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 education

Professors recognized for research paper on performance-based incentives

The AICPA and the American Accounting Association presented three researchers with the 2020 Greatest Potential Impact on Management Accounting Practice Award.

By Sean McCabe
Senior Editor

January 13
AT Think Better Every Day: From advisor to arbiter of elegance and civility

Accountants should be ‘ladies and gentlemen serving ladies and gentlemen.’

January 13

Darren Root

Rightworks
Payroll

Run my own payroll? No thanks

Most small businesses do run their own payroll, but they also wish they didn’t have to.

By Ranica Arrowsmith
Technology Editor

January 10
AT Think Changes to PCAOB quality control standards could lead to more exposure for audit firms

The proposed changes could have the potential for expanding future enforcement proceedings.

January 9

Jessica Pulliam and Charles Strecker

Baker Botts LLP
AT Think Independence trap: Helping clients with rev rec implementations

CPAs should be wary of these seven client requests around revenue recognition.

January 9

Robert Durak

AICPA
Corporate ethics

IESBA revises assurance independence standards for international code of ethics

The International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants has released a set of revisions to the International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants, making some changes in the independence standards for assurance engagements, other than audit and review engagements.

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

January 8
The Tech Take Keep your wits about you this tax season

Sometimes it can feel like now, it’s up to the client to do their part so you can do your job. In many ways, you’re right.

January 8

Ranica Arrowsmith

Accounting Today

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.