Accounting

Accounting News & Professional Insight

Accounting Today delivers news, rankings, thought leadership, and analysis for accounting professionals so they can navigate change in standards, firm strategy, technology adoption, talent, and the overall business environment.

Accounting professionals are facing rapid transformation, including shifting professional standards, demographic change, technology disruption, practice consolidation, and changing expectations for advisory services. Our coverage surfaces these strategic dynamics and provides insights and analysis for firms, leaders, and the accounting profession.

International accounting

Watchdog investigates accountant over bankrupt UK council

The U.K.'s audit and accountancy regulator has opened an investigation into an accountant following solar farm investments made by a now bankrupt local authority.

By Bloomberg News

January 3
Audit

Some audit disclosures may prompt companies to manipulate earnings

Auditor disclosures of client-specific quantitative materiality thresholds, which are required in the U.K. but not the U.S., could be encouraging some businesses to massage their earnings reports.

By Michael Cohn
Editor-in-chief, AccountingToday.com

January 2
Financial reporting

Terrorist attacks and mass shootings can affect company accounting

A study finds the negative effects of such events can lead to pessimistic risk assessments of financial reporting choices and a decline in accrual-based and real earnings management for companies in the impacted areas.

By Michael Cohn
Editor-in-chief, AccountingToday.com

January 2
Financial reporting

FinCEN begins accepting beneficial ownership reports

A new online registry opened Monday where companies need to disclose who truly owns or controls them.

By Michael Cohn
Editor-in-chief, AccountingToday.com

January 2
Accounting standards

FASB nixes potential projects on future agenda

The Financial Accounting Standards Board has decided not to add several projects to its technical agenda, including one on commodities, despite requests.

By Michael Cohn
Editor-in-chief, AccountingToday.com

December 28
Mentoring

The 2023 Top 100 People: Mentoring the next generation

The profession's leaders discuss how they are influencing their potential successors.

By Danielle Lee
Editor-in-Chief

December 28
Mentoring

2023 Top 100 People extra: Meaningful mentorships

As part of this year's Top 100 Most Influential People survey, Accounting Today asked, "Do you currently mentor someone? What do you get out of it?"

December 28

Resources

The latest Accounting Today research and discussion:

Predicting the next 15 years in accounting

Take a look at what the accountant and the accounting firm of the future will look like with AICPA chief Mark Koziel.

Sponsored by BILL
The changing world of government financial reporting

The serious new pressures facing governments of all sizes are changing their financial reporting, says GASB Chair Joel Black.

Sponsored by Intuit Quickbooks
Special Report Technology and CAS

Handling the compliance work that is the foundation of modern CAS while also creating time and insights for the advisory overlay that really drives its value to clients requires the careful deployment of a suite of technology tools — and that suite is constantly evolving, meaning accountants need a strategy to keep up.

Sponsored by Canopy

Accounting: Key Questions & Analysis

What are the key trends and strategies emerging from accounting industry leaders?

Top leaders are focused on structural challenges facing firms, including succession planning, evolving service mix, and long-term sustainability of traditional models.

How are accounting firms positioning themselves for the profession’s next phase?

Firm leaders are redefining and evaluating their strategy for growth. This includes investing in people and systems as well as rethinking how firms deliver value to address changing client needs and competition.

What role does professional identity play as accounting continues to change?

Debate continues over how accounting defines itself. This is due to accounting expanding into advisory, consulting, and technology-enabled services. These changes can raise questions about standards, training, and long-term credibility.

How are accounting firms managing leadership and succession risk?

Demographic shifts are accelerating in accounting. This means more firms are confronting leadership transitions and ownership succession which can create critical strategic risks that influence growth, culture, and valuation.