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What’s your fraud IQ?

The inherent and evolving risks in the banking environment—especially concerning online transactions—command that account holders keep abreast of threats to their accounts, understand their rights and responsibilities as account holders, and take appropriate security measures to protect themselves from fraudulent bank account activity. Are you prepared to help your clients

From CGMA Magazine: Executives turn data into internal insight

Prolonged economic sluggishness—which has limited organic growth and stymied mergers and acquisitions the world over—has given many companies something they didn’t have when things were busier: time, and reason, to think differently about new ways to build value. One place they’re increasingly applying the magnifying glass: their own ranks. More

Hire a hero, enjoy the benefits

Most provisions of the work opportunity tax credit (WOTC) expired on Jan. 1, 2012, but the program was modified and partially extended by the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011, P.L. 112-56, to cover military veteran hires. Under Sec. 51, as amended, employers may be eligible for a credit

COSO postpones release of internal control framework until 1Q 2013

After receiving extensive feedback, the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) announced Monday that it expects to delay the release of its updated internal control framework until the first quarter of 2013. That’s a slightly later debut than COSO predicted for the framework in December, when it

AICPA seeks some changes to COSO’s updated framework proposal

The AICPA is suggesting changes to the proposed, updated internal control framework of the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In a comment letter, the AICPA wrote that the framework will be a valuable resource for practitioners. But the AICPA also described concerns, some of which are

CAQ seeks more transition guidance in updated internal control framework

The Center for Audit Quality (CAQ) would like the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) to provide more transition guidance for users implementing COSO’s updated internal control framework. COSO is updating its 20-year-old internal control framework to provide a fresh, modern approach with explicit advice and implementation

Side effects of cost segregation

Increased current cash flows and net-present-value savings from accelerated tax depreciation resulting from cost-segregation studies have been discussed in the JofA and other professional literature. But the initial cost-segregation decision can determine later tax side effects, both positive and negative. This article explores some of the tax benefits and drawbacks

Auditor’s reporting model proposal scheduled for third quarter

The PCAOB’s proposed changes to the auditor’s reporting model are on track to be issued for public comment in the third quarter of 2012, according to a standard-setting agenda the board released Monday. PCAOB Chairman James Doty said in December that he thought the proposal would be out by the

Global economic survey, pension accounting discussion coming this week

The AICPA and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants on March 29 will release results of the first CGMA Global Economic Survey. The quarterly survey is designed to capture the views of CGMA executives on economic conditions worldwide and in their respective countries. A panel of leading CGMA executives will

Finance executives’ outlook on U.S. economy improving, survey shows

CPA financial executives displayed a more positive but still wary view of the U.S. economy in the most recent quarterly Business and Industry Economic Outlook Survey, released Thursday by the AICPA. Those indicating optimism for the U.S. economy increased from 19% in the previous quarter to 43%. Optimists outnumbered pessimists

Accounting and finance hiring expected to be flat in Q2

Hiring in accounting and finance is likely to be flat in the second quarter of 2012 in the United States even though CFOs are confident in their business prospects for that period, a Robert Half survey shows. Ninety-one percent of CFOs said they don’t expect to change their accounting and

COSO explores common judgment traps, lays out five-step decision-making process

Many faulty business decisions can be traced to “confirmation bias” that leads people to unwittingly seek information that bolsters what they want to believe, says Brigham Young University accounting professor Doug Prawitt. “We don’t realize it when we do that, but it’s a very, very powerful human bias,” he said

Internal control, revisited

For about 20 years, the popular internal control framework of the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) has been like a favorite tool in a craftsman’s shop. Its guidance has held up over time with original components that have been so sound that a large majority of

A strategic approach to IT budgeting

Organizations of all types struggle with information technology (IT) budgeting. This often happens because the IT team doesn’t understand the budgeting process and the finance team doesn’t understand IT. CPAs, whether in public practice, business and industry, the not-for-profit sector or government, can remedy this disconnect by changing their organization’s

Helping CEOs connect the dots

The business world is experiencing an extraordinarily challenging period. The multiple pressures exerted on executives in terms of global competition, increasing regulation, climate change and growing expectations from consumers has resulted in a call for a new business paradigm. At the end of last year, the AICPA joined forces with

Risk with donor pledges

In the white paper Measurement of Fair Value for Certain Transactions of Not-For-Profit Entities, the AICPA’s Financial Reporting Executive Committee (FinREC) provides guidance to not-for-profits on considering risk when determining the fair value of a donor’s unconditional promise to give. Considerations may include: To account for risk, not-for-profits can use

SEC proposes identity theft “red flags” rules to protect investors

Broker-dealers, mutual funds and other SEC-regulated entities would be required to create programs to detect and respond appropriately to identity theft red flags under an SEC rules proposal announced Tuesday and issued for public comment. The proposed rules are designed to protect investors from identity theft and are similar to

January job cuts, led by retail, rise from year-ago low

Job cuts announced by U.S. employers increased in January, a month that traditionally sees significant post-holiday retail layoffs, according to a report released Thursday. The 53,486 job cuts announced last month was the highest monthly total since 115,730 layoffs were announced in September, global outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas

What’s your fraud IQ?

Fraud in the form of corruption compromises the integrity of the world economy, stunting economic growth and causing political and social upheaval. To help combat corruption, Congress passed, and President Jimmy Carter signed, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in 1977. Recent, more rigorous enforcement of the FCPA, combined with

Three common currency-adjustment pitfalls

Although the rules on accounting for foreign-currency translations have not changed in many years, mistakes in this area persist. Such mistakes can result in misstatements in financial reporting, hurting the bottom line, creating false understandings of business results, and exposing companies to possible regulatory scrutiny. A key factor raising the

FROM THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Right-sizing risk management

Sole practitioner or small firm? Risk management doesn’t have to be “one size fits all.” Learn how to help protect your practice without adding unnecessary admin time.