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 The emotional side of firm M&A

It isn’t always the numbers that sink a combination.

July 21

Joel Sinkin

Transition Advisors LLC
Accounting standards

House Democrats prod FASB to require country-by-country reporting

A group of 16 House Democrats has sent a letter to the Financial Accounting Standards Board asking it to require multinational companies to disclose more country-by-country reporting information in their public financial statements about where they pay taxes and book profits.

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

July 19
AT Think 10 lessons learned in implementing new rev rec guidance

Data management software plays a key role in getting ready for the upcoming new accounting standard.

July 19

Jagan Reddy and Shauna Watson
Financial reporting

XBRL makes steady advances

Extensible Business Reporting Language is starting to become more widely used, thanks to the SEC’s rules requiring the use of XBRL in financial filings in recent years and a new rule requiring XBRL for foreign issuers.

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

July 14
CPAs

VSCPA outlines future in new initiative

The Virginia Society of CPAs' 'VSCPA2025' framework will prepare members for the next eight years.

By Sean McCabe
Senior Editor

July 14
Accounting standards

FASB changes accounting for ‘down round’ financial instruments

The Financial Accounting Standards Board has released an accounting standard update aimed at simplifying the accounting for financial instruments that have so-called “down round” features.

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

July 13
Accounting standards

GASB proposes debt disclosure changes

The Governmental Accounting Standards Board has proposed new guidance to clarify debt-related disclosures in notes to financial statements, including disclosures pertaining to direct borrowings and direct placements, for state and local governments.

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

July 12

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.