Accounting 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 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 …

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 …

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. …

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.

Concepts Of Accounting: A Case Study Compilation, Mary Elizabeth Gentry

Honors Theses

Over the course of two semesters, I was assigned various cases to complete. Each case examines issues in financial accounting. The subject of each case varies. By working through each case, I was able to apply my accounting knowledge learned in other classes. I was required to create financial statements, research the FASB codifications, and think critically about accounting practices. Additionally, I worked in small groups with my peers to research and complete each case. To complete each case, our group used our combined accounting knowledge, texts from other classes, and the FASB codification to work through the given questions. …

A Compilation Of Case Studies Highlighting Current Issues And Uses Of Accounting Methods And Procedures, Natalie Fischer

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Integrated Solution For Financial Analysis Case Studies, Nicole Park

Honors Theses

I completed an internship in the summer of 2017 with the same company, so I have a fairly concrete concept of what my full-time role will entail, specifically which skills will be helpful to me on the job. One of my cases during the summer internship involved determining the impact of a city's fiscal policies and resource allocation on city departmental performances to inform future budgetary decisions. I was able to locate the city's budget documents (usually between 100 and 200 pages) and financial statements and quickly find the numbers my team needed since I was familiar with the format …

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, …

Analysis Of Accounting Practices Worldwide, Robert Mounger

Honors Theses

The following is made up of case studies that were completed over the course of a year. These cases were given by our thesis advisor, Dr. Dickinson. These case studies highlight critical topics regarding financial accounting practices around the world. Each case focused on different topics in order to create a complete analysis of the different practices that exist. When outside information was necessary, we often referred to textbooks, academic journals, and the accounting codification database. These cases were designed to show an overall broad knowledge of the accounting profession as well as capture the critical details of the day …

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 …

A Collection Of Case Studies On Financial Accounting Concepts, Sarah Catherine Thornton

Honors Theses

This thesis is compiled of twelve case studies, each on a unique accounting concept. Each case study was analyzed in a group of two to four students, and each student completed a write-up answering the case questions and examining the proper accounting treatment for each issue in the case. Case topics included financial statement assembly and analysis, internal controls, inventories, leases, revenue recognition, deferred income taxes, and examinations of equity, among others. Each topic was considered using accounting knowledge learned during intermediate accounting classes at the University of Mississippi as well as the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Codification. The …

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

Case Studies Of Financial Accounting Theories And Techniques, Walter D. Kearney Iii

Honors Theses

The following thesis contains twelve case studies that cover an array of accounting topics and theories. Each case presents some type of accounting problem in a real world setting that is followed by analysis. The reasoning behind each case is supplemented by findings from the Financial Accounting Standards Board Codification, topics covered in intermediate accounting, and/or findings from Excel exercises. Each case provides a deeper and more complete understanding of a unique accounting technique or situation. For each case, some type of confirming information or reference is included. Every chapter within the thesis is independent of all others.

An Introduction To Case Reports: The Fundamentals Of Accounting, William C. Kemp

Honors Theses

This document is a culmination of twelve case reports completed over the 2016-2017 school year under the direction of Dr. Victoria Dickinson. The cases were assigned in relation to the current topics covered in ACCY 303 and ACCY 304 and were prepared under GAAP and other generally accounting standards. Several cases were a set published by Cambridge Business Publishers, LLC and can be found online. Other cases were provided by Dr. Dickinson. Each case was a series of questions that related to a separate accounting topic, and information in each is not dependent on previous cases. Journal entries, ratios, financial …

The Fundamentals Of Accounting: A Series Of Case Reports, William Swede Umbach

Honors Theses

The Patterson School of Accountancy encourages students to participate in an internship before graduating. These internships occur in the spring of senior year which conflicts with the traditional schedule for completing a thesis. The Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College allows accounting students to enroll in this alternative thesis track led by Dr. Vicki Dickinson. Dr. D is the most passionate professor I have encountered in the accounting school and her class was the single most enriching course in all of my major studies. She led a comprehensive study of technical accounting using this set of cases while also setting us …

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 …

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 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 …

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 …

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 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.

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 …

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.