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Recent Articles from Jim Brendel
Shocker: Financial reporting just got easier
I’m a CPA, and I’m here to tell you financial reporting became simpler and easier to use in two significant areas. Yes, I realize you’re not used to hearing that from your accountant or auditor. That’s understandable, as it seems that each effort during the past several years to make financial rep...
Financial reporting: What happened, what’s ahead
In financial reporting, 2013 was a year of slow progress in overhauling accounting for revenue and leases, updating internal control standards, shining light on the use of conflict materials, heightened […]
Accounting for change
Two changes to public company accounting took hold in 2012; the change on the test for impairment of goodwill on the balance sheet and a change in how comprehensive income […]
Another seven key changes to annual reporting
(Editor’s note: This is the second of two parts. Read Part 1.) There are seven more major changes being seriously considered on the financial reporting horizon. All of them are […]
Seven key changes in annual reporting
Regulators are favoring more disclosure in annual reports prepared for public companies for fiscal year 2011, but they are also bringing in a dose of reasonableness in regards to burdensome […]
The rocky road to new revenue standards
Most financial statement users agree that revenue is one of the most important financial measures. It is also the area that is most confusing and disparately regulated, and the source […]
Private company accounting, simplified
For all of those private companies frustrated with being forced to spend $25,000 on a valuation of intangible property or goodwill, or to spend hours drafting disclosures that users may […]
Seven must-know accounting changes
There are a number of new rules that will have accounting and reporting implications for 2010 year end annual reports. They vary from changing the timing of financial results to […]
How to stay off the SEC’s radar
If violence is dealt with best with by avoiding it, then so is provoking the Securities and Exchange Commission. These folks can cause you an awful headache if you manage […]
Questions from the SEC? Don’t panic!
(Editor’s note: The first of two parts.) If you haven’t been through the SEC’s review and comment process before, it can be a bit scary. As regulators respond to cries […]
The Pandora’s Box of international accounting standards
[Second of two parts] In my last article, I explained some of the differences between US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and the desire by top regulators to move to […]
International accounting standards: why they might not be for us
(First of two parts) Given up for dead just eight months ago, adoption of international accounting standards still has a pulse. And while that may seem like something for someone […]
