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

PCAOB Calls for Research Candidates

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board announced that it is accepting applications for research fellowships for next year.

By Daniel Hood
Editor-in-chief

October 16
Audit

Key Differences Between New Private Company and GAAP Reporting Standards

In the first article in this series, we explained the concepts behind the American Institute of CPAs release of its guidelines called Financial Reporting Framework for Small and Medium-Sized Entities (or FRF for SMEs).

October 14
Audit

Accounting Profession Looks to Provide Relief to Small Business

An alternate financial reporting tool is available for small- and medium-sized entities.

October 7
AT Think AICPA Provides Guidance on Liquidation Basis of Accounting in Employee Benefit Plans

The American Institute of CPAs Employee Benefit Plans Expert Panel has developed some new practice aids to provide nonauthoritative guidance about the effects of recent accounting standards relating to the liquidation basis of accounting on employee benefit plans.

October 2

Michael Cohn
Audit

Assurance News

A roundup of recent audit and assurance news.

October 1
Accounting standards

New Challenges on the Horizon

Financial instrument accounting is on the verge of major changes.

October 1
Accounting firm services

The Great American Accounting Opportunity

Small firms aren't what they used to be.

By Darren Root
Chief strategist

October 1

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.