Financial Disclosure and Toxic Products: Encouraging Wall Street to Anticipate Product Risk and Exercise Precaution

2009 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-58
Author(s):  
Sanford Lewis ◽  
Margaret Byrne
Keyword(s):  
Financial Crisis ◽  
Accounting Standards ◽  
Securities And Exchange Commission ◽  
Financial Accounting ◽  
Financial Disclosure ◽  
Financial Accounting Standards Board ◽  
Wall Street ◽  
Financial Reports ◽  
Product Risk ◽  
Current Financial Crisis

Amidst discussion by policymakers about how regulators' failure to ensure disclosure of risks contributed to the current financial crisis, we assess how emerging product toxicity risks are addressed in companies' financial reports. Will corporations blindside investors with “the next asbestos?” Existing disclosures are found lacking in the specificity needed to forewarn of liabilities and reputational damage from the use of potentially harmful materials—from nanotechnologies, to asthmagens, to perfluorinated compounds. Improved standards could protect investors while also enhancing corporate incentives to use safer materials. Reforms by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Accounting Standards Board are recommended.

Viewing the 1996 FAF Restructuring as Policy Making without a Formal Due Process

2002 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 199-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul B. W. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Policy Making ◽  
Due Process ◽  
Accounting Standards ◽  
Sole Source ◽  
Securities And Exchange Commission ◽  
Financial Accounting ◽  
Perceived Threat ◽  
Financial Accounting Standards Board ◽  
Public Accounting

In 1996, a major financial reporting controversy emerged, escalated, and was resolved without substantial exposure or a formal due process. Specifically, a committee of the Financial Executives Institute (FEI) sent a letter to the chair of the Financial Accounting Foundation (FAF) asserting that the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) “process is broken and in need of substantive repair.” When Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Arthur Levitt determined that neither FAF nor public accounting leaders were dealing with the FEI proposals to his satisfaction, he acted to defeat this perceived threat to FASB's independence, focusing on the composition of the FAF. In response, the FAF trustees resisted because they viewed his intervention as a threat to FASB's independence. When the trustees did not voluntarily change, Levitt proposed reconsidering Accounting Series Release No. 150, which designates FASB as the sole source of GAAP for SEC filings. Eventually, Levitt prevailed. This paper describes this intervention as a case of policy making without a formal due process and adds to the already weighty evidence that accounting standards are political.

scholarly journals "Replika Endemi" Resistensi PSAK 71 Sebagai Countercylical Terhadap Sustainability Perbankan Ditengah Pandemi

2021 ◽  
pp. 109-117
Author(s):  
Nicholas Alexander Tungga ◽  
Melithasya Angelina ◽  
Elliza .
Keyword(s):  
Accounting Standards ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Financial Accounting ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Corporate Accountability ◽  
Financial Accounting Standards Board ◽  
Model Framework ◽  
Financial Reports ◽  
Framework Design ◽  
Economic Upturn

Financial reports are important because they are useful for providing an overview for stakeholders in their decision making. Where in the preparation of financial statements the main regulation used is the Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (PSAK) established by the Indonesian Institute of Accountants (IAI) through the Financial Accounting Standards Board (DSAK). In the current status quo of Indonesia in facing the Covid-19 pandemic, the existence of PSAK has begun to be tested, adjustments must be made to financial accounting standards which are useful to strengthen the lines of corporate accountability in Indonesia and are able to answer the main urgency of Indonesia today, namely the weakening of the country's economy. The purpose of this paper is to produce a framework that can later become an alternative for banks in making decisions for implementing the PSAK 71 post model. The approach used in this paper is a qualitative approach by providing arguments and solutions for Indonesia's current economic conditions through the resulting framework design. After considering the aspects that affect the risk of bad credit, the conclusion is that PSAK 71 is able to trigger an economic upturn in Indonesia, because in its implementation it does not necessarily look at one aspect only but considers other aspects in responding to issues related to bad credit.  Keywords: PSAK 71, Post Model Framework, Bad Credit, Indonesian Economy

scholarly journals On Narrowing The Credibility GAAP: Has The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Enhanced The Credibility Of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)?

2011 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas K. Schneider ◽  
Gordon S. May ◽  
David R. Shaffer
Keyword(s):  
Accounting Standards ◽  
Psychological Research ◽  
Financial Accounting ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Financial Accounting Standards Board ◽  
Financial Reports ◽  
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ◽  
Perceived Credibility ◽  
Accounting Principles ◽  
Social Psychological Research

The purpose of this study was to apply social-psychological research methods to address an issue of widespread concern in the accounting profession. One of the primary motives underlying the creation of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) was to increase the credibility of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Our main objective was to assess any differences in the perceived credibility of FASB GAAP and pre-FASB GAAP, as indicated by three groups of FASB constituents familiar with these procedures: corporate preparers of financial statements (preparers), CPAs who audit financial reports to ensure their adherence to GAAP (auditors), and accountants who use financial reports to make lending and investment decisions (users). The results indicated that (a) the credibility of accounting principles can be assessed, (b) not all dimensions that have been touted as contributors to the credibility of accounting practices predict accountants perceptions of credibility, and (c) examples of FASB GAAP were perceived as less credible than corresponding examples of pre-FASB GAAP by each of the above three groups of FASB constituents. Some implications of these results and suggestions for future research are discussed.

A HISTORY OF POOLING OF INTERESTS ACCOUNTING FOR BUSINESS COMBINATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES

1991 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank R. Rayburn ◽  
Ollie S. Powers
Keyword(s):  
Accounting Standards ◽  
The United States ◽  
Securities And Exchange Commission ◽  
Financial Accounting ◽  
Financial Accounting Standards Board ◽  
Business Combinations ◽  
Accounting Principles ◽  
History Of ◽  
Business Combination ◽  
The Subject

This paper traces the development of pooling of interests accounting for business combinations from 1945 to 1991. The history of the pooling concept is reviewed chronologically with particular emphasis on the events of 1969–1970 that were related to the most recent pronouncement on the subject, Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 16. Early in its life (1974), the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) placed a project on its agenda to reconsider pooling of interests accounting. That project was removed from the FASB's agenda in 1981. APB Opinion No. 16 has gone essentially unchanged as it relates to the accounting for a business combination as a pooling of interests. Resolution of implementation issues has been left largely to the Securities and Exchange Commission and the accounting profession. The FASB has a project on its agenda on Consolidations and Related Matters that may impact pooling of interests accounting. There also is some pressure for the FASB to revisit accounting for business combinations.

scholarly journals Materialidade aplicada a relatórios de sustentabilidade assegurados: uma abordagem crítica à luz da pesquisa contábil

2019 ◽  
pp. 50
Author(s):  
Estephanye Paganotti Da Cunha ◽  
Ivone Fiorin ◽  
Renato Loureiro Faller
Keyword(s):  
Accounting Standards ◽  
Securities And Exchange Commission ◽  
Financial Accounting ◽  
International Accounting ◽  
International Accounting Standards ◽  
Financial Accounting Standards Board ◽  
Public Company ◽  
International Accounting Standards Board

Este ensaio teórico aborda lacunas quanto à pesquisa contábil ambiental e as limitações apresentadas por relatórios socioambientais. Indagam-se alguns pontos ainda não respondidos sobre sustentabilidade, como o fato de o assunto ser pouco pesquisado no Brasil. Isso posto, observa-se em foco o que é chamado na literatura de Ciência da Sustentabilidade, uma linha de conhecimento multidisciplinar que envolve diversas áreas de conhecimento, permitindo a experimentação e testes, em vez de apenas fazer uma seleção de ciência específica para encontrar a solução mais acertada. A materialidade contábil no âmbito da pesquisa ambiental, tendo em vista as óticas dos organismos mundiais, tais como, Financial Accounting Standards Board (Ffasb), Securities And Exchange Commission (Sec), International Accounting Standards Board (Iasb), Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), que, apesar de ter como ponto positivo ser flexível, apresenta, ao mesmo tempo, como ponto negativo, essa mesma flexibilidade, que permite aos relatórios ambientais maior subjetividade e baixa objetividade. A referida flexibilidade pode fazer com que a empresa demonstre o que foi considerado bom, omitindo o que a instituição considere ruim na sua visão. Sendo assim, questionamentos são levantados sobre o escopo da Ciência da Sustentabilidade, da efetividade dos relatórios socioambientais apresentados e da clareza das demonstrações socioambientais, mediante a presença, ou não, de dispositivos legais.

scholarly journals US GAAP en convergentie met IFRS. Een overzicht van ontwikkelingen sinds Enron en Norwalk.

2014 ◽  
Vol 88 (5) ◽  
pp. 166-175
Author(s):  
Ralph ter Hoeven
Keyword(s):  
Accounting Standards ◽  
Securities And Exchange Commission ◽  
Financial Accounting ◽  
International Accounting ◽  
International Accounting Standards ◽  
Financial Accounting Standards Board ◽  
Us Gaap ◽  
International Accounting Standards Board

In dit artikel worden de ontwikkelingen binnen US GAAP beschreven sinds het Enron-schandaal en de Norwalk-overeenkomst tussen de Amerikaanse Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) en de International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). Deze twee gebeurtenissen, die beide rond 2002 plaatsvonden, hebben grote invloed gehad op de structuur en de inhoud van US GAAP. In dit artikel worden deze invloeden beschreven en geanalyseerd waarbij nadrukkelijk de resultaten van de door de IASB en FASB gezamenlijk opgestarte convergentieprojecten worden besproken. Tevens wordt aandacht besteed aan de toekomst van US GAAP zoals blijkt uit publicaties van de Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) mede in verband met het feit dat de Norwalk-overeenkomst zijn laatste fase ingaat. In dit laatste kader ga ik met name in op de vraag of en in hoeverre US GAAP vervangen zal worden door IFRS.

scholarly journals Changes To Accounting For Defined Benefit Postretirement Plans: Discussion And Illustration

2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Norman H. Godwin ◽  
Arlette C. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Accounting Standards ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Securities And Exchange Commission ◽  
Financial Accounting ◽  
Pension Benefit ◽  
Defined Benefit ◽  
Financial Accounting Standards Board ◽  
Font Size

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Requests that the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) address issues related to employers&rsquo; accounting for defined benefit postretirement plans have increased in recent years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Those requests have been made by users of financial statements and others, including the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) staff and representatives of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Constituents are interested in improved transparency and understandability.</span></span></p>

Standardizing oil and gas accounting in the US in the 1970s: Insights from the perspective of regulatory capture

2011 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 403-421 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corinne Cortese
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Accounting Standards ◽  
Securities And Exchange Commission ◽  
Regulatory Process ◽  
Financial Accounting ◽  
Regulatory Capture ◽  
Financial Accounting Standards Board ◽  
Method Choice ◽  
The Us ◽  
Oil And Gas Companies

Attempts by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) to standardize oil and gas accounting in the 1970s has been referred to as the “most politicised accounting argument ever” ( Van Riper, 1994 , p.56). Marking the only instance in which the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has declined to support the FASB’s standards, the failure of the FASB to limit accounting method choice has had lasting implications with divergent methods still practised by oil and gas companies today. This study presents a narrative of this development and specifically examines the events through the lens of regulatory capture theory to show that the industry was successful in capturing the regulatory process and securing its preferred outcome.

Did Codification Result in Improved Readability?

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 190
Author(s):  
Doug Barney ◽  
Daniel Tschopp ◽  
Steve Wells
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Essential Element ◽  
Accounting Standards ◽  
Securities And Exchange Commission ◽  
Financial Accounting ◽  
Reporting Standards ◽  
Financial Reports ◽  
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ◽  
Financial Reporting Standards ◽  
The Impact

Financial reporting complexity costs money. The process of developing and promulgating financial reporting standards is costly. The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the International Accounting Standards staff spend time, expertise, and funds writing detailed financial reporting standards. Reporting companies spend money studying and applying these financial reporting standards. Investors, financial analysts, and creditors, while knowledgeable in financial accounting, spend time and resources interpreting and analyzing the resulting financial reports. While there are a number of factors that contribute to the complexity in financial reporting, the level of reading complexity, or readability, is an essential element of a clear, easy-to-understand accounting standard. Recently the FASB adopted a process to bring about a Codification for U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). What impact, if any, did the FASB’s Codification have on the level of reading complexity or readability in U.S. GAAP? The results of several readability tests reported in this article indicate the impact of Codification on the level of reading complexity or readability is not a positive one.

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