Articles & Insights

On June 16, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued a proposal that would enable private companies to have a more flexible approach when using a discount rate to measure lease liabilities. The discount rate directly impacts the lease liability that companies record on their balance sheets, and the proposed tweak would be a helpful simplification.

Internal controls are a system of policies and procedures organizations put in place to protect assets and improve operating efficiency. Effective internal controls are critical to accurate financial reporting. A solid system of controls can help prevent, detect and correct financial misstatements due to errors and fraud.

If your company is planning to merge with or buy another business, your attention is probably on conducting due diligence and negotiating deal terms. But you also should address the post-closing financial reporting requirements for the transaction. If not, it may lead to disappointing financial results, restatements and potential lawsuits after the dust settles.

After peaking in fiscal year 2008, the estimated total of going concerns for fiscal year 2019 fell to the lowest amount in 20 years, according to a recent study by Audit Analytics. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic caused financial distress that could bring an end to this downward trend for fiscal year 2020.

In December 2020, Richard Jones stepped up as chairman of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). After meeting with stakeholders in early 2021, Jones identified a list of high-priority projects that he plans to tackle under his leadership.

On March 30, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) published an updated accounting standard on events that trigger an impairment test under U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). This simplified alternative may provide relief to private companies and not-for-profit entities that have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Here’s what you should know.

Audit committees face many challenges in 2021. As the economy rebounds from the COVID-19 pandemic, there are new dimensions to the oversight roles and responsibilities of the audit committees. Consider taking the following four steps to fortify your committee’s effectiveness.

In August 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued updated guidance to simplify the accounting rules for convertible instruments and contracts in an entity’s own equity. The changes will provide investors with less-costly, more-comparable information that’s easier to understand.

On February 10, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) voted 6 to 1 to finalize its December 2020 proposal on the assessment of events that may trigger a goodwill impairment test. However, the scope of the guidance has been expanded to cover a broader number of private companies and not-for-profits in the final rules.

The statement of cash flows essentially tells you about cash entering and leaving a business. It’s arguably the most misunderstood and underappreciated part of a company’s annual report. After all, a business that reports positive net income on its income statements sometimes doesn’t have enough cash in the bank to pay its bills. Reviewing the statement of cash flows can provide significant insight into a company’s financial health and long-term viability.