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

ACCA and CFA Institute sign deal

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and CFA Institute, which offers the Chartered Financial Analyst designation, have agreed on a three-year memorandum in which both organizations will collaborate on various initiatives.

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

May 11
Financial reporting

Apple leaves overseas cash out of its latest quarterly report

A key figure disappeared from Apple Inc.’s latest quarterly report. It’s also gone from the regulatory filings of Netflix Inc., Microsoft Corp., Google’s Alphabet Inc. and Oracle Corp.

May 11
AT Think If you’re not the boss of me, then who is?

Building a culture of accountability is critical for professional services firms.

May 11

Robert Bunting

RL Bunting Consultants
AT Think The generational transition affects clients, too

Businesses are transitioning to the next generation of owners, too – and they’re mostly Gen Xers.

May 11

Carrie Steffen

The Whetstone Group
Audit

Utah firms lead in Q1 SEC audit clients

A merger in Salt Lake City puts two local auditors ahead of the pack.

By Daniel Hood
Editor-in-chief

May 11
AT Think Building trust by adding outside directors at KPMG

KPMG U.S. Chairman and CEO Lynne Doughtie explains why the Big Four firm is bringing external directors to its board.

May 11

Lynne Doughtie

KPMG LLP
Revenue recognition

IRS offers automatic method to change accounting for new revenue recognition standard

A new revenue procedure makes it easier for companies to conform with FASB's revenue recognition standard.

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

May 10

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.