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.

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DOL, SEC Issue Guidance on Conflicts of Interest of Pension Consultants

The U.S. Department of Labor and the Securities and Exchange Commission have published tips to assist fiduciaries of employee benefit plans in reviewing conflicts of interest of pension consultants.

June 2
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Bush Nominates Cox for SEC Post

A day after Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman William Donaldson announced that he would step down from his post at the end of the month, President Bush announced his nomination of Republican Congressman Christopher Cox of California as the next head of the SEC.

June 2
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SEC's Donaldson To Step Down

Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman William H. Donaldson announced that he would step down at the end of the month.

June 1
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AIG Files 2004 Annual Report, Slashes Profits

Following the completion of an internal review, insurer American International Group Inc. finally filed its repeatedly delayed 2004 annual report.

May 31
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Policing Others, SEC Has Internal Control Weaknesses of Its Own

The Securities and Exchange Commission, which has been after public companies to tighten their internal controls as mandated by Sarbanes-Oxley, needs to do some tightening itself, according to the Government Accountability Office.

May 30
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SAG to Discuss PCAOB Auditing Standard No. 2

The Standing Advisory Group of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board will meet next month to discuss topics related to the implementation of PCAOB Auditing Standard No. 2, which deals with internal control audits.

May 30
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Board Releases Guidance for Attest Engagements Regarding XBRL

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board released guidance related to attest engagements regarding Extensible Business Reporting Language data furnished under the Securities and Exchange Commission XBRL Voluntary Financial Reporting Program on the Edgar System.

May 26

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.