Organization and Development of Arthur Andersen & Co.'s Public Review Board - The Minow Years, 1974-1983

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phil Wedemwyer ◽  
Stephen A. Zeff
Keyword(s):  
Arthur Andersen

THE END OF BETTERMENT ACCOUNTING: A STUDY OF THE ECONOMIC, PROFESSIONAL, AND REGULATORY FACTORS THAT FOSTERED STANDARDS CONVERGENCE IN THE U.S. RAILROAD INDUSTRY, 1955–1983

2007 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan R. Heier ◽  
A. Lee Gurley
Keyword(s):  
21St Century ◽  
Accounting Standards ◽  
Interstate Commerce Commission ◽  
Early 21St Century ◽  
Railroad Industry ◽  
Tax Legislation ◽  
Industry Standards ◽  
Securities Industry ◽  
Arthur Andersen ◽  
The U.S

On January 26, 1983, the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) announced that it would require all railroads under its regulatory jurisdiction to change from Retirement-Replacement-Betterment (RRB) accounting, to a more theoretically sound depreciation accounting for matching revenues and expenses. The change was needed because RRB did not allow for the recapture of track investment, leaving the railroads with limited capital to replace aging track lines. Over the previous three decades, it had become painfully obvious to everyone that the industry's economic woes were the result of archaic accounting procedures that lacked harmony with the rest of American accounting standards, but the ICC was reluctant to change until new tax legislation in the early 1980s forced the issue. The decision was a culmination of a debate that started in the mid-1950s when Arthur Andersen, with the help of the securities industry, began an effort to harmonize railroad and industry standards using arguments that mirror those supporting the international accounting harmonization efforts of the early 21st century.

Auditor Tenure and the Timeliness of Misstatement Discovery

2017 ◽  
Vol 93 (2) ◽  
pp. 315-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zvi Singer ◽  
Jing Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Natural Experiment ◽  
Audit Quality ◽  
Client Engagement ◽  
Audit Firm ◽  
Auditor Tenure ◽  
Sarbanes Oxley ◽  
Auditor Change ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Extended Analysis ◽  
Arthur Andersen

ABSTRACT Using the timeliness of misstatement discovery as a proxy for audit quality, we examine the association between audit firm tenure and audit quality in a setting that alleviates the endogeneity problem endemic to this line of research. We find that longer audit firm tenure leads to less timely discovery and correction of misstatements, which is consistent with a negative effect of long auditor tenure on audit quality. In addition, using the non-voluntary auditor change following the demise of Arthur Andersen in 2002 as a natural experiment, we show that the misstatements of its former clients were discovered faster than those of comparable companies that retained their auditors throughout the misstatement. This finding speaks to the benefit of a fresh look by a new auditor. An extended analysis shows that longer auditor tenure also leads to misstatements of greater magnitudes, and that the Sarbanes-Oxley Act has mitigated, but not eliminated, the negative effect of long auditor tenure. Last, we show that the negative association between auditor tenure and timely discovery of misstatements is mainly present in the first ten years of an audit engagement. Our study has implications for regulators who continue to express concern regarding lengthy auditor-client engagement. JEL Classifications: K22; K23; L51; M41; M42; M48.

Negative accounting stereotype: Enron cartoons

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-60
Author(s):  
Michael Jones ◽  
Patricia Stanton
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Accounting Scandals ◽  
Editorial Cartoons ◽  
Arthur Andersen

A sample of editorial cartoons published following the wave of accounting scandals in the United States culminating in the collapse of Enron and the demise of the auditors Arthur Andersen LLP was examined to explore the portrayal of accounting, accountants and auditors. The nature and importance of the cartoons was also investigated. While the examination revealed what cartoonists had to say about accounting, accountants and auditing, the purpose was to ascertain the stereotypes conveyed. The cartoonists working from established preconceptions of accounting and accountants redefined and reshaped accounting stereotypes. They replaced the dull but honest image with a negative one, the fraudulent accountant. However, the image of the male accountant survived. As social critics, the cartoonists focused on the consequences on employees and stockholders but neglected to address the consequences for business institutions.

The Ultimate Form of Mandatory Auditor Rotation: The Case of Former Arthur Andersen Clients

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Blouin ◽  
Barbara M. Grein ◽  
Brian Robert Rountree
Keyword(s):  
Auditor Rotation ◽  
Arthur Andersen

Ethical Preferences among Business Leaders: Implications for Business Schools

2000 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger N. Conaway ◽  
Thomas L. Fernandez
Keyword(s):  
Business Ethics ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Business Schools ◽  
Environmental Risks ◽  
Business Leaders ◽  
Ethical Values ◽  
Business Faculty ◽  
Insider Information ◽  
Ethics Program ◽  
Arthur Andersen

Since 1976, the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) has encouraged business schools to include ethics in their curricula. Because lan guage is the means for conveying values, including ethical values, business com munication faculty play an important role in deciding what should be taught, and how. But until very recently, most researchers failed to look specifically at actual practices and perceptions in the workplace. To address that need, we conducted a survey of 250 business leaders concerning their ethical preferences and compared our results with an earlier study of business faculty and students. The survey, adapted from one used in the Arthur Andersen Business Ethics Program, consists of 20 narratives which presented respondents with the need to judge the impor tance of certain issues and their approval or disapproval of the action or decision described. We found no significant differences in responses to the 14 items which addressed ethical issues in such areas as creating health and environmental risks, taking credit when credit is not due, focusing on disability issues, deceiving cus tomers with products and services, and using insider information to gain personal advantage. We did find significant differences in responses to six narratives focused on ignoring wrongdoing in the workplace, doing special favors for others to gain personal advantage, and covering up flaws in merchandise or operations. Our results, and the survey instrument itself, provide useful tools for the business com munication classroom.

Examining Academic Dishonesty

2019 ◽  
pp. 159-183
Author(s):  
Philmore Alleyne ◽  
Renée M. Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Academic Dishonesty ◽  
Business Schools ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Codes Of Conduct ◽  
Accounting Students ◽  
Internet Search ◽  
Accounting Firms ◽  
Arthur Andersen

Academic dishonesty (AD) has plagued many higher education institutions (HEIs). This chapter examines AD among accounting students in business schools and discusses possible mechanisms to reduce misconduct among students, as well as staff. Today's students are tomorrow's accounting professionals. Yet, some HE students strive to succeed at all costs by using unethical means including being aided by dishonest academic staff. For example, the unethical and corrupt practices in Enron, and the subsequent closure of one of the leading international accounting firms, Arthur Andersen, raised questions pertaining to codes of conduct, ethics, and morality being taught in business schools. This chapter reviews the literature, identifies issues from an internet search of actual cases, and then offers recommendations for reducing such detrimental behaviors.

Arthur Andersen (B): From Waste Management to Enron

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Diermeier ◽  
Robert Crawford ◽  
Charlotte Snyder
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
Arthur Andersen
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