Accounting Commons^™

Comprehensive Income Reporting: Fasb Decides Location Matters, Dennis Chambers

Faculty Articles

The article reports on Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2011-05 issued by the Financial Accounting Services Board (FASB) in June 2011. It states that the standard requires all companies to report comprehensive income and components either in one continuous statement or in two separate, but consecutive, net income and other comprehensive income statements.In both cases, companies must reportedly now report in an income statement-type location for total comprehensive income.

Information Technology In The Undergraduate Accounting Curriculum, Dana Hermanson, Mary C. Hill, Daniel M. Ivancevich

Faculty Articles

This study examines the extent to which undergraduate accounting programs are integrating information technology (IT) across the curriculum. Based on responses from nearly 70 accounting programs, respondents believe that integrating IT into the curriculum is important, but (1) few departments have an IT policy, (2) coverage of general IT topics is minor to moderate, and (3) student usage of computer applications is fairly low. The main technical barriers to IT integration are inadequate lab personnel and continual changes in technology.

End-User Computing Applications, Mary C. Hill, W. Alan Barnes

Faculty Articles

Businesses today rely on the work being done by staff using personal computers. The proliferation of personal computers has led to widespread implementation of end-user computing applications. As their name implies, end-user applications are designed, implemented, and controlled by users rather than by IT professionals. End-user applications can be risky for organizations, both with respect to management decision making and to financial reporting. For public companies, the risk involved in these applications has been increased by the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which call for management to document end-to-end financial operations and internal control structures. This article review …

Impact Of The Economic Downturn On Local Governments In South Carolina, William Tomes

Georgia Journal of Public Policy

Across the country local government revenues have decreased while operating costs such as fuel, materials, equipment, and health insurance costs have significantly increased. In addition to reduced revenues, interest earnings for city and county government investments are low. These factors combined have created a difficult financial arena in which local governments must operate. While economists are reporting signs of economic recovery, many city and county budgets are just now feeling the full brunt of the economic downturn that began in 2008. On a daily basis, news media nationwide report local governments addressing budget deficits by cutting services, eliminating positions, or …

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act: Insights For Internal Auditors, Audrey A. Gramling, Dana R. Hermanson, Heather M. Hermanson

Faculty Articles

Douglas Faggioli, president and CEO of Nature's Sunshine Products (NSP) made the above remarks as he accepted, on behalf of NSP, a 2004 "100 Best Corporate Citizens" award from Business Ethics magazine. NSP received the award two years in a row. Less than two years later, NSP would discover a bribery scheme in its Brazil operations that would expose it to Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) enforcement under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). Faggioli and the company's CFO, Craig Huff, along with NSP, would be plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit, and the SEC would fine each officer $25,000. …

Goodwill Non-Impairments, Dennis Chambers, Catherine Finger

Faculty Articles

The article discusses the use of goodwill non-impairment by companies to manage their earnings. The effect of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) 142 on goodwill-related earnings management is described. A table shows the results of related the working papers "Earnings Management By Avoiding or Reducing Goodwill Impairments," by Dennis Chambers, "Evidence on the Use of Unverifiable Estimates in Required Goodwill Impairment," by Karthik Ramanna and Ross L. Watts, and "Has Goodwill Accounting Gone Bad?," by Kevin K. Li and Richard G. Sloan.

Big 4 Auditor Affiliation And Accruals Quality In Bangladesh, M. Humayun Kabir, Divesh Sharma, Md Ainul Islam, Amiros Salat

Faculty Articles

Purpose – Bangladesh is an emerging economy and international audit firms operate there through affiliated local audit firms. The Bangladesh audit market can be characterized as an intensely competitive small audit market with relatively poor demand for high-audit quality. In addition, Bangladesh has a relatively small and under developed but growing capital market that is characterized by poor corporate regulation and weak investor protection. The purpose of this paper is to examine the association between Big 4 affiliated auditors and accruals quality in Bangladesh.

Design/methodology/approach – Following prior literature, this paper uses both absolute discretionary accruals and signed discretionary accruals …

Audit Quality And Accrual Persistence: Evidence From The Pre- And Post-Sarbanes-Oxley Periods, Dennis Chambers, Jeff L. Payne

Faculty Articles

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is two-fold: first, to examine whether the quality of accruals, as measured by accrual persistence, improved in the post-Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) period, and second, to examine the degree to which SOX-related improvement in accrual persistence varies across companies depending on the degree of their auditor's independence.

Design/methodology/approach – The paper compares accrual persistence in the pre- and post-SOX periods to test the first question. Then, partitioning on relative client importance as a measure of auditor independence, the paper compares the SOX-based improvement for clients of low and high independence audit firms.

Findings – The …

Accounting Restatements Arising From Pcaob Inspections Of Small Audit Firms, Dana R. Hermanson, Richard W. Houston, Zhongxia Shelly Ye

Faculty Articles

The article presents an analysis made by authors of PCAOB small firms inspection reports in order to examine the types of accounting restatements triggered by PCAOB inspections of small audit firms. The PCAOB Inspection Process is elaborated. The result of the analysis of the authors of PCAOB-triggered restatements by clients of small audit firms reveal that complex, technical accounting areas account for the majority of restatements. Particular attention to unique, complex and accounting issues is encouraged for issuers and small audit firms.

Did Sarbanes-Oxley Lead To Better Financial Reporting?, Dennis Chambers, Dana R. Hermanson, Jeff L. Payne

Faculty Articles

The article describes and summarizes five studies that examined whether the landmark Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) was beneficial or not to financial reporting. The U.S. Congress is stated to have passed the legislation on July 25, 2002 in reaction to a series of financial accounting scandals involving such companies as Enron and WorldCom, as well as the demise of the accounting firm Arthur Andersen LLP. The author asserts that all five of the studies provide evidence of a significant improvement in the financial reporting environment since SOX.

Addressing Problems With The Segregation Of Duties In Smaller Companies, Audrey A. Gramling, Dana R. Hermanson, Heather M. Hermanson, Zhongxia Shelly Ye

Faculty Articles

The article discusses the problems encountered by smaller companies in the U.S. in the segregation of duties under Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) section 404(a), which requires management to disclose its assessment of the effectiveness and weaknesses of internal control over financial reporting in the U.S. Analyses of the management report on internal control of sample companies cited by the authors showed that there are differences in the level of disclosure. The costs and benefits of using third parties in resolving segregation of duties problems are considered.

Analysis Of Xbrl Literature: A Decade Of Progress And Puzzle, Saeed Roohani, Zhao Xianming, Ernest Capozzoli, Barbara Lamberton

Faculty Articles

XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting language) was recently, in 2008, in its 10th year. The concept was articulated in 1998 by Charles Hoffman, known as XFRML (eXtensible Financial Reporting Mark Up Language) to facilitate the business reporting process and improve financial reporting. The objective of this paper is to examine a decade (1998-2008) of XBRL articles published in various publications including trade, practitioner and academic journals to identify trends and patterns, milestones, and organizations actively contributed to this development. Another goal is to assess public perceptions of XBRL, its capabilities and its future. We examined published articles where XBRL appeared either …

Real-Time Corporate Tax Audits And Their Impact On Financial Reporting, M. Catherine Cleaveland, Kathryn K. Epps, Cassie F. Bradley

Faculty Articles

The article focuses on the Compliance Assurance Process (CAP) program, a simultaneous auditing process that aims to potentially reduce audit procedures after the corporate tax filing date in the U.S. The process by which the program work is explained, which involves a corporation working an entire tax year with an account coordinator assigned by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Benefits of the CAP program include increased corporate tax compliance, while its disadvantages include resistance by a company to participate in a real-time audit program.

Audit Committee Material Weaknesses In Smaller Reporting Companies, Audrey A. Gramling, Dana R. Hermanson, Heather M. Hermanson

Faculty Articles

One of the critical elements of internal control over financial reporting is an effectively functioning audit committee. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) defines an audit committee as " committee (or equivalent body) established by and amongst the board of directors of an issuer for the purpose of overseeing the accounting and financial reporting processes of the issuer and audits of the financial statements of the issuer." Recent SOX section 404 filings by smaller reporting companies ("nonaccelerated filers," or registrants with less than $75 million of public float), however, indicate that some small companies still are struggling to develop effective …

Taxation Of Gains And Losses On Sales Of New York Subsidiary Stock, Bruce Clements

Faculty Articles

The article focuses on the tax implications of gains and losses from subsidiary sales in New York. The franchise tax on corporations in New York according to Article 9-A of the Tax Law is computed based on the highest in four areas including allocated entire net income, allocated capital, and fixed-dollar minimum tax. The Bausch & Lomb case is presented wherein gains will be taxable and losses will reduce the income in the sale of a subsidiary stock included in a combined return.

Remediation Of Material Weaknesses Related To Employee Compensation, Dana R. Hermanson, Daniel M. Ivancevich, Susan H. Ivancevich

Faculty Articles

The article presents an analysis of the remedial efforts of U.S. companies with material weaknesses in internal control related to employee compensation. Despite the passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), public companies have continued to experience accounting and control issues related to employee compensation. The results indicate the role of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) and its committees in preventing and remediating material weaknesses concerning compensation.

Evidence From The Pcaob's Second Inspections Of Small Firms, Dana R. Hermanson, Richard W. Houston

Faculty Articles

The article presents information on the rule of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) which mandates the inspection of smaller auditing firms in the U.S. The small firm inspections started in 2004, and the first round of inspections revealed a large number of audit deficiencies and quality control defects. It explores the purpose of the second inspections of small auditing and accounting firms. It discusses the possible structural changes in firms inspected twice.

A Review Of Academic Literature On Internal Control Reporting Under Sox, Arnold Schneider, Audrey A. Gramling, Dana R. Hermanson, Zhongxia Shelly Ye

Faculty Articles

Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) mandates reporting on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (ICFR) by public company management and auditors. Such reporting began for fiscal years ended Nov 15, 2004 for accelerated filers and is scheduled to be fully implemented for non-accelerated filers in mid-2010. Section 404(a) of SOX requires public company management to include an assessment of the effectiveness of the company's ICFR in its annual internal control report, and Section 404(b) requires attestation by the company's auditor. The authors review the literature on internal control reporting under both Sections 302 and …

How Consulting Services Could Kill Private-Sector Auditing, Dana R. Hermanson

Faculty Articles

The article presents a discussion of recommendations for improving sustainability of a public company auditing profession in the U.S., adapted from a submission by Dana R. Hermanson to the Advisory Committee on the Auditing Profession of the Treasury Department.

Quality Control Defects Revealed In Smaller Firms' Pcaob Inspection Reports, Dana R. Hermanson, Richard W. Houston

Faculty Articles

The article reports the study of Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) on the quality control (QC) defects of small audit firms. Topics including the accounting lapses of small auditing firms, tips on complying QC standards and importance of inspection on the auditing industry are discussed. Study reveals that smaller firms have deficient processes in conducting audit quality. The article notes that PCAOB is expected to increase campaign in assisting audit firms while small audit firms are encouraged to address their QC deficiencies.

Sox Section 404 Material Weaknesses Related To Revenue Recognition, Dana R. Hermanson, Daniel M. Ivan, Susan H. Iva

Faculty Articles

The article analyzes disclosures of material weaknesses in internal control after the implementation of U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) 404 and summarizes the efforts of firms to remediate such material weaknesses. According to SOX section 404, management must issue a report on the effectiveness of the internal control of the firm over financial reporting. It notes that a report must be issued by the external auditor expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting.

Share Loans Under Irs Microscope, A. Bruce Clements

Faculty Articles

In a recently released Coordinated Issue Paper (LMSB-04-1207-077), the IRS underscored how its examinations will home in on a once-favored strategy for monetizing stock gains while deferring capital gains taxes. In doing so, the Service reiterated its legal basis for why a variable prepaid forward contract (VPFC) that includes a share lending agreement (SLA) results in a currently taxable sale.

Building An Effective Internal Audit Function: Learning From Sox Section 404 Reports, Dana R. Hermanson, Daniel M. Ivancevich, Susan H. Ivancevich

Faculty Articles

In the wake of the major accounting scandals, internal auditing has emerged as a powerful force in promoting effective controls, risk management, and governance in U.S. companies. This article highlights recent internal audit-related problems that were revealed in SOX Section 404 reports and offers specific recommendations for building an effective, value-adding internal audit function.

Oil And Gas Financial Reporting Using The Usgaap Xbrl Taxonomy, Tim Mahon, Ernest Capozzoli

Faculty Articles

The Oil and Gas industry has very unique requirements in reporting oil and gas producing activities. Because of these unique requirements, it has been difficult to compare Oil and Gas companies over the years. The current XBRL US taxonomy includes standardized Oil and Gas disclosures. This paper will introduce the requirements Oil and Gas companies are to follow when reporting their financial information. Also, an analysis of the U. S. GAAP taxonomy was done by tagging Anadarko’s 2006 financial statements1. The analysis was to determine if the taxonomy includes elements for each of these requirements. Finally, conclusions of the analysis …

Disaster Recovery Planning: What Section 404 Audits Reveal, Dana R. Hermanson, Daniel M. Ivancevich, Susan H. Ivancevich

Faculty Articles

This article summarizes U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley Act section 404 internal control reports that reveal material weaknesses due to inadequate disaster recovery planning. According to the authors, Section 404 applies to public companies with over $75 million in public float. They advise that auditors evaluating internal control over financial reporting must consider key information technology-related risks and controls that affect financial reporting, including issues related to disaster recovery planning.

Information Opacity, Credit Risk, And The Design Of Loan Contracts For Private Firms, Lucy Ackert, Rongbing Huang, Gabriel G. Ramirez

Faculty Articles

This paper examines the structure and cost of a large sample of bank loans to private firms. Compared to public firms, private firms are more informationally opaque and riskier. The results suggest that the design of a loan to a private firm is significantly different from that to a public firm. Bank loans to private firms are more likely to be by a sole lender, collateralized, and have sweep covenants than loans to public firms. The cost of borrowing is higher for a private firm than for a public firm, even after holding constant firm and loan characteristics.

The Value Relevance Of Earnings And The Prediction Of One-Year-Ahead Cash Flows, Oliver Kim, Steve C. Lim, Taewoo Park

Faculty Articles

In this paper we examine the validity of using one-year-ahead cash flows prediction tests as a substitute for the value relevance test of earnings. We show theoretically that the R2 of the cash flows prediction regression is contaminated by the presence of (1) noise in the cash flows and (2) spurious, i.e., value-unrelated, correlation between one-year-ahead cash flows and current earnings. We test if either of the above two factors contribute to the result of Kim and Kross (2005) that the ability of earnings to predict one-year-ahead cash flows has increased over the recent decades, in contrast to the evidence …

Six Levels Of Financial Knowledge, George E. Manners Jr.

Faculty Articles

With the appropriate framework to shape financial knowledge, the management accounting function should become an organization's principal decision-support platform. The framework consists of six levels of financial knowledge, and the word "financial" is most operative here. The Level 1 knowledge base connects a business to the outside world. When you have output volume and variable cost per output unit, you have the basis for Level 2 vocabulary. When a business transitions to Level 3, it has learned that return on assets must be employed as the enterprise's guiding profitability gauge. There is a very distinct increment in knowledge when moving …

Assessing Internal Audit Quality, Audrey A. Gramling, Scott D. Vandervelde

Faculty Articles

Internal audit quality is an issue of great importance to both the internal and external audit professions. PCAOB Auditing Standard No 2 highlights this importance when addressing the reliance that the external auditor can place on the internal audit work product. The study discussed here experimentally tests the influence of the source of the internal audit function on both the internal and external auditors' evaluation of the quality of the internal audit function. To assess the importance of the internal audit function's sourcing arrangement in the internal audit function's quality assessment, the researchers employ a case study approach, modifying a …

Big Gaap-Little Gaap Does One-Size-Fits-All Still Work?, Paula Morris, Jane E. Campbell

Faculty Articles

Initiatives for developing Generally Accepted Accounting Principles for private/smaller businesses have surfaced in the United States and internationally. This paper explores those initiatives and identifies common elements and problems in these efforts.