Audit & Accounting

A key outside advisory committee wants the Securities and Exchange Commission to be more open to accepting an accountant's judgment in interpreting standards.

A new report finds the cost of compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 internal control audit requirements for smaller public companies is actually about 14 percent lower than the Securities and Exchange Commission's original estimates.

The Tax Governance Institute plans to host a video Webcast on the new tax preparer standards on Jan. 15 from 1 pm to 2:30 pm EST.

The audit market for large public companies has become more concentrated among the Big Four firms, but not enough to require corrective action, according to a government report.

KPMG has created a Web portal with accounting and business resources for university professors.

The International Accounting Standards Board has issued a revised version of its standards for accounting for business combinations such as mergers and acquisitions, in coordination with the Financial Accounting Standards Board, in a move that will highlight the expenses of business combinations that used to be considered assets.

Deborah Nolan, former commissioner of the Large and Mid-Size Business Division of the Internal Revenue Service, has joined Ernst & Young as a partner.

New York University's School of Continuing and Professional Education plans to begin offering a new certificate in not-for-profit accounting and governmental reporting.

The Mortgage Bankers Association has written to the Financial Accounting Standards Board asking for more flexibility in accounting for troubled mortgages to help prevent foreclosures.

Anchin, Block & Anchin LLP has merged with H.J. Behrman, adding 26 accounting and tax professionals to Anchin's roster and building the firm's real estate practice.