Business

It’s critical for business owners and managers to understand how to present contingent liabilities accurately in the financial statements. Under U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), some contingent losses may be reported on the balance sheet and income statement, while others are only disclosed in the footnotes. Here’s an overview of the rules for properly identifying, measuring and reporting contingencies to provide a fair and [...]

Running a closely held business is challenging. Owners usually prioritize core business operations — such as managing employees, serving customers and bringing in new sales — over tedious bookkeeping tasks. Plus, the accounting rules can be overwhelming. However, access to timely, accurate financial data is critical to your business’s success. Could outsourcing bookkeeping tasks to a third-party provider be a smart business decision? Here are [...]

As calendar-year entities wrap up financial reporting for the year, their external auditors work behind the scenes to prepare for audit season. Here’s what you can do to help facilitate the audit planning process. The audit risk assessment During fieldwork, auditors can’t test every transaction, recalculate every estimate or examine every external document. Instead, they tailor their procedures and assign audit personnel to keep audit [...]

In recent years, the accounting rules have undergone significant changes, including updated standards for reporting revenue, leases and credit losses. While business owners and managers often express frustration over the complexity of these rules, they’re more than an exercise in compliance. They help promote investor confidence and efficient capital markets. Here’s an overview of why standardized financial reporting is essential and how it’s changed over [...]

When reviewing their income statements, business owners tend to focus on profits (or losses). But focusing solely on the bottom line can lead to mismanagement and missed opportunities. Instead, you should analyze this financial report from top to bottom for deeper insights. Think like an auditor Review your company’s income statement with an auditor’s mindset. External auditors are trained to have professional skepticism, ask questions [...]

Profitable businesses often experience cash flow shortages, particularly if they’re experiencing rapid growth. Business owners may wonder why they owe taxes when they regularly struggle to find cash to cover their bills. The answer can be found by understanding the key differences between profits and cash flow. Operating activities Profits are closely related to taxable income. Reported at the bottom of your company’s income statement, [...]

Timing is critical in financial reporting. Under accrual-basis accounting, the end of the accounting period serves as a “cutoff” for when companies recognize revenue and expenses. However, some companies may be tempted to play timing games, especially at year end, to boost financial results or lower taxes. Observing the end-of-period cutoffs Under U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), revenue should be recognized in the accounting [...]

Public companies are required to evaluate and report on internal controls over financial reporting using a recognized control framework under rules set forth by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). However, private companies also need checks and balances to help ensure their financial statements are correct and reduce the risk of fraud. Additionally, transparent reporting about the control system can give lenders, investors and other [...]

Is your company planning to hire a new CFO? A recent survey found that hiring managers look for more than financial acumen when vetting CFO candidates. In fact, only 38.5% of CFOs at Fortune 500 and S&P 500 companies were licensed CPAs in 2023, according to executive recruiting firm Crist Kolder. What other skills may be needed to fill these shoes? Financial know-how opens doors [...]

External auditors have primary responsibility for audit quality. However, the audit committee plays an important oversight role in the financial reporting process. Here are some best practices to consider when evaluating the composition of your company’s audit committee. Understanding the audit committee’s purpose Audit committees act as gatekeepers over financial reporting. This means overseeing the accounting and financial reporting processes. The audit committee pays close [...]

Bookkeeping fundamentals are essential to accurate financial reporting. Using software solutions — such as QuickBooks®, NetSuite® or Xero™ — can simplify double-entry accounting. However, knowing how the process works can provide reassurance that your business is properly tracking its financial transactions. Debit and credits Assets are items of value that your business owns, such as accounts receivable, inventory and equipment. Liabilities are debts that your [...]

Proactive working capital management is essential to successful business operations. However, on average, businesses aren’t managing their working capital as efficiently as they have in the past, according to a new study by The Hackett Group, a digital transformation and AI strategy consulting firm. The study found that all elements of the cash conversion cycle (CCC) deteriorated by an average of 1.3 days (or 4%) [...]

It usually takes between two and six weeks for management to prepare financial statements that comply with the accounting rules. The process takes longer if an outside accountant reviews or audits your reports. Timely information is critical to making informed business decisions and pivoting as needed if results fall short of expectations. That’s why proactive managers often turn to flash reports for more timely insights. [...]

In certain circumstances, businesses may need to hire CPAs to perform agreed-upon procedures (AUPs) instead of (or in addition to) a review or an audit. AUPs are a type of attestation engagement “in which a practitioner performs specific procedures on subject matter and reports the findings without providing an opinion or conclusion,” according to the standards set forth by the American Institute of Certified Public [...]