Category: Accounting and Auditing
Study shows financial restatements are “handbooks of trickery” for copycat peer companies
by Cydney Posner No, it’s not from The Onion. According to a study reported in CFO.com, unless the restating company faces regulatory action or shareholder litigation, the company’s competitors may use its financial restatement as a how-to guide. The study found that, instead of driving peer companies to examine their […]
SEC seeks comment on effectiveness of Reg S-X rules that require disclosure about entities other than the reporting company
by Cydney Posner The SEC is requesting comment on certain Reg S-X rules as part of its Disclosure Effectiveness Project. The request relates specifically to the financial disclosure requirements in Reg S-X that require public reporting companies to provide financial information about entities other than the reporting company — acquired businesses, […]
FASB proposes amendments regarding the concept of “materiality” in the context of disclosure requirements
by Cydney Posner FASB has issued two exposure drafts as part of its disclosure framework project, which is intended to facilitate clearer communication of GAAP information required in notes to financial statements. The two proposals are intended to “clarify the concept of materiality.”
Big companies voluntarily enhance audit committee disclosures
by Cydney Posner While the SEC and PCAOB ponder what to do with auditor and audit committee reports, an increasing number of large companies have begun to include more audit committee disclosures on a voluntary basis, according to an analysis by the EY Center for Board Matters. The study looked at […]
Study of enhanced audit and audit committee reports in UK shows positive audit impact
by Cydney Posner This study reported in Compliance Week may put some wind in the sails of those seeking to enhance the nature of the disclosures in standard audit reports and audit committee reports in the US. The study showed that, in the UK, which has already mandated expanded audit reports […]
Do hiring practices lead to earnings management?
by Cydney Posner Yes, according to a study from academics at the University of South Carolina, reported by Reuters. The study showed that U.S. public companies tend to favor hiring accountants “who show a willingness to flatter corporate profits by massaging the numbers.” In the study, which surveyed 41 executive […]
Does auditor rotation impair professional skepticism?
by Cydney Posner CFO.com is reporting on a study published in a leading accounting journal The Accounting Review (payment required) that reaches the counter-intuitive conclusion that auditor rotation actually impairs professional skepticism. Skepticism is “a perspective universally viewed as essential to effective auditing. The primary reason traditionally advanced to require […]
SEC issues concept release regarding potential additional audit committee disclosures
by Cydney Posner The SEC hasn’t issued a concept release since 2011, but that’s changed now with the posting of this concept release regarding possible revisions to audit committee disclosures (foreshadowed in this post). The concept release seeks public comment on possible new reporting requirements focused on the audit committee’s responsibilities […]
SEC proposes clawback rules
by Cydney Posner At an open meeting this morning, the SEC voted, three to two, to propose rules implementing Section 954 of Dodd-Frank, the clawback provision. Both Commissioners Gallagher and Piwowar voted against the proposal. As you may recall, Section 954 required the SEC to direct the national securities exchanges […]
Tools for Audit Committee Members
by Cydney Posner The Audit Committee Collaboration (ACC) has announced the release of new tools, the External Auditor Assessment Tool: A Reference for Audit Committees Worldwide and an updated U.S. version of the External Auditor Assessment Tool, both designed to assist audit committees in evaluating the external auditor, to assess the quality […]
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