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 updates accounting standards for employee benefit plans

The Financial Accounting Standards Board aims to improve financial reporting for an interest in a master trust.

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

February 27
AT Think Do accountants have low self-esteem?

It turns out that the profession has many of the symptoms -- and its holding them back.

February 27

Bill Tsotsos

BD Consultants
Tax season

A famous robot wants to ease tax pain

H&R Block is out to wrest back market share from its online tax-prep rivals with such aggressive measures as free services and interest-free advances on refunds—oh, and plunking a supercomputing Jeopardy star down on the desks of its 70,000 tax preparers.

By Bloomberg News

February 27
AT Think Proven ways for accountants to instill ethics in companies

In no department is it more important to set an example than in accounting and finance.

February 24

Curtis C. Verschoor

IMA Committee on Ethics
Audit

Proxy advisors seen adding little value in vetting audit firms

A new study questions the usefulness of proxy advisory services in helping corporate boards of directors and investors decide whether to keep or change auditing firms.

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

February 24
AT Think 3 tips to develop a strong leadership pipeline at firms

One thing that all successful companies have in common, no matter the industry, is strong leadership, and that’s also true of accounting firms.

February 24

Shanna Laughton

Halogen Software
International accounting

Accountants aid fight against global corruption

The International Federation of Accountants has released a new study on how accountants can play a big role in reducing corruption around the world.

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

February 23

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.