Business Commons^™

Technical Default, Auditors' Decisions And Future Financial Distress, Michael S. Wilkins

School of Business Faculty Research

A study was conducted to examine auditors' responses to first-time debt covenant violations and to assess whether these responses can be employed to forecast financial distress. Data were drawn from a sample of 159 companies traded on the NYSE/AMEX or NASDAQ that had initial default dates ranging from 1978 to 1988. The findings reveal that auditors are more likely to need debt reclassification when the violations are not waived by lenders. However, the waiver decision does not seem to significantly affect the auditor's qualification decision. For companies experiencing technical default, the audit option is an important determinant of future financial …

On The Answer-Arrangement Bias Of Professional Certification Examinations In Accounting, Marshall A. Geiger, Mark M. Higgins

Accounting Faculty Publications

The test construction literature has emphasized the randomization of answers within multiple-choice items as a way to eliminate test construction bias. This study examines the answer placement bias of the multiple-choice portion of the 1987 - 1992 CIA, CMA, and CPA exams. The results indicate a consistent bias toward the "A" position in the CIA exam and against the "A" and "E" positions on the CMA exam. Also, all three exams were found to have significantly fewer correct answer runs (e.g., four "A's" in a row) than would be expected from the random placement of answers. A discussion of test …

Global Auditing And Accounting Confusion, John P. Mcallister, Larry L. Orsini, John D. Gould

Faculty and Research Publications

The article discusses about the accounting and audit standards in the United States, which is different from one country to another due to business practices, fiscal systems and the law regulating a company. The International Federation of Accountants and the International Accounting Standards Committee aimed to a have a consistency of audit and accounting standards around the world, although these diversities can easily identify a company's national origin and as a basis of the financial statements presentation.

Auditor Judgment Confidence: Direct Evidence For The Process View, Marshall A. Geiger, A.C. Lloyd Spurrell

Accounting Faculty Publications

Although there has been considerable research on audit judgment processes and structures, one area that has received little attention is auditor judgment confidence. Determining the nature of confidence attainment has direct implications for audit practice, particularly regarding the timing of evidence evaluation leading to final judgments. The present study extends the early work of Pincus (1991) and is the first to provide direct evidence in support of the process view of audit judgment confidence.

Seasonal Adjustment Of Naira Exchange Rate Statistics 1970-1995, O M. Akinuli

CBN Occasional Papers

This paper uses a current statistical approach to examine and adjust the seasonalities in the Naira exchange rate statistics, vis-a-vis the U.S. Dollar and the pound sterling for a period of twenty-five (25) years. Such study is necessary as it helps to understand the behavioural pattern of a trend in an attempt to predict the future. An investigation like this also helps to expose both the short and long run tendencies of a series which may require urgent or new policy measures to be taken sooner than expected. This paper reviews the regimes of exchange rate under the period, the …

Retirement Plan Contributions And Withdrawals, Paul J. Streer, Ray A. Knight, A. Bruce Clements

Faculty and Research Publications

Qualified retirement plans provide for tax deferral, but they are also subject to a 15% excise tax on excess distributions or accumulations, potentially higher marginal income tax rates on plan withdrawals, mandatory contributions for employers, estate taxes at death, and possible substantial income tax liability for plan beneficiaries. Three possible planning strategies to optimize return on funds available for contributions to a qualified plan include investment in alternative assets, lifetime gifts, and accelerated plan withdrawals. While the 3-year suspension of excess distribution excise taxes under the Small Business Job Protection Act may favor plan withdrawals, in certain situations participants are …

Finding Auditors Liable For Fraud: What The Jury Heard In The Phar Mor Case, David M. Cottrell, Steven M. Glover

Faculty Publications

The Phar Mor case involved a massive collusive fraud by management. Although there were no claims the auditors participated in the fraud, plaintiffs' attorneys were able to convince the jury that the firm was liable for fraud on the grounds it made representations recklessly with regard to GAAS and GAAP.

Giving Credits Where Credits Are Due: Revising The Script On Hollywood's Books, Lisa Simmons

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

For the past decade, the motion picture industry has been heavily scrutinized for its questionable accounting practices. This paper reviews these practices and shows how motion picture companies have manipulated accounting numbers to further their financial interests. The paper also discusses several proposed reforms to restore the public's faith in the financial assessment of motion picture companies.

A Comparison Of Information Systems Coverage In The Cpa, Cia And Cma Examinations For The Period 1987-1991, Michael D. Akers, Lloyd D. Doney

Accounting Faculty Research and Publications

In recent years, three major accounting professional organizations, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) and Internal Auditors Institute (IIA) have considered and issued statements on the body of knowledge deemed necessary for practice as a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Management Accountant and Certified Internal Auditor. In each instance, knowledge and skills in information systems technology were included. This is not surprising, in view of the fact that changes in technology have dramatically altered the way in which accounting data is gathered, processed, stored, accessed and reported.

Each of these professional organizations also requires …

Is International Reciprocity Possible?, Abdel M. Agami, Karen Cascini

WCBT Faculty Publications

Even though there seems to be almost unanimous acceptance among countries that professional accountants must be educated, pass some professional examinations, and have some practical experience, the recipe for the quantity of each of the 3 ingredients varies from one country to another. To determine if international reciprocity is possible, the professional accountancy qualifications of 8 countries were surveyed: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, the UK and the US.

Raising Capital Overseas, John D. Gould, John P. Mcallister, Larry L. Orsini

Faculty and Research Publications

The article states that more and more companies are trying to raise capital by listing their securities for sale on foreign exchanges.More and more companies are trying to raise capital by listing their securities for sale on foreign exchanges. However, the way financial statements are prepared varies from one country to the next. U.S. companies looking to raise capital abroad must consider the myriad rules regarding financial statement presentation just as foreign companies listing stock in the United States must adhere to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Similarly, the costs of reconciling U.S. accounting standards …

1997-1998 Operating Budget, Morehead State University. Budget & Financial Planning Office.

Morehead State University Operating Budgets Archive

1997-1998 Operating Budget of Morehead State University.

Consumption Taxes: An Examination, Joshua E. Richardson '97

Honors Projects

The current in orne tax system fails to achieve several of these goals. This paper will examine three alternatives to the income tax: a national sales tax, a value added tax, and a personal expen iture tax. The three taxes create the same tax on an item of consumption through different methods. These options will be discussed in comparison to the current income tax on the basis of administrative efficiency, equity, economic consequences, and transitional difficulties.

Measuring Risk-Based Capital, Karen Anderson '97

Honors Projects

In order to assure policyholders that their benefits will be available when they are needed, the National Association ofInsurance Commissioners (NAIC) has begun regulating insurer capital through the Risk-Based Capital (RBC) Model Act for life insurance companies. The Model Act helps state insurance regulators plan to preserve and protect adequate insurance capital levels and maintain insurer solvency. The RBC requirements provide for a ratio which assesses the level of risk that is associated with an insurance company's assets. The purpose of the NAIC's RBC calculation is to develop the minimum amount of surplus needed given the risks assumed by the …

1996-1997 Financial Summary, Morehead State University. Budget & Financial Planning Office.

Morehead State University Financial Summaries Archive

1996-1997 Financial Summary of Morehead State University.

Master Of Accounting A Degree Program For Professionals In Accounting, Nova Southeastern University

Huizenga Undergraduate Course Catalogs

No abstract provided.

An Abstract Of "International Accounting Disclosure Standards", Shelley Loberg

Honors Theses, 1963-2015

My thesis examines similarities and differences of disclosure standards from three different countries in three different areas from one multi-national corporation. 1995 financial statements from honeywell Incorporated, the United States parent company, and two Honeywell subsidiaries, one each located in the United Kingdom and Australia are examined for disclosure of accounting policies, accounting for contingencies and accounting for goodwill. Comparisons are given for the standards themselves, as well as the accounting policy chosen by each company. International Accounting Standards are also compared for the three disclosure areas. Comparability, especially for potential investors, is the main focus of harmonizing accounting disclosure …

Journal Of Actuarial Practice, Volume 5, No. 1, 1997, Colin Ramsay , Editor

Journal of Actuarial Practice (1993-2006)

ARTICLES

Providing Pensions for U.K. Employees with Varied Working Lives • Deborah R. Cooper

Seeking the Profitability-Risk-Competitiveness Frontier Using a Genetic Algorithm • Ronnie Tan

Fuzzy Underwriting: An Application of Fuzzy Logic to Medical Underwriting • Per-Johan Horgby, * Ralf Lohse, and Nicola-Alexander Sittaro

Accelerated Death Benefits, Viatical Settlements, and Viatical Loans: Options for the Terminally III • Paula Schmidt

The Right to Underwrite? An Actuarial Perspective With a Difference • Thomas A. Moultrie and R. Guy Thomast

Discussion of T.A. Moultrie and R.G. Thomas's ''The Right to Underwrite? An Actuarial Perspective With a Difference" • Charles L. Trowbridge

Editor …

Journal Of Actuarial Practice, Volume 5, No. 2, 1997, Colin Ramsay , Editor

Journal of Actuarial Practice (1993-2006)

Articles:

With Different Term Structure Models • Eliseo Navarro and Juan M. Nave

A New Approach for Determining Claim Expense Reserves in Workers Compensation • Kay Rahardjo

Pricing Earthquake Exposure Using Modeling • Debra L. Werland and Joseph W. Pitts

Actuarial Model Assumptions for Australian Inflation, Equity Returns, and Interest Rates • Michael Sherris

Comments on Some Parametric Models for Mortality Tables • Kam C. Yuen

Editor - Colin Ramsay, University of Nebraska. Associate Editors: Robert Brown, University of Waterloo ○ Cecil Bykerk, Mutual of Omaha ○ Ruy Cardoso, Actuarial Frameworks ○ Samuel Cox, Georgia State …

Providing Pensions For U.K. Employees With Varied Working Lives, Deborah R. Cooper

Journal of Actuarial Practice (1993-2006)

Several different working lives are investigated, including employees with breaks in employment, part-time employment, and temporary employment. The pensions that could be provided to the different employees by final salary, revalued career average, or money purchase pension schemes (plans) are calculated and compared. Some of the weaknesses in a final salary pension scheme (the treatment of deferred pensioners and cross subsidies between different groups of member) are considered. Possible alternative benefit structures are considered to address the problems.

The Right To Underwrite? An Actuarial Perspective With A Difference, Thomas A. Moultrie, Guy R. Thomas

Journal of Actuarial Practice (1993-2006)

For a long time underwriting has been a part of the actuarial canon. With increasing frequency, however, challenges are being issued against the right of insurance companies to underwrite applications for new bUSiness, arguing that certain aspects of the practice are undesirably discriminatory. We explore the role of the actuary in the underwriting process and the challenges that are being set for the profession (as opposed to the life insurance industry) as a result of this role. As the distinction between the interests of the actuarial profession and the interests of the life insurance companies has become increasingly blurred, we …

Dynamic Immunization And Transaction Costs With Different Term Structure Models, Eliseo Navarro, Juan M. Nave

Journal of Actuarial Practice (1993-2006)

A bond portfolio selection model is developed in a dynamic framework using different term structures, but without transactions costs. We show that the optimal portfolios are consistent with Khang's dynamic immunization theorem, i.e., the optimal path consists of making portfolio duration equal to the investor's horizon planning period. The model is then extended to include transaction costs. The resulting optimal portfolios are no longer consistent with Khang's dynamic immunization theorem. In fact, the strategy for constructing the optimal portfolio consists of initially choosing a portfolio with a duration that is smaller than the horizon planning period.

A New Approach For Determining Claim Expense Reserves In Workers Compensation, Kay Rahardjo

Journal of Actuarial Practice (1993-2006)

This paper describes a new approach for determining a reserve for claim expenses. While the discussion focuses on workers compensation claims, the methodology is equally applicable to other lines of business. The approach also can be applied to the calculation of the reserve for all claims (including IBNR claims) and the reserve for claims reported to date (excluding IBNR claims). In addition, a methodology for pricing claims-handling services is discussed. The implications of pricing claims-handling services on a handle-to- conclusion basis versus pricing claims-handling services on a limited time handling basis are examined. Finally, the paper discusses a methodology for …

Accelerated Death Benefits, Viatical Settlements, And Viatical Loans: Options For The Terminally Iii, Paula Schmidt

Journal of Actuarial Practice (1993-2006)

There are three options available for terminally ill insureds who are interested in accessing all or part of the face value of their life insurance policies: through the life insurance company (accelerated death benefits), through a viatical company (a via tical settlement), or through a via tical loan company (a via tical loan). This paper explores the definitions and tax regulations, calculations, and the claims process associated with accelerated death benefits and via tical settlements and loans.

Seeking The Profitability-Risk-Competitiveness Frontier Using A Genetic Algorithm, Ronnie Tan

Journal of Actuarial Practice (1993-2006)

Monte Carlo simulation is used to develop a flexible framework to measure the profitability, risk, and competitiveness of any insurance product. A genetic algorithm is then used to seek the optimum asset allocations that form the profitability-risk-competitiveness frontier and to examine the profitability, risk, and competitiveness trade-off's. We also show how to select the appropriate asset allocation and crediting strategy in order to position the product at the DeSired location on the profitability-risk-competitiveness spectrum.

Discussion Of T.A. Moultrie And R.G. Thomas's ''The Right To Underwrite? An Actuarial Perspective With A Difference", Charles L. Trowbridge

Journal of Actuarial Practice (1993-2006)

This interesting but controversial paper studies a subject I too have seriously considered. Nearly a decade ago I was commissioned to prepare a monograph that appeared in 1989 under the auspices of the Actuarial Education and Research Fund under the title Fundamental Concepts of Actuarial Science. 1 Chapter VII of this work, "Classification, Selection, and Antiselection," claims that the cluster of ideas surrounding these three words form a fundamental actuarial concept. I have recently reviewed this monograph (hereinafter FCAS) and am struck by the dissimilarities between the two treatments. The authors of "The Right to Underwrite?" (RTU) were unaware of …

Comments On Some Parametric Models For Mortality Tables, Kam C. Yuen

Journal of Actuarial Practice (1993-2006)

Parametric models for the entire age pattern of mortality have been suggested by Heligman and Pollard (1980) and Carriere (1992). The former is designed to fit the classical mortality pattern while the latter is supported by a statistical theory. Insights into their papers motivate us to consider a variation of the Heligman-Pollard model. We also apply these models to the 1993 Hong Kong Assured Lives Mortality Tables as well as the 1991 Hong Kong Female Life Table. This paper is not intended to construct a better parametric model for mortality tables; the main purpose is simply to provide insights into …

Colonialism Of Accounting Education In Developing Countries: The Experiences Of Singapore And Sri Lanka, H. Wijewardena, S. Yapa

Faculty of Business - Accounting & Finance Working Papers

This paper provides a comparative analysis of the nature of accounting education in Singapore and Sri Lanka. Both these countries were British colonies for nearly one hundred and fifty years and inherited their accounting education from the British. Consequently, even after nearly fifty years of independence, Sri Lanka is still following the colonial system for producing its accountants. Singapore, however, has successfully moved away from it within four years of independence. More importantly, the paper indicates that if a developing country continues to depend so heavily on foreign accounting bodies or produces accountants locally through education programmes based on the …

In The Search For Accounting Knowledge - Everything Old Is New Again, A. Kurtovic, K. Cooper

Faculty of Business - Accounting & Finance Working Papers

The following paper will attempt to substantiate claims that the accounting profession, has in over a hundred years, failed to adequately develop. Claims that the accounting profession has done little more than recycle financial accounting issues are not new, with such allegations having vocally surfaced in the past two decades. In order to achieve its aim, this paper will focus on Statement of Accounting Concepts number two [SAC 2], The Objective of General Purpose Financial Reporting. In gaining an understanding of today' s position of SAC 2 and how it has been arrived at, legislation dating over a hundred years …

Undergraduate Accounting Curriculum: The Unique Case Of Iran, H. Wijewardena, J. Roudaki

Faculty of Business - Accounting & Finance Working Papers

After the Islamic Revolution of 1979, the entire education system in Iran was drastically changed to make it more relevant to the Islamic principles. Accordingly, a single undergraduate accounting curriculum designed by the government was imposed on all universities in Iran in 1982. Since then, undergraduate accounting programmes of all universities have been conducted on the basis of this common curriculum. However, there has been criticism that several features of this curriculum are not appropriate in terms ofeducational objectives and economic conditions of the country. This study examined the nature and content of the above curriculum with the purpose of …