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.

Audit

SEC and FASB Update GAAP Taxonomy for 2016

The Securities and Exchange Commission has accepted the Financial Accounting Standards Boards 2016 GAAP Financial Reporting Taxonomy.

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

March 8
Audit

FASB Removes Effective Dates for Private Company Accounting Alternatives

The Financial Accounting Standards Board has issued an accounting standards update for private companies that opt to apply private company accounting alternatives, removing the effective dates for four of the alternatives.

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

March 7
Audit

Regulators Prod Audit Firms to Improve Quality by 2019

The six largest audit firm networks have agreed with international audit regulators on a new initiative to achieve a measurable reduction in audit deficiency findings by 2019.

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

March 7
AT Think ACCA Chief Helen Brand Expands Education of Accountants Abroad

Helen Brand, chief executive of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, is on a mission to expand accounting education across the world.

March 4

Michael Cohn
AT Think New Leasing Standard Could Benefit Companies

The Financial Accounting Standards Boards new lease accounting standard could have some positive payoffs for companies if they take a careful approach to implementing it.

March 3

Michael Cohn
Audit

Why FASB Should Hit Pause

Two professors argue that financial reporting and accounting standards are increasingly irrelevant.

March 2
AT Think Bloomberg BNA Reports on Leasing Standard

Bloomberg BNA has published a special report to help accountants prepare for the Financial Accounting Standards Boards new leasing standard.

March 1

Michael Cohn

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.