Category: Accounting and Auditing
AICPA suggests management representations for auditors to seek in connection with conflict minerals reporting
by Cydney Posner The AICPA has issued an FAQ that identifies, for auditors conducting Independent Private Sector Audits for inclusion in Conflict Mineral Reports, the types of management representations that auditors should consider seeking from managements of companies. Not surprisingly, the AICPA does not disappoint — the suggested reps are, shall […]
Some ways to shorten 10-Ks and 10-Qs
by Cydney Posner I loved this column from Compliance Week by Scott Taub, former deputy chief accountant and former acting chief accountant at the SEC. It’s full of common sense ideas about how to shorten 10-Ks and 10-Qs, both of which seem to grow exponentially longer every year. Making them shorter […]
Will FASB delay effectiveness of the new revenue recognition standard?
by Cydney Posner According to this article in Compliance Week, the FASB is considering deferring the effective date of the new revenue recognition standard. A decision will be made “no later than early second quarter” on whether to propose a delay. The article reports that, as FASB staff conducted site […]
Four questions audit committees should ask their audit firms
by Cydney Posner Audit Committee members may be interested in this release issued by the PCAOB in August 2012 designed “to assist audit committees in (1) understanding the PCAOB’s inspections of their audit firms and (2) gathering useful information from their audit firms about those inspections.” The PCAOB regularly performs inspections of […]
SEC to issue concept release regarding audit committees
by Cydney Posner Compliance Week reports that SEC Chair Mary Jo White, speaking before the Investor Advisory Group of the PCAOB, said that the SEC plans to Issue a concept release in early 2015 “exploring possible avenues for elevating the work of public company audit committees.” The release is expected to address many […]
Has the PCAOB finally reached a compromise on naming audit engagement partners?
by Cydney Posner The saga of the PCAOB and its proposals to require identification of the audit engagement partner continues. Compliance Week reports, based on a newly published PCAOB standard-setting agenda, that the PCAOB is now considering issuance of a supplemental request for comment in connection with yet another proposed compromise […]
Good news for companies adopting retrospective approach to new FASB revenue recognition standard
by Cydney Posner One of the critical questions that companies are facing under FASB’s new revenue recognition standard is whether companies that elect to follow a retrospective approach (applying the standard to both current and prior years — e.g., 2016 and 2015 revenues in addition to 2017) will be required […]
Whether 1992 or 2013 version of COSO framework — disclose in management’s and auditor’s internal control reports
by Cydney Posner Last week, I posted a piece regarding the “squishy” deadline (to borrow the term of art coined by the COSO Chair) for implementation of the new 2013 COSO internal control framework. As you may recall, the original 1992 COSO internal control framework is deemed by COSO to […]
Whether 1992 or 2013 version of COSO framework — disclose in management’s and auditor’s internal control reports
by Cydney Posner Last week, I posted a piece regarding the “squishy” deadline (to borrow the term of art coined by the COSO Chair) for implementation of the new 2013 COSO internal control framework. As you may recall, the original 1992 COSO internal control framework is deemed by COSO to […]
Academic study shows increases in insider sales prior to public release of certain SEC comment letters
by Cydney Posner Articles in Compliance Week and Forbes report on a recent academic study showing unusually high levels of stock sales by insiders in the period prior to public release of SEC comment letters that addressed revenue recognition issues, a topic that can often spell trouble at many companies. The level of […]