Financial reporting

The Financial Accounting Standards Board intends to host a pair of public roundtable meetings in the fall to discuss issues related to private company accounting and reporting standards.

The International Accounting Standards Board has proposed delaying by two years the mandatory effective date for its IFRS 9 standards for financial instruments, postponing them from Jan. 1, 2013 to Jan. 1, 2015.

About a year and a half ago, our editorial team was involved in the annual ritual of envisioning new products that our sales team could potentially take to market and, hopefully, attract several interested sponsors.

There has been a growing demand over the past 10 years for information on corporate behavior, which could include environmental impact, employee health and safety initiatives, community development, supply chain practices, and a host of other topics. A lot of these issues are addressed through sustainability reporting.

A BUSY SUMMER

The Securities and Exchange Commission has written to Groupon asking the company behind the popular group discount site to clarify the accounting measures it used in its filing for an initial public offering.

PwC has released the second edition of “A Guide to Forensic Accounting Investigation,” providing a step-by-step approach to fraud prevention, investigation and deterrence.

The National Association of State Boards of Accountancy and the American Institute of CPAs have launched a new Web site, CPAmobility.org, that provides up-to-date information on the status of CPA mobility laws across the country.

The Financial Accounting Standards Board has beefed up its standards for multiple-employer pension plans, requiring employers to provide more information about their pension plan obligations, particularly for unionized employees.

Michael Andrew, chairman-elect of KPMG International, announced the firm's new leadership team today, including a new deputy chairman and new global heads of tax and advisory, as well as a new regional leader in Asia-Pacific.

The London-based International Valuation Standards Council has published a set of new International Valuation Standards covering a wide range of assets.

There used to be this great TV spot for a large commercial bank that spoofed its competitors' overlong waiting periods before depositors could get approved for a loan.

The Governmental Accounting Standards Board issued two new standards Wednesday that aim to improve government financial reporting in two timely areas: providing taxpayers and others with information about how past transactions will continue to affect a government’s financial statements in the future, and clarifying the circumstances in which hedge accounting continues to be applied when a swap counterparty, or related credit support provider, is replaced.

The Financial Accounting Standards Board has begun developing a “differential framework” that would help provide a short-term solution for creating distinct standards or exceptions for private companies.

The Governmental Accounting Standards Board issued a “preliminary views” document Monday on the recognition and measurement of elements of financial statements.

The Governmental Accounting Standards Board is proposing some far-reaching changes in the field of pension accounting that should affect public employees and state and local governments across the country.

The Governmental Accounting Standards Board has issued two exposure drafts proposing improvements to financial reporting of pensions by state and local governments.

The International Accounting Education Standards Board has proposed a set of clarified standards and revisions governing the practical experience requirements for aspiring professional accountants.

JULY

The Securities and Exchange Commission held a roundtable discussion Thursday on International Financial Reporting Standards and how they ultimately might be incorporated into the U.S. financial reporting system.