Business Commons^™

Strategic Audit Of The Public Accounting Industry With A Focus On Ey, Mary Candela

Honors Theses

Public accounting firms provide valuable assurance services that, because of their place in our economic system and because of strong regulatory requirements, are unlikely to stop being demanded. The industry is facing several issues surrounding stagnation of the client base and difficulty in competition. Finally, the industry is also being rocked by the pace of emerging technologies and will need to adapt to and embrace them in the coming years.

The following uses several strategic frameworks to analyze the industry, the subset of the Big Four accounting firms, and EY. Ultimately, this project develops and understanding of EY’s place in …

The Role Of Forensic Accounting In U.S. Counterterrorism Efforts, Madison Gaither

Honors Theses

The September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center directed international attention to the financial component of terrorist operations. The demand for forensic accounting specialists is increasing rapidly because of a growing intolerance for fraud and terrorist activity. This research paper argues that forensic accountants have and will continue to have a vital role in United States’ counterterrorism efforts in the post-9/11 era by detecting acts of fraud and money laundering. Comprehensive review of relevant literature including books, peer-reviewed articles, government databases, court records and news media reveals that forensic accountants are equipped with special skills and analytical tools that …

Rhetoric In Financial Reporting: Evaluation Of Isa 720, Qingyuan Guo

Honors Theses

Prior research show that many investors rely on other information appearing alongside the audited financial statements in companies’ annual reports to make their economic decisions and falsely assume that the unaudited other information is also audited. Additionally, company management utilizes rhetorical strategies in other information to offer explanations and opinions conveying positive messages about the company value which audited financial data may not indicate. The expectation gap of investors on audit over other information and the concern of management manipulation incentivized the proposal of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) to establish a standard to extend auditors’ responsibility over …

The Impact Of The 120/150-Hour Rule On Candidates To Sit For The Certified Public Accountant (Cpa) Exam: A Study On Women, Aubrey Sanders

Honors Theses

To become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), one must first qualify to take the exam and consequently, earn the licensure. While the information on the CPA exam tests the candidates on uniform information, the education eligibility requirements to both sit for and earn licensure vary among the U.S. states and jurisdictions. Currently, thirty-nine of the fifty-four U.S. jurisdictions – including Mississippi – have adopted what has become known as the 120/150 educational credit hour rule. This rule allows candidates to begin taking the exam upon earning 120 credit hours, which is equivalent to a bachelor's degree; however, candidates may not …

Strategic Audit: Deloitte, Yibing Shen

Honors Theses

The project’s goal is to analyze the current situation and problems faced by Deloitte, and give out recommendation, implementation plan, and contingency plan for Deloitte. The methods to do the project is to research online to get adequate information and make assumptions for the information I cannot gather. The results are: I find out that Deloitte is competitive as one of the big four accounting firms, but it is facing the problem of brand dilution and reputational contagion due to its fast expansion and acquisition; the partner firms are not linked or connected as they expected to be. So the …

Application Of Accounting Principles In A Collection Of Case Studies, Tamara Kalmykova

Honors Theses

This thesis is a compilation of case studies that I have conducted within the period of 6 months. Each case study is independent from one another. The main purpose of these case studies is to investigate complex accounting issues that are very common in real practice. In each case I did my best to understand accounting principles that are applied in a specific situation and further investigate the issue. In order to identify the problematic areas, I analyzed the facts that were given to me and then implemented solutions based on my accounting knowledge and extensive research I have conducted. …

Financial Reporting: A Case Study Analysis, Darby Mills

Honors Theses

This paper looks at accountancy following the application of the U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) through case study analysis. Within this paper, there are twelve case studies that cover areas of financial accounting, financial statement analysis, and research. The financial accounting cases cover several topics, such as stockholder's equity, inventory, leases, and deferred tax assets and liabilities. The financial statement analysis cases use ratios, creation of financial reports, and commentary to discuss in further detail the financial statements. The FASB Codification is used as a basis for research in many cases. Dr. Vicki Dickinson facilitated each case within this …

A Compilation Of Accounting Case Studies, Elizabeth Forbes Owen

Honors Theses

This thesis has been prepared to meet requirements for the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College in alliance with The Patterson School of Accountancy. Throughout the course of a year, I studied and researched various topics within the world of accounting and business. This thesis serves as a compilation of each of those cases. Topics vary from issues dealing with inventory, revenue, and depreciation to sifting through the FASB's Codification to support client requests. Each case presents a new topic within accounting with support for the given question or issues the client presented. At the end of each case, an outcome …

A Collection Of Accounting Case Studies Analyzing Financial Reporting, Jessica Lee Pearson

Honors Theses

The following thesis contains a group of twelve accounting case studies that were completed between August 2016 and May 2017. The cases deal with a number of different accounting topics including depreciation, inventory valuation, formatting financial statements, the new revenue recognition standard, leases, using the Codification Research System, internal controls, stock-based compensation, and deferred income taxes. Each of these cases were picked to follow along with what was being taught in Intermediate Accounting at the time, and they were useful in building on the information I was already learning. The cases provided a different way of looking at each of …

A Case By Case Study On Accounting Principles, Cody Letchworth

Honors Theses

This thesis contains twelve different case studies that regard some of accounting's key principles. Each case is different in its own right and contains vital applications that relate to real-world scenarios. From analysis of business activities to computation of inventory, each case presents the opportunity to learn how real-world scenarios are approached and executed. Over an eight-month period, each case was prepared through analysis and other means. Each case presents its own outcome and findings due to the fact that each case is unique. With the compilation of all twelve cases, this thesis presents a brief glimpse of how to …

A Comprehensive Review Of Accounting Through Case Studies, E. Dean Ramsey

Honors Theses

The following thesis is a comprehensive overview of financial accounting concepts. Publicly-trade companies have to follow certain accounting standards, and the concepts that arise have real-world significance. The purpose of this thesis was to gain a better understanding of these underlying concepts and see how they impact the decision-making processes of companies. These concepts are not uniformly applied to all companies, meaning that accountants have to design unique accounting systems within each company. The goal for accountants is to produce a set of financial statements that are free from material misstatements that can be used by investors. Each section of …

A Case By Case Analysis Of Fasb And Its Public Accounting Application, Ethan E. Holmes

Honors Theses

The following compilation of cases explore the intricacies of public accounting by simulating real life situations and problems that arise when using and applying the commonly accepted public accounting concepts and regulation. Using prompts for each case that were provided by Dr. Victoria Dickinson, Ph.D., CPA, of the Patterson School of Accountancy, I applied my knowledge of accounting concepts along with supplementation from the Federal Accounting Standards Board's (FASB) Codification to interoperate, draw conclusions about, and give opinions on each case.

Delving Into Corporate Accounting, Allison Ann Floyd

Honors Theses

Delving into Corporate Accounting uses the financial statements of companies within the corporate realm to highlight key accounting aspects. There are a couple of instances within this thesis where hypothetical situations were given to further investigate the role of a specific concept as it relates to the industry. This is made obvious by the presence of a series of questions. Furthermore, the exploration of various accounting concepts was completed via Accountancy 420. My classmates and I conducted our studies on each concept over two semesters, fall 2016 and spring 2017. Ultimately, the collation of company research and hypothetical instances contributed …

A Journey Of Knowledge Through Various Case Studies, Rachel S. Rutledge

Honors Theses

This thesis projects the profound amount of knowledge in accountancy found within real world scenarios called 'case studies.' Each of the twelve chapters in this thesis presents a different topic or problem for Rutledge Consulting Group, in which I, CEO, must use tools like the FASB Codification and financial planning, to help find solutions for our clients. The twelve cases include scenarios dealing with financial analysis for investments, proper allocation of revenues and expenses, internal controls and fraud prevention, inventory, capitalization of costs, employee benefits and retraining, common stock, compensation plans, unearned revenue recognition, deferred income taxes, and differing lease …

The Fundamentals Of Accounting: A Series Of Case Reports, Thomas W. Kemp

Honors Theses

I researched popular topics covering all aspects of Accountancy through a series of case reports. Each case report was different and provided a different focus. It begins with a case covering a full financial analysis of two similar companies, with my opinion of which was a better investment with an explanation. This case is broad, and focuses on different aspects of financial statements. It continues with a case devoted to income statement presentations with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Codification serving as the basis of reasoning. I then delve into a case involving a chocolate manufacturer. I record journal …

Corporate Accountancy Case Research And Analytics, Elizabeth Clutton

Honors Theses

Corporate accounting is an ever-evolving beast that ebbs and flows with social and technological trends. Management faces new challenges with every interaction and must deal with the consequences. Accounting firms pioneer strategies and solutions to cope with changing regulations and accounting methods while abiding by their governing bodies. The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board as established by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 is responsible for monitoring and correcting public companies. The Financial Accounting Standards Board established by the Financial Accounting Foundation is considered to be the Generally Accepted Accounting Standard setting body for the PCAOB. The cases discussed below all …

Dilemmas In The Accounting World: A Case-By-Case Solution Series, Guy Thornton

Honors Theses

This paper is a collection of case studies performed with different real-world numbers from various companies whose names have been changed for confidentiality reasons. The different cases examine financial statements from these companies, and each case has a different topic of accounting to examine and answer questions about. The only outside source I used to answer these questions came from the FASB Codification. While most of the answers are correct, some may be just opinionated based on the research I did with the Codification and outside knowledge from the classroom. I am thankful for the opportunity I had to work …

The Study Of Key Accounting Principles On A Case-By-Case Basis, Jennifer Clara Lyons

Honors Theses

The following are solutions to a series of case studies highlighting the key concepts of financial reporting in accounting. The cases were completed in fulfillment of the requirements for honors ACCY 420 course at the University of Mississippi for both the fall and spring semesters of the 2016/2017 academic school year. Each case focused on a different area of financial reporting within a company, or companies within the same industry. Each case contained a problem set requiring an understanding of accounting concepts, analysis of financial stability, mathematical calculations, and preparation of journal entries and financial statements.

A Compilation Of Analyses Of Financial Reporting, Kellie A. Shannon

Honors Theses

The purpose of this paper is to explore financial reporting topics through twelve separate case studies. The following cases were completed over the course of a year in the independent study class Accy 420. The case studies provided the opportunity to explore accounting topics beyond the journal entries typically taught in accounting classes. In-class discussions and the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification guided the development of the solutions to the twelve cases. For each case, I learned the applicable FASB guidance and the theory behind the appropriate accounting treatment. The case studies allowed me to explore topics …

The Fundamentals Of Gaap: Case Studies Of Accounting Principles, Lindsey N. Dunn

Honors Theses

The following paper consists of solutions to case studies that provide an overview of accounting principles in accordance with the Generally Accepted Accounting Principle set forth by the Financial Standards Accounting Board. Each case addresses a different area of financial reporting within a specific company, and demonstrates comprehension and practice of accounting concepts, financial analysis, and preparation of financial statements. These cases were completed under the direction of Dr. Victoria Dickinson in fulfillment of the requirements for the University of Mississippi ACCY 420 honors course in the 2016-2017 academic year.

A Quantitative And Analytical Study Of Accounting Principles, Logan Racine

Honors Theses

This thesis is dedicated to my dear parents, Todd and Kristen Racine, who have passionately devoted their lives to the education and betterment of our youth. Their work continues to inspire thousands of students, and I am just one of them. I would not be the student, friend, or man I have become today without them.

An Analysis Of Managerial Accounting And Corporate Reporting Practices, Matthew Mcinnis

Honors Theses

This paper explores topics including financial accounting, financial reporting, FASB guidance, managerial accounting, and more. The paper is broken into twelve sections (cases) which are independent from one another. The topics are discussed using fictitious and real-world example companies and financial data. Development of analytical skills, technical proficiency, and an improved approach to a wide range of accounting problems were among the goals of this work and the class in which it was conducted. These goals were achieved by repeated guided analysis that followed the pace of the accounting education offered in the main courses in the Accountancy curriculum; the …

A Basic Understanding Of Accounting Principles: A Case-By-Case Study, Rachel Lee Prestwood

Honors Theses

To complete my thesis, the Patterson School of Accountancy and the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors college created a special class just for accounting majors to complete their theses on time. This thesis is a collection of case studies illustrating many topics in the study of accounting. Each case study covers a different topic including the revenue cycle, leases, fraud, inventory classification, and much more. Data is presented in financial statements, tables, and in reports. Instead of covering one topic, the topics examined are all topics/issues an accountant could face throughout their career. An accountant has many different faces: financial advisor, …

A Case Study In The Principles And Practice Of Accounting, Ryan Maddigan

Honors Theses

The research for this thesis project is intended to be a comprehensive study on the various concepts present in the principles and practice of accounting. This includes financial analyses and other examinations of financial information for a variety of different situations and companies using several different measures and concepts. The goal of these case studies is to determine accounting best practices based on GAAP for each company and their effect on the company's financial statements and reporting. This was determined specifically through analysis by comparison of accounting ratios on profitability, liquidity, turnover, financial leverage and dividend policy as well as …

Case Analyses Of Accounting Concepts And Methodologies, Austin Garrett

Honors Theses

As accounting majors in the Sally Barksdale Honors College at Ole Miss, students are offered an honors accounting course that involves weekly class meetings that allow them to satisfy the thesis requirement of the Honors College. Rather than attempting to write a traditional thesis while reporting to the dean during the spring internship, the Honors 420 Alternative Thesis Course allows students to complete twelve different case studies that are ultimately compiled into a final thesis. Each case is completed by using different methods of research and compilation. Research includes analyzing publications in the FASB codification, examining financial statements in cases …

A Case By Case Exploration Of Accountancy Issues In Corporate Reporting, Christopher Feazell

Honors Theses

The following are solutions to a series of cases based on relevant and prevalent accounting issues in corporate financial reporting. Each case was completed in partial requirement of the honors ACCY 420 course at the University of Mississippi. The ACCY 420 course was an academic year long course, spanning the fall 2016 and spring 2017 semesters. Each case was focused on a specific accountancy issue in corporate reporting. Some cases are directly related to public companies whereas others are specific to the accountancy issue. Accordingly, each case is different. Some cases involve a combination of ratio analysis, the preparation of …

Survey Of Accountancy In Generally Accepted Accounting Principles And Financial Statement Analysis, Evan Turner

Honors Theses

This paper surveys the current landscape of accountancy following U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles through a series of twelve case studies spanning different areas of financial reporting, taxation, financial statement analysis, and research. Several cases involve research using sections from the FASB Codification, financial statement analysis using ratios, and commentary on the impact from the perspective of users of financial statements. The cases span several areas of financial accounting including leases, stockholders equity, inventory, and deferred tax assets/liabilities in order to offer a broad perspective on the current landscape of financial reporting through individual, focused cases. The cases within this …

Financial Reporting: The Application Of Professional Development And Research, Jordan Pendergraft

Honors Theses

This paper serves as a compilation of the case studies assigned by Dr. Victoria Dickinson throughout the Professional Research and Development Thesis Program. Each of the twelve studies contained within this thesis present a different topic or problem concerning accounting standards or the application of financial reporting. In addition, this report demonstrates the application of accounting studies to real-world scenarios, thus integrating various fields, such as risk assessment, investments, finance, and accounting. Additionally, this course and continuous research assignment promoted teamwork and classroom collaboration, as the studies were assigned to task groups. Through the use of repetitive group projects, students …

Financial Reporting: The Application Of The Accounting Standards Codification, Katherine Camilleri

Honors Theses

The following presents a series of case studies in various areas of financial reporting. The purpose of these case studies is to further understand the concepts found in the Accounting Standards Codification and see how they can be applied in the real world. Each study focused on a different area of financial accounting and the appropriate ways to account for transactions in a company's four financial statements: the Income Statement, the Statement of Changes in Stockholders' Equity, the Balance Sheet, and the Statement of Cash Flows. To understand the situations and transactions each case study presented, I called upon the …

Understanding The Basic Principles Of Accounting: A Case-By-Case Application, Katherine Collins Murphy

Honors Theses

This paper presents a range of solutions to twelve separate case studies that explore the basic principles of accounting. Each case study introduces a key topic of financial reporting that relates to a specific company or industry. The solutions were created in response to problem sets in each case that guided the analysis of the topic at hand. These problems required a basic understanding of accounting concepts and U.S. GAAP. The cases are independent of each other and require an assortment of skills including the preparation of journal entries, T-charts, and financial statements, along with a general comprehension of accounting …