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Comparative Analysis Of Kpmg And Ey, Nichole A. Snow, Hali M. Phillips Dec 2019

Comparative Analysis Of Kpmg And Ey, Nichole A. Snow, Hali M. Phillips

Honors Theses

In the accounting field there are the “Big 4” which as the names implies are the largest 4 accounting firms in world. These firms provide an extensive range of auditing and assurance services (Big 4 Accounting Firms). They are also huge employers and career development centers. The members of this internationally renowned group are Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG (Big 4 Accounting Firms). Below is a brief analysis of two of these firms, KPMG and EY.


The Effects Of The H2-A Program On Southwest Michigan Farmers, Marisol Quiroz Nov 2019

The Effects Of The H2-A Program On Southwest Michigan Farmers, Marisol Quiroz

Honors Theses

Growing up as the daughter of migrant farm laborers has sparked an interest in researching the effects of the H-2A program. With more and more unwilling domestic laborers, farmers were left with a significant lack of workers. The H-2A program is a guest worker program, that brings foreign laborers into the United States in order to assist farmers in their harvesting efforts. The lack of willing domestic labors to assist farmers in times of harvest has created the need for such program. This is a reoccurring trait throughout American history, where other guest worker programs such as the H-2A program …


An Examination Of Western Michigan University's Financial Statements, Jordan Farrel Aug 2019

An Examination Of Western Michigan University's Financial Statements, Jordan Farrel

Honors Theses

In the attempt to fulfill the university’s mission, the leaders must constantly balance each decision and its effect on the various stakeholders at the university. Students, faculty, and outside enterprises all want what is best for themselves, and sometimes those wants can clash. In order to ensure that the university is allocating its resources in a way that is beneficial to stakeholders collectively and focuses on the long-term, financial analysis can be done on the university’s annual financial reports. The financial reports for universities experienced massive changes in the early to late 1990s as the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) …


Financial Reporting Of Cryptocurrency, Andrew Hartley Aug 2019

Financial Reporting Of Cryptocurrency, Andrew Hartley

Honors Theses

Cryptocurrency is a digital form of currency that uses mathematical equations to encrypt data. This type of currency has significantly grown in popularity over the past 5 years due to more people and companies using it. Some companies have started accepting it as payment in exchange for goods and services. More people are going to be turning to cryptocurrency in the future. Businesses will have to come up with ways to deal with cryptocurrency; however, the FASB has yet to define cryptocurrency, leaving businesses with no formal guidance on the subject. The purpose of this paper is to recommend a …


Case Studies Of Accounting Concepts And Methodologies, Bruce Senter May 2019

Case Studies Of Accounting Concepts And Methodologies, Bruce Senter

Honors Theses

Instead of the traditional honors thesis that is written during a winter internship and communicated to the dean throughout the course of work, the following alternative thesis is composed of twelve individual case studies that were drawn from the course Accountancy 420. The course, led by Dr. Victoria Dickinson, was scheduled in a way that the cases were worked on in conjunction with professional meetings and presentations, in which members of accounting firms or various other businesses would discuss topics relating to the current state of accounting, their specific industry, and how the two intertwine. The case studies all required, …


Case Study Of Various Financial And Managerial Accounting Issues, Thomas J. Phillips May 2019

Case Study Of Various Financial And Managerial Accounting Issues, Thomas J. Phillips

Honors Theses

This thesis is different from the traditional thesis done for the Honors College. This thesis took place over the course of 2 semesters of classes in Accounting 420. Dr. Vicki Dickinson led this class and helped shape our professional development in the field of accounting. The cases were not the only part of the thesis. Every other week of the class an accounting firm would come visit. They would have a slideshow and guest speaker and discuss accounting related topics that were relevant to the field. Afterwards there was always an opportunity to network with the professionals. There were also …


Case Analyses Of Accounting Concepts And Methodologies By William Freeman, William Freeman May 2019

Case Analyses Of Accounting Concepts And Methodologies By William Freeman, William Freeman

Honors Theses

The purpose of this honors thesis is to study different areas of accounting and create a deeper understanding of accounting in the real world. The University of Mississippi provides Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College Graduate the opportunity to craft a final thesis based on twelve different case studies. These case studies go on to cover real life topics from specific companies accounts receivable to stockholder’s equity and other areas in between. Along with these case studies, Honors Accountancy students compete in two case competitions where they are challenged with creating a plan to address different accounting issues. The plans are …


Analysis Of Financial Accounting Procedures And Reporting Topics, Janey Fielden May 2019

Analysis Of Financial Accounting Procedures And Reporting Topics, Janey Fielden

Honors Theses

This thesis contains a series of case studies completed throughout the 2017-2028 school year. These case studies divulge into theories and concepts within financial reporting and accounting. By completing this series of cases, I not only saw how transactions were made due to real-world scenarios, yet also learned why we make these journal entries. The purpose of this research was to become familiar with everyday accounting concepts and how to use them for more complex situations. This thesis will be quite different than most theses submitted to the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors college, as this covers a wide-range of topics …


Case Studies Of Standard Financial Accounting Procedures, Michael L. Reddoch May 2019

Case Studies Of Standard Financial Accounting Procedures, Michael L. Reddoch

Honors Theses

What follows is a series of case studies concerning standard financial accounting procedures completed in the 2017-2018 academic school year. The following case studies dive into particular concepts and theories within financial accounting that I had not seen or been exposed. I was challenged throughout the year to dissect scenarios seen in the real world and attempt to solve real accounting issues. I was exposed to many different theories, methods, and situations where an inquisitive accounting mind was essential. The purpose of our honors accounting class was to complete, individually, various case studies in order to expand our accounting prowess. …


An Analysis Of The United States Accounting Codification Through Practical Case Studies, Samuel Harres May 2019

An Analysis Of The United States Accounting Codification Through Practical Case Studies, Samuel Harres

Honors Theses

This document contains a collection of case studies that illustrate real-world accounting issues. These cases, 11 in all, involve both real and fictional companies and their accompanying financial statements. Each of these cases studies a specific accounting question –ranging from revenue recognition to valuing accounts receivable, among others– and requires a mix of factual responses and opinion synthesis. The cases blend analysis of various subfields within accounting, including general risk assessment and financial studies, and provide students with a broad overview of the field. Producing this thesis granted me valuable insight into current issues within the field of accounting as …


An Evaluation Of Accounting Concepts Through Case Studies, Ashton Moody May 2019

An Evaluation Of Accounting Concepts Through Case Studies, Ashton Moody

Honors Theses

This thesis evaluates fundamental accounting concepts, presentations, and special issues through case studies completed under the direction of Dr. Victoria Dickinson. The cases cover a wide range of topics, including decision-making through financial analysis, tax policies for multinational companies, and common practices and regulations for research and development. Also, the studies compared US GAAP to other prevalent accounting standards recognized across the world. The extensive reviews allowed for exploration into the technology innovations that are shaping the future of public accounting. The cases were evaluated throughout the fall of 2017 and spring of 2018. Dr. Dickinson administered the case study …


Financial Reporting Standards And Techniques Through Case Analyses, Alexandria Marquart May 2019

Financial Reporting Standards And Techniques Through Case Analyses, Alexandria Marquart

Honors Theses

During my time at the University of Mississippi, I joined The Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College (SMBHC) through the junior year entry program, while studying accountancy in The Patterson School of Accountancy. The opportunities provided by the SMBHC were endless, including the option of completing an alternate thesis. The alternate thesis truly changed the direction of my career and success in my accounting academic courses. On a bi-weekly basis for one academic year, I researched and analyzed twelve unique case studies to further my knowledge of accounting principles and standards. These cases helped me explore the unique challenges that arise …


An Exploration Of Accounting Issues Through A Series Of Case Studies, Ashley Nicole Theresa Irons May 2019

An Exploration Of Accounting Issues Through A Series Of Case Studies, Ashley Nicole Theresa Irons

Honors Theses

This work is a detailed compilation of accounting case studies that examines key accounting concepts and issues. Its purpose is to primarily explore accounting practices and methods by applying these concepts in order to analyze financial statements of existing companies. Each case study highlights a different accounting issue. This work also serves the purpose of exploring accounting concepts and technologies through research outside of case studies. Research was conducted in order to utilize the most current, accurate, and appropriate accounting principles and concepts in order to complete this work. Additionally, each topic presented throughout the series of case studies was …


A Discussion Of Accounting And Financial Reporting Topics, Catharine Mixon May 2019

A Discussion Of Accounting And Financial Reporting Topics, Catharine Mixon

Honors Theses

This thesis consists of a series of 12 separate case studies completed during my 2017-2018 school year. Each case was completed separately in an Honors Accounting 420 class that was intended to guide honors accounting students through the completion of the thesis process. Each case study focuses on a separate accounting reporting topic so that a more in depth and better understanding of the accounting procedures is achieved. The cases followed accounting topics that were separately reflected by chapters in the intermediate accounting textbook, therefore the majority of questions were answered using the intermediate accounting textbook. The Honors 420 class …


The Fundamentals Of Financial Accounting: A Case Report Series, John Gordon Campebell May 2019

The Fundamentals Of Financial Accounting: A Case Report Series, John Gordon Campebell

Honors Theses

This thesis is a compilation of twelve case reports completed and submitted in accordance with the alternative thesis requirements of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College. These cases were completed during the 2017-2018 school year under the direction and advising of Dr. Victoria Dickinson. These case reports are designed to align with the main topics of financial accounting and reporting covered in ACCY 303 and ACCY 304 at the University of Mississippi. Most of the case reports are from a case material publisher, while two others were created by Dr. Dickinson. The content of this thesis are my calculations, journal …


Exploring The Financial And Accounting Reporting Standards And Principles Under U.S. Gaap, Harrison B. P. Jensen May 2019

Exploring The Financial And Accounting Reporting Standards And Principles Under U.S. Gaap, Harrison B. P. Jensen

Honors Theses

This text is an accumulation of case studies assigned by Dr. Victoria Dickson over the course of the Professional Research and Development Research Program offered to accounting undergraduate students at the University of Mississippi. Each case serves to highlight a unique component of the financial and accounting reporting standards and principles under U.S. GAAP. The content of this text also allowed for exploring the applicability of these topics with real world examples, like international accounting, data analytics, and stockholder’s equity. Ultimately, through the process of building this text, students conclude the experience with the knowledge of the expected capabilities of …


A Comprehensive Review Of Accounting Through Case Studies, Lukas Javier Castellanos May 2019

A Comprehensive Review Of Accounting Through Case Studies, Lukas Javier Castellanos

Honors Theses

An in-depth analysis of accounting was performed through a progression of case studies which covered technical, as well as disputed, accounting concepts and theory. This was performed through the Accounting 420 class which met to further discuss and debate these topics with instructors, accounting firms, and other academic peers. These cases create scenarios from real life examples in order to portray the actual nature of accounting and its basis. This thesis contains analysis cases each with a specific emphasis and idea pertaining to an aspect of accounting. Note that Case 4 is not included as it was a calculation based …


Survey Of Accounting Principals In Generally Accepted Accounting Principals And Financial Statement Analysis, Hunter Lawrence May 2019

Survey Of Accounting Principals In Generally Accepted Accounting Principals And Financial Statement Analysis, Hunter Lawrence

Honors Theses

For my senior research thesis I decided that I would do research on various case studies that are in the field of accounting. Accounting is my major here at the University of Mississippi and I wanted to do research on a topic that is relevant to my major. I was provide a series of cases about all different subject in the accounting world. These topic were given to me by my instructor and I was to fo through each case thoroughly and answer all the questions. If I didn’t know the answer to the question or needed more insight on …


Financial Reporting: The Application Of Professional Development And Research, Hannah Hilton May 2019

Financial Reporting: The Application Of Professional Development And Research, Hannah Hilton

Honors Theses

Financial reporting is the basis upon which investors and other users make financial decisions; therefore, it is important that the information be accurate and complete in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). This thesis sought to study different areas within financial reporting, such as stockholders’ equity, revenue recognition, deferred income taxation, accounts receivable, and other relevant items in compliance with financial reporting standards. The information included in this thesis was gathered through the execution of a series of twelve case studies. The case studies, as completed, apply accounting concepts in conformity with GAAP, International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), and …


Analysis Of Financial Accounting Theory And Methodologies, Sienna Johnson May 2019

Analysis Of Financial Accounting Theory And Methodologies, Sienna Johnson

Honors Theses

The following thesis consists of a compilation of eleven case studies pertaining to various accounting theory and methodologies. Each individual case study begins with an executive summary consisting of an introduction, analysis, and conclusion. The following cases were completed throughout the 2017-2018 school year in the course, ACCY 420, taught by Dr. Vicki Dickinson. The following cases consist of detailed analysis of financial statements, accounting methods, and the use and implementation of data analytics software. These cases were individually reviewed and graded throughout the ACCY 420 course, as well as discussed and analyzed through group discussion. This thesis has been …


Application Of Accounting Principles: A Case-By-Case Study, Austin L. Daher May 2019

Application Of Accounting Principles: A Case-By-Case Study, Austin L. Daher

Honors Theses

This thesis consists of a series of case studies investigating various accounting issues in real world situations. Each case study, independent of one another, focuses on the application of different accounting standards in a variety of industries. This thesis also reinforces the understanding of underlying accounting concepts in financial statement preparation and analysis, and it presents rising accounting issues. By utilizing the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification, I was able to apply the appropriate FASB guidelines and proper accounting treatment to these specific situations. Through the completion of these studies, I have gained an enhanced understanding of …


A Compilation Of Case Studies In Financial Accounting, Hagen Gurley May 2019

A Compilation Of Case Studies In Financial Accounting, Hagen Gurley

Honors Theses

The following exploratory project delves into relevant accounting concepts in today’s economic and financial landscape. Using U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, the topics of financial reporting, deferred taxation, mergers and acquisitions, internal controls, financial ratio analysis, revenue recognition, inventory management and cost accounting, leases, and dissolution are investigated through the use of case studies. Over the course of the 12 cases presented here, the purpose is to provide a comprehensive understanding regarding the current landscape of accounting as it pertains to the topics mentioned above. The cases were conducted under the direction of Dr. Victoria Dickinson in the Patterson School …


A Comprehensive Review Of Accounting Through Case Studies, Ellen Duncan May 2019

A Comprehensive Review Of Accounting Through Case Studies, Ellen Duncan

Honors Theses

As a student of both The Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and The Patterson School of Accountancy, I have the opportunity to pursue an alternative thesis, comprised of a study of technical accounting through case studies. I compiled this research of accounting theories, principles, and data analytics systems over the course of two semesters, while simultaneously seizing bi-weekly opportunities to network with professional firms and interview for accounting internships. The opportunity to pursue an alternative thesis not only impacted my academic growth, but also my professional success. With the help of Doctor Victoria Dickinson, I was able to put the …


The State Of Financial Literacy In Tennessee: Do Students Need Higher Quality Financial Education?, Jordan Barnes May 2019

The State Of Financial Literacy In Tennessee: Do Students Need Higher Quality Financial Education?, Jordan Barnes

Honors Theses

Financial literacy is the way that individuals understand, manage, and plan their personal finances, which is essential to making healthy financial decisions. In the United States, there is an overall lack of financial literacy. Some states, such as Tennessee, have tried to increase financial literacy by implementing a required personal finance course at the high school level. The purpose of this study is to understand the effectiveness of personal finance education in Tennessee high schools by measuring the financial literacy of college students who may or may not have been impacted by the requirement. When students were separated into Group …


A Strategic Audit Of Tesla, Inc., Cody Mccain Apr 2019

A Strategic Audit Of Tesla, Inc., Cody Mccain

Honors Theses

After Tesla completed its first every back to back profitable quarters at the end of 2018, sales started to decline in the first quarter of 2019 and many question if the company would every be profitable. Through a strategic audit of Tesla and the electric vehicle industry several key factors have been identified to help improve Tesla’s profitability. Analysis tools used to analyze the company and the industry include Porter’s Five Forces, SWOT Analysis, and PEST Analysis. At the conclusion of the audit there are three recommendations given to help improve Tesla’s strategy. First it is recommended that Tesla focuses …


Financial Reporting: A Comprehensive Evaluation Of Accounting Methods And Applications, Parker Morgan Apr 2019

Financial Reporting: A Comprehensive Evaluation Of Accounting Methods And Applications, Parker Morgan

Honors Theses

This paper serves as a collection of the case studies assigned by Dr. Victoria Dickinson throughout the Professional Research and Development Thesis Program. Each of the twelve case studies presented within this thesis pertains to a different topic or problem regarding the application of accounting standards, financial reporting, or accounting methods. Additionally, this report displays the application of accounting problems to real-life situations, thus incorporating various subjects, such as investments, economics, accounting, and risk advisory. By promoting the use of group-related assignments, this course stimulated teamwork and classroom collaboration. Because of this, students were able to enhance their communication and …


Navigating The Grey Areas Within Financial Reporting: A Composition Of Case Studies, Annabelle Fortune Apr 2019

Navigating The Grey Areas Within Financial Reporting: A Composition Of Case Studies, Annabelle Fortune

Honors Theses

The following thesis consists of a composition of case studies that I wrote under the guidance of Dr. Victoria Dickinson. Over two semesters, Dr. Dickinson advised my peers and me to work through a dozen case studies covering a variety of financial accounting concepts. For most of the cases, we were presented with information and pertinent data about a company, then a series of questions for us to answer would follow. While many of the questions were objective in nature, some of the questions allowed us to be creative and provide our own recommendations to the problems presented. Aside from …


A Survey Of Financial Accounting Reporting, Charles Upton Apr 2019

A Survey Of Financial Accounting Reporting, Charles Upton

Honors Theses

This thesis takes a survey of key accounting issues and concepts addressed in financial accounting reporting. Accountancy majors of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College were given a chance to complete their thesis before their internship of senior year by taking two classes over junior year. This thesis was constructed under the guidance of Dr. Vicki Dickinson in this discussed class. The thesis itself is a compilation of twelve different accounting cases, and each case studies various area of financial reporting.


Honors Accounting Thesis, Robert Loeb Apr 2019

Honors Accounting Thesis, Robert Loeb

Honors Theses

This thesis consists of nine case studies that involved analyzing the financial statements of both domestic and international companies. These analyses examined a number of accounting related issues and key management decisions regarding accounting policies. The cases required the consideration of management’s responsibility to report accurately and completely the financial results of operations in regard to accounting policy decisions pertaining to financial statement presentation, bad debt expense recognition, and capital asset depreciation. In addition, the cases explored other current topics in accounting such as the convergence of U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles with International Financial Reporting Standards and the implementation …


Strategic Audit: Target Corporation, Andee Capell Apr 2019

Strategic Audit: Target Corporation, Andee Capell

Honors Theses

Target Corporation is a notable publicly traded discount retailer in the United States. In recent years they have gone through significant changes including a new CEO Brian Cornell and the closing of their Canadian stores. With change comes a new strategy, which includes growing stores in the United States. In order to be able to continue to grow Target should consider multiple strategic options. Using internal and external analysis, while examining Target’s profitability ratios recommendations were made to proceed with their growth both in profit and capacity. After recommendations are made implementation and contingency plans can be made.