The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) recently gave private companies long-awaited relief from one of the most complicated aspects of financial reporting — consolidation of variable interest entities (VIEs). Here are the details.
Aaron K. Waller, CPA
Recent Posts
Time To Celebrate! FASB Expands VIE Exception For Private Companies
Posted by Aaron K. Waller, CPA on Jan 03, 2019
Posted in Audit & Assurance
How To Prepare For Year-end Physical Inventory Counts
Posted by Aaron K. Waller, CPA on Dec 17, 2018
As year-end approaches, it’s time for calendar-year entities to perform physical inventory counts. This activity is more than a compliance chore. Proactive companies see it as an opportunity to improve operational efficiency.
Posted in Audit & Assurance
At most companies, the accounts payable (AP) department handles an enormous volume of transactions. So, the AP ledger may be prone to errors or used to bury fraudulent journal entries. How do auditors get a handle on AP? They use four key procedures to evaluate whether this account is free from “material misstatement” and compliant with the U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
Posted in Audit & Assurance
How Auditors Assess Risk When Preparing Financial Statements
Posted by Aaron K. Waller, CPA on Nov 02, 2018
Every year, your audit firm will conduct a fresh risk assessment before the start of fieldwork. Why? Because your auditor wants to mitigate the risk of expressing an incorrect opinion regarding the accuracy and integrity of the company’s financial statements. Inadvertently signing off on financial statements that contain material misstatements can open a Pandora’s box of risks — from shareholder lawsuits to increased regulatory oversight.
Posted in Audit & Assurance
Should Cloud Computing Setup Costs be Expensed or Capitalized?
Posted by Aaron K. Waller, CPA on Oct 08, 2018
Companies will be able to capitalize or spread out the costs of, setting up pricey business systems that operate on cloud technology under an update to U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Here are the details.
Posted in Audit & Assurance
Inventory is expensive. So, it needs to be as lean as possible. Here are some smart ways to cut back inventory without compromising revenue and customer service.
Posted in Audit & Assurance
Hidden Liabilities: What's Excluded From The Balance Sheet?
Posted by Aaron K. Waller, CPA on Jul 30, 2018
Financial statements help investors and lenders monitor a company’s performance. However, financial statements may not provide a full picture of financial health. What’s undisclosed could be just as significant as the disclosures. Here’s how a CPA can help stakeholders identify unrecorded items either through external auditing procedures or by conducting agreed-upon procedures (AUPs) that target specific accounts.
Posted in Audit & Assurance
Using Analytical Procedures In An Audit Provides Many Benefits
Posted by Aaron K. Waller, CPA on Jul 12, 2018
Analytical procedures can make audits more efficient and effective. First, they can help during the planning and review stages of the audit. But analytics can have an even bigger impact when used to supplement substantive testing during fieldwork.
Posted in Audit & Assurance
Spotlight On Auditor Independence and Hosting Arrangements
Posted by Aaron K. Waller, CPA on Jun 25, 2018
With Independence Day coming up, it’s a good time to check up on auditor independence issues. This is especially important in 2018. Why? New rules go into effect this fall that may warrant changes to the services provided by your audit firm. If you discover potential issues now, there’s still plenty of time to take corrective action before next year’s audit begins.
Posted in Audit & Assurance
Business owners generally prefer to work with entities they know and trust. But related-party transactions can provide opportunities for individuals to act in a manner that’s inconsistent with the interests of shareholders. That’s why auditors take pains to identify and properly address related-party transactions.
Posted in Audit & Assurance