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.

AT Think Congress should leave accounting standards to FASB

Members of the American Accounting Association's Financial Reporting Policy Committee denounce provisions in the CARES Act they see as threatening FASB’s independence and setting a dangerous precedent with serious potential to undermine confidence in corporate financial reporting.

May 18

Shana Clor-Proell

American Accounting Association Financial Reporting Policy Committee
Strategic planning

Accountants can help companies set strategy to deal with coronavirus

Management accountants and CFOs can play an important role in guiding companies through the strategic options available to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.

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

May 18
AT Think Taking a professional approach to niche building

You may find more similarities among your clients than you expect.

May 18

Jay N. Nisberg and Alan Grad
Coronavirus

Accountants worry about losing clients amid the pandemic

More than half expect to be back to a more normal work environment in less than six months, according to a new survey.

By Daniel Hood
Editor-in-chief

May 15
Accounting fraud

China blacklists six executives linked to $4.2B fraud

China’s securities regulator blacklisted six executives for their role in a $4.2 billion accounting scandal at Kangmei Pharmaceutical Co., one of the country’s biggest drugmakers.

By Bloomberg News

May 15
Accounting standards

Post-implementation review process overhauled for accounting standards

The Financial Accounting Foundation’s board of trustees is changing the process for assessing the effectiveness of standards.

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

May 14
AT Think In crisis, small businesses need small accounting firms

In this environment where information is fluid and everything is changing on a daily basis, accountants must stay out in front of clients’ needs.

May 14

Christopher Arnold

International Federation of Accountants

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.