governance issues.

June 14, 2021

Pandemic still complicates going concern disclosures

The businesses the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed to the brink of failure still face some unprecedented challenges regarding compliance with the going concern disclosure guidance.

June 10, 2021

FinREC addresses EBP revenue recognition implementation

Revenue recognition issues for employee benefit plans are addressed in proposed implementation guidance issued by the AICPA Financial Reporting Executive Committee.

June 7, 2021

Internal audit has pivotal role in ESG reporting

Reporting on environmental, social and governance information is becoming increasingly important. Internal audit’s independent advisory and assurance work can help organizations get it right.

June 2, 2021

GASB publishes implementation guidance on various issues

Derivative instruments, fiduciary activities, leases and nonexchange transactions are among the accounting issues discussed in an implementation guide issued by GASB.

June 1, 2021

GASB addresses accounting changes and error corrections

Accounting and financial reporting requirements that have been followed since the 1970s would change under guidance for accounting changes and error corrections proposed by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board.

May 28, 2021

Auditors may see increased demand for ESG attestation

Regulators and standard setters are promulgating new requirements for environmental, social and governance information, and that may lead many companies to call upon external auditors to examine their ESG disclosures.

May 13, 2021

Tips for lease accounting amid financial uncertainty

Many private companies and not-for-profits are adopting new lease accounting standards, and public companies that have adopted the guidance are applying it amid a pandemic-fueled surge in lease renegotiations.

May 5, 2021

FASB proposes hedge accounting changes

FASB issued a proposal that would expand the current single-layer hedging model and is intended to better align hedge accounting with an organization’s risk management strategy.

May 3, 2021

FASB clarifies accounting for certain call option modifications

FASB issued a standard that is intended to clarify an issuer’s accounting for certain modifications of freestanding equity-classified written call options that remain equity-classified after modification or exchange.

April 19, 2021

Tips for for-profits applying NFP accounting rules for PPP funds

For-profit entities are permitted to use the not-for-profit conditional contribution accounting model to account for Paycheck Protection Program loans. The accounting requires reasoned judgment, careful evaluation of barriers and thorough documentation.

April 13, 2021

Offensive acronym leads to GASB’s name change proposal

The acronym for the Governmental Accounting Standards Board’s “comprehensive annual financial report” sounds like a South African ethnic slur. So, the board is proposing a name change to “annual comprehensive financial report.”

March 30, 2021

FASB provides goodwill triggering relief for private companies, not-for-profits

Private companies and not-for-profits have the option to perform goodwill impairment triggering assessments at the end of an interim or annual reporting period under an accounting alternative issued by FASB.

March 18, 2021

Vacation and sick day accruals during the pandemic

Travel restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic have caused many employees to defer their paid time off, resulting in a buildup of liabilities for compensated absences. As a result, CPAs need to take great care in calculating, reporting, and auditing these liabilities.

March 15, 2021