With national debt crises in both Europe and the United States, a shaky recovery from the deepest recession since World War II and volatile currency markets, it’s not surprising that recent research conducted by the Beyond Budgeting Round Table found that more than two-thirds of corporate budgets are irrelevant before
Management accounting
PCAOB, Norway Reach Accord on Auditor Inspections
The PCAOB on Wednesday said it entered into a cooperative agreement with the Financial Supervisory Authority (FSA) of Norway for the oversight of audit work performed by public accounting firms that practice in the two regulators’ respective jurisdictions. The PCAOB had been blocked from inspections in Norway since 2008, the
International Committee Releases Draft Framework for Integrated Reporting
The International Integrated Reporting Committee (IIRC) calls for a new approach to corporate reporting in a discussion paper released Monday. The paper, Towards Integrated Reporting: Communicating Value in the 21st Century, discusses the rationale for integrated reporting, offers initial proposals for the development of an international integrated reporting framework, and
Economic Optimism Slumps, Execs Anticipate Double-Dip Recession
Economic optimism dropped to a two-and-a-half year low as more than 60% of CPA financial executives thought it was likely the U.S. would experience a double-dip recession, according to results released Wednesday from the AICPA Business & Industry Economic Outlook Survey Q3 2011. Optimism for the U.S. economy significantly dropped
Highlights of Corporate Governance Research
Several corporate governance developments have occurred in the wake of the high-profile scandals of the past decade. Some of these developments are motivated by legislation such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX). Others are best practices enhancements intended to shore up investor confidence. Academic research has monitored these developments.
Auditing
The PCAOB adopted a temporary rule to establish an interim inspection program for registered public accounting firms’ audits of securities brokers and dealers as permitted by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The board adopted without material change a proposed temporary rule (tinyurl.com/6x47nh5) issued Dec. 14, 2010.
Survey Shows Hiring Plans Rising for Accountants, Other Professionals
Twelve percent of CFOs interviewed for the quarterly Robert Half Professional Employment Report said they planned to hire professional-level accounting and finance staff in the fourth quarter of 2011, while 7% foresaw cutbacks. CFOs were increasingly optimistic about the hiring outlook, according to the report. The net 5% of financial
FDIC: Insurance Fund Back in the Black as Bank Profits Rise 38%
The improved health of the nation’s banks boosted the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) into a positive balance ($3.9 billion) for the first time in two years, according to the FDIC’s Quarterly Banking Profile for the quarter ending June 30. The report also said profits at insured institutions rose to $28.8
Presentation of Patient Service Revenue Changed for Health Care Entities
FASB issued an Accounting Standards Update (ASU) containing amendments that require health care entities to change the presentation of their statement of operations by reclassifying the provision for bad debts associated with patient service revenue from an operating expense to a deduction from patient service revenue (net of contractual allowances
Asset-Based Financing Basics: Step-by-Step Examples
Editor’s note: Also read “Asset-Based Financing Basics,” by Robert A. Modansky, CPA/CFF, and Jerome P. Massimino, CPA, in the August 2011 issue of the JofA. Example 1: GAAP Treatment of Acceleration Clauses and Lockboxes The following is a summary of the provisions of FASB Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Subtopic
Asset-Based Financing Basics
Once considered financing of last resort, asset-based lending and factoring have become popular choices for companies that do not have the credit rating or track record to qualify for more traditional types of financing. In general terms, asset-based lending is any kind of borrowing secured by an asset of the
Business & Industry
Unemployment and increasing debt and energy prices have CPA financial executives more pessimistic about U.S. economic prospects and increasingly concerned about inflation, according to results released from the AICPA Business & Industry Economic Outlook Survey Q2 2011. One-third of respondents were optimistic or very optimistic about the U.S. economic outlook
U.K. Bribery Act Requires New Precautions for Global Companies
The U.K. Bribery Act 2010 that took effect July 1 represents a major change in global anticorruption law, but awareness of its provisions remains low, according to a Deloitte webcast poll. U.S. companies with offices or sales activities in the U.K. need to get up to speed with its provisions,
Ferret Out Fraud
Fraud poses a critical risk to organizations. Management can help mitigate that risk through a number of strategies designed to provide employees with multiple ways to report concerns about fraud or other misconduct. —These recommendations come from the book Managing the Risk of Fraud and Misconduct in a chapter written
Lessons on Managing Risk in Emerging Markets
In recent years, as economies in developed countries have slipped and stagnated, a number of U.S. and other companies have sought to fuel growth by investing in emerging markets. There are many benefits to employing such a strategy: By and large, developing countries promise access to new, untapped markets; rising
CIMA Launches Advanced Diploma in Islamic Finance
The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) launched its new advanced diploma in Islamic finance (CADIF) program July 7 at the Islamic Finance News 2011 Issues & Investors Europe Forum in London. The qualification is the first advanced diploma in Islamic finance launched by a professional chartered accountancy body, according
PCAOB Proposes Standards for Broker-Dealer Audits and Auditing Supplemental Information
The PCAOB issued proposed standards for audits of broker-dealer and issuer engagements for public comment Tuesday. The proposals consist of two attestation standards related to the auditor’s examination of compliance reports and review of exemption reports of broker-dealers proposed by the SEC as part of its amendments to the broker-dealer
GASB Proposes Changes to Calculating, Reporting Pension Costs
GASB issued two exposure drafts that the board said would establish a definition of pension plan that reflects the primary activities of a fund that is used to provide pensions—the accumulation and management of assets dedicated for pensions and the payment of pensions to plan members as the benefits come
Polish What’s Dull, and Wax What Shines
For managers, the one activity more dreaded than receiving a performance review is writing one. So it’s no wonder many reviews fall short of their real intention: to provide a springboard for further growth and accomplishment. How can the performance review guide a productive discussion about an employee’s potential or
PCAOB, SEC to Meet With Chinese Officials on Auditing Oversight
The PCAOB said Wednesday that a joint PCAOB-SEC delegation will meet next week in Beijing with representatives of China’s Ministry of Finance and the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) to discuss issues relating to auditing oversight. “This meeting is the commencement of our accelerated efforts with the People’s Republic
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