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.

Accounting standards

FASB clarifies accounting for equity securities

The Financial Accounting Standards Board has issued a standards update aimed at clarifying the interaction between the rules related to equity securities, equity method investments and certain derivatives.

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

January 16
AT Think FASB is the villain!

The ability to explain accounting clearly is the power that will make accountants superheroes.

January 15

Peter Margaritis

Oklahoma State University
CECL

Moody’s predicts CECL will have limited impact on big banks

The new credit losses accounting standard is not expected to have a major impact on the loan loss reserves of most large publicly listed U.S. banks, according to Moody’s Investors Service.

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

January 15
Audit

Audit fees keep rising, thanks to new accounting standards

Average audit fees increased 4.25 percent from 2017 to 2018, according to a new report.

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

January 15
Ted on Tech Putting the 'C' in CRM

Customer relationship management is an essential part of an accounting firm’s business, but it often gets overlooked in favor of the good accounting work the firm does for their client.

January 15

Ted Needleman

Accounting Today
AT Think It's time to help clients eliminate 'minimum credit card' policies

With a little bit of data analysis, accountants can help small businesses develop more profitable approaches.

January 15

Gene Marks

Marks Group PC
Tax season

Tax pros’ top worry for 2020 is late client info

Far fewer are concerned about the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, unlike last year.

By Daniel Hood
Editor-in-chief

January 14

Resources

The latest Accounting Today research and discussion:

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
The future of the accounting workforce

While concerns remain about the profession's pipeline of new accountants, Cathy Moy, chief people officer at BDO USA, sees plenty of ways to keep it full.

Sponsored by Intuit Quickbooks

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.