Regulatory actions and programs

The Governmental Accounting Standards Board has added two new members: municipal securities investment manager William W. Fish and government auditor James E. Brown.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has filed suit in a Massachusetts federal court against JBI Inc., a Canadian company that claims to be able to convert waste plastic into clean-burning oil.

New York State’s Accounting Reform law makes quality reviews of the attest services of accounting firms mandatory as of Jan. 1, 2012.

Many of us on the Blue Ribbon Panel on Standard-Setting for Private Companies believed we were on the verge of an historic change that would have relieved millions of privatecompanies of accounting standards geared more to the needs of public companies and their financial statement users. That's why there is so much disappointment over the fact that the recent proposal by the Financial Accounting Foundation rejected the cornerstone of the panel's recommendations - to create a new standard-setting board that would have the authority to establish modifications in Generally Accepted Accounting Principles that reflect differences for private companies.

The Texas Society of CPAs’ Professional Standards Committee has sent a comment letter to the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board taking issue with the PCAOB’s proposed requirement for the lead auditor to sign off on an audit.

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board released its latest inspection report of Ernst & Young on Thursday and found that some of the deficiencies it uncovered rose to the level of “audit failures.”

Congress has reauthorized the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs for another six years.

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board posted its 2010 inspection report on Deloitte & Touche on Tuesday, highlighting what it called “audit failures.”

The U.S. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board said Tuesday it has entered into a cooperative agreement with the Arab state of Dubai for the oversight of auditors in both countries.

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board voted Tuesday to re-propose for public comment its proposed standards for how auditors should communicate with audit committees.

The Institute of Internal Auditors has sent a comment letter to the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board taking issue with the PCAOB’s proposal to require mandatory rotation of audit firms for listed companies, echoing concerns from the American Institute of CPAs and the New York State Society of CPAs.

The Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission has released for public comment an updated version of its internal control framework in response to changes in the business environment and their associated risks.

Lack of clarity about the requirements for the Small Business Lending Fund that was established last year by the Small Business Jobs Act led to confusion among both lenders and borrowers alike, according to a new government report.

IMGCAP(1)]As the SEC’s limited liability provisions on Extensible Business Reporting Language data begin to expire, public companies find themselves looking for answers about how current and future legislation will affect their filings.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has released its latest review of Interactive Data Financial Statement submissions and found that filers are making progress.

Former U.S. Senator and New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine faced questions from a skeptical congressional panel Thursday over his role in the collapse of MF Global and the disappearance of $1.2 billion from customer accounts.

The Financial Accounting Standards Board and the International Accounting Standards Board appear to be growing tired of trying to resolve their many disagreements after 10 years of ups and downs in their relationship, and the main question now seems to be whether it will be an amicable split.

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board has published a staff alert cautioning auditors to beware of the risks of material misstatements in the financial statements they audit in today’s volatile economic environment.

IMGCAP(1)]Many of us on the Blue Ribbon Panel on Standard Setting for Private Companies believed we were on the verge of an historic change that would have relieved millions of private companies of accounting standards geared more to the needs of public companies and their financial statement users.

The Securities and Exchange Commission will delay its eagerly anticipated decision for a few more months on whether or not to incorporate International Financial Reporting Standards into the U.S. financial reporting system.