Ready, set, audit
If your business issues audited financial statements and follows a calendar year end, your external auditing procedures have already begun. At a minimum, you’ve signed an engagement letter, sent over preliminary financial statements and allowed your CPA to observe any year end physical inventory counts. But there are some steps you can still take […]
What is a business?
Differentiating the purchase of a business from the purchase of a group of assets is something that the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) has been debating for years. In January 2017, the board finally published guidance to help financial executives and accountants define what a business is in the context of a business combination. […]
Use non-GAAP financial reporting measures with caution
The most useful metric to gauge a company’s performance isn’t necessarily net income, pretax profits or earnings per share, as defined under U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). In some industries, investors and lenders turn to non-GAAP measures for additional information. Before relying on non-GAAP metrics, however, it’s important to understand what’s included and […]
Accounting for M&As
Many buyers are uncertain how to report mergers and acquisitions (M&As) under U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). After a deal closes, the buyer’s postdeal balance sheet looks markedly different than it did before the entities combined. Here’s guidance on reporting business combinations to help minimize future write-offs and restatements due to inaccurate purchase […]
Companies restate financial results for a variety of reasons
When a company reissues or revises its financial statements, some people automatically assume that management is cooking the books. But there can be legitimate reasons for restatements, beyond management incompetence and fraud. So, before leaping to conclusions, it’s important to understand what went wrong — and find ways to prevent future restatements. Complex standards Often, […]
How to report discontinued operations today
Did your company undergo a major strategic shift in 2016? If so, management may need to comply with the updated rules for reporting discontinued operations that went into effect in 2015 for most companies. Discontinued operations typically don’t happen every year, so it’s important to review the basics before preparing your year-end financial statements. […]
Reporting UTPs
Navigating the tax code — and staying atop the latest tax law developments — can be challenging for business owners. In turn, financial reporting for uncertain tax positions (UTPs), such as pending IRS audits or lawsuits, is complicated and subjective. Here’s some guidance to help clarify matters. Applying the threshold Companies that follow U.S. […]
Signs of inventory fraud
Is your inventory being stolen by dishonest employees or customers? Inventory is a prime target for fraud schemes, second only to cash. And it doesn’t always involve the physical theft of items. Here are some early warning signs that your inventory has been targeted. Know your risk profile Some companies are more at risk […]
Tips for efficient year-end physical inventory counts
Do you dread the year-end physical inventory count? Business owners and managers often view these procedures as time consuming and disruptive. But a well-executed inventory count is more than a matter of compliance. It can also provide valuable insight into improving operational efficiency. Here’s how to run your count to maximize the benefits and […]
Fair value reporting: What it means to the FASB and you
In 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), as part of its move toward international financial reporting convergence, began to transition from the principle of historic cost to fair value reporting. Fair value estimates are now used to report such assets as derivatives, nonpublic entity securities, certain long-lived assets, and acquired goodwill and other intangibles. […]
