The Private Company Council (PCC) voted Tuesday to propose a GAAP alternative for private companies for applying consolidation guidance for leasing entities under common control. Private companies would be exempt from applying consolidation guidance for variable-interest entities (VIEs) under common control leasing arrangements under the proposal the PCC voted to
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Accounting & reporting
AICPA, NASBA to collaborate on decision-making tool for small business accounting framework
The AICPA plans to develop a decision-making tool to assist entities with determining whether the new small business accounting framework suits their needs. The National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) will have input in the development of the tool, according to a joint statement released by the AICPA
GAO advises SEC to require disclosure of auditor attestation of ICFR
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) is recommending that the SEC consider requiring public companies to disclose whether they obtained an auditor attestation of their internal controls over financial reporting (ICFR). In a report to congressional committees, the GAO said attestation reports increase investor confidence. Requiring disclosure of whether a
Fraud in financial reporting, auditing among targets of new SEC initiatives
Fraudulent financial reporting and auditing are among the targets of three new Division of Enforcement initiatives the SEC announced Tuesday in its efforts to detect and investigate fraud and misconduct that harm investors. The new Financial Reporting and Audit Task Force will be dedicated to detecting fraudulent or improper financial
FASB proposes GAAP changes for private companies on 3 issues
FASB on Monday formally proposed changes to GAAP for private companies that are designed to make financial reporting less burdensome for private companies on three issues. The proposals were crafted by the Private Company Council (PCC), which was created last year to propose alternatives for private companies within U.S. GAAP.
GASB proposal addresses transition concern in pension standards
GASB issued a proposal Tuesday that is designed to eliminate a potential source of understatement during a state or local government’s transition to the board’s new pension standard. Under the current transition provisions, a GASB news release states, there is potential for understatement of restated beginning net position and expense
Managing change, people and transparency
Robert Herz, CPA, was FASB chairman from 2002 through 2010. Before joining FASB, he worked 28 years in public accounting with PwC and Coopers & Lybrand. His memoir, Accounting Changes: Chronicles of Convergence, Crisis, and Complexity in Financial Reporting, was published this spring. He also is co-author of The Value
FASB changes leadership, not direction
Russell Golden, whose technical expertise as a FASB staff member led him to a spot on the standard-setting board in 2010, was scheduled to succeed Leslie Seidman as FASB’s chairman on July 1. Golden said the board’s immediate priorities include completing international convergence projects and ensuring that accounting standards for
FASB proposes updated GAAP standard for insurance contracts
In an effort to improve guidance, FASB on Thursday proposed an updated standard for the financial reporting of all insurance contracts, not just those written by insurance companies, and asked stakeholders to comment on it by Oct. 25. The proposal aims to bring consistency to the existing standards under U.S.
FASB issues proposal on going-concern disclosures
FASB on Wednesday issued a proposal designed to improve disclosures of uncertainties related to an organization’s ability to continue as a going concern. Under U.S. GAAP, financial statements are prepared under the inherent presumption that the reporting organization will be able to continue as a going concern. FASB explained in
GASB proposes measurement, fair value approaches
GASB on Thursday proposed a two-approach system to guide standard setting for measuring assets and liabilities of state and local governments. The board also issued its preliminary views regarding the measurement of fair value and the application of fair value, including note disclosures. The two-approach system is described in the
AICPA committee disagrees with FASB credit impairment proposal
The AICPA Financial Reporting Executive Committee (FinREC) expressed significant objections to FASB’s financial instruments impairment proposal. The high-profile project is designed to address some of the causes of the recent financial crisis and calls for measurement and reporting of expected losses rather than incurred losses. Although the project began as
FASB nonpublic EBP vote meant to guard private companies’ proprietary information
FASB on Wednesday voted to indefinitely defer certain disclosures about investments held by a nonpublic employee benefit plan (EBP) in the plan sponsor’s own equity securities. Stakeholders have expressed concerns to FASB that certain disclosure requirements for nonpublic EBPs would reveal sensitive proprietary information of private companies. FASB in the
AICPA unveils framework designed for streamlined reporting
The AICPA on Monday launched the Financial Reporting Framework for Small- and Medium-Sized Entities (FRF for SMEs), a new option for small business financial reporting. Designed to help smaller, privately held, owner-managed businesses, the FRF for SMEs accounting option is intended for businesses that do not need to prepare GAAP-compliant
FASB agrees to advance three private company alternatives for public comment
The march toward possible exceptions and modifications to U.S. GAAP for private companies continued Monday when FASB voted to issue three Private Company Council (PCC) initiatives for public exposure. FASB expects to issue the exposure drafts later this month. After the exposure period, the PCC will review comments of stakeholders
FASB clarifies characteristics of investment companies
A FASB standard released Friday identifies characteristics a company must assess to determine whether it is considered an investment company for financial reporting purposes. Accounting Standards Update No. 2013-08, Financial Services—Investment Companies (Topic 946): Amendments to the Scope, Measurement, and Disclosure Requirements, takes effect for fiscal years beginning after Dec.
CPAs expect modest difficulty applying revenue recognition standard
Finance executives in the United States expect modest difficulty implementing the sweeping, global changes in revenue recognition that are coming their way, according to a new survey. In the second-quarter AICPA Business and Industry Economic Outlook Survey, released Thursday, CPA executives explained their expectations for the assimilation of the new
How have CPAs responded to regulatory overload?
Andrew Barbe, CPA, CGMA, wishes he had more time to devote to strategic planning and development as vice president for accounting and senior controller of NorTex Midstream Partners LLC, a natural gas midstream service company. But as the senior manager in charge of finance, accounting, treasury, tax, human resources, information
What’s a little debt between friends?
Related-party transactions have been routinely identified as playing a role in accounting failures and fraud in recent years. Developments ranging from the passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 to enforcement actions against registered entities in emerging markets have highlighted the complexity and risks in the recognition and disclosure of
FASB to consider business combination concerns
FASB has promised to give consideration to various stakeholder concerns that arose during a recent post-implementation review (PIR) of its business combinations standard. The review report, released last week, described concerns about FASB Statement No. 141 (revised 2007), Business Combinations, also known as Statement 141(R). In a response released Thursday,
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How to replace running totals in Excel
Accountants routinely copy down formulas in Excel to track cumulative balances, such as cash flow and retained earnings, but there is a better way. This JofA Technology Q&A article shows the way with step-by-step instructions and a video walkthrough.
