Audit overseer gets teeth to seek Chinese cooperation on U.S.-listed companies

The SEC approved a framework by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board for assessing whether jurisdictions are letting the watchdog check the audit quality of U.S.-listed foreign companies.

By Robert Freedman • Nov. 8, 2021

CFOs face far tougher federal financial oversight under Biden, attorneys say

A Department of Justice white-collar crime initiative will put companies and their finance teams under the spotlight in a way they weren’t under the Trump administration.

By Ted Knutson • Nov. 5, 2021

SEC to 'dig deeper' in cybersecurity enforcement

SEC guidance from 2018 has foreshadowed many recent cybersecurity enforcement actions by the agency’s Cyber Unit.

By Jim Tyson • Nov. 4, 2021

Global rule maker created for ESG disclosure standards

CFOs aiming to adopt sustainability disclosure standards must currently choose from more than a dozen inconsistent, competing frameworks. 

By Jim Tyson • Nov. 3, 2021

Trump SPAC partner might have violated SEC curb on pre-IPO planning

The former president and the SPAC CEO are said to have discussed a deal before the blank-check company was registered, although some analysts say the issue isn't that simple, The New York Times reports. 

By Robert Freedman • Nov. 1, 2021

Shift makes it easier for FTC to block acquisitions

A policy passed in July lets the Federal Trade Commission preemptively stall an M&A deal if a company has run into anti-competitive problems before.

By Robert Freedman • Oct. 29, 2021

Streaming company disgorges $38.8M it generated from SPAC investors

Akazoo agreed to return the amount after generating $55 million from its merger with a special purpose acquisition company despite having no customers and only nominal revenue, the Securities and Exchange Commission says.  

By Robert Freedman • Oct. 28, 2021

SEC chief accountant calls for safeguards for independent audits

"Not all audits are created equal," a top SEC official said, noting the imperative to "vigilantly maintain the independence of auditors."

By Jim Tyson • Oct. 27, 2021

U.S. regulator warns of 'complacency' as LIBOR's end draws near

The phaseout of LIBOR is "an incredibly important issue facing the global financial system," a top U.S. regulator said.

By Jim Tyson • Oct. 26, 2021

Flaws persist in audits of U.S. companies: PCAOB

“We continue to identify a number of deficiencies that recur from year to year,” the U.S. audit watchdog said in a report.

By Jim Tyson • Oct. 19, 2021

More lawsuits a likely result of SEC shift on no-admit, no-deny settlements

By requiring more companies and officers to admit guilt to settle charges, the Securities and Exchange Commission is courting confrontation.

By Robert Freedman • Oct. 19, 2021

Numeral '4' called key to SEC spotting EPS manipulation

The prevalence of the number serves as a proxy for whether companies are improperly rounding up their earnings ratio. 

By Robert Freedman • Oct. 11, 2021

Federal government to seize home of CFO who embezzled $30M

Richard Hajjar, former CFO of Alden Shoe Co., was sentenced to 70 months in prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud, unlawful monetary transactions and filing a false tax return.

By Jane Thier • Oct. 6, 2021

End of LIBOR moving too slowly: Fed's Quarles

"The reign of LIBOR will end imminently, and it will not come back," says Fed Vice Chair Randal Quarles.

By Jim Tyson • Oct. 5, 2021

Food company CFO charged with 'theft by swindle'

Between 2013 and 2019, Thomas Wiechmann, Reichel Foods' CFO of 24 years, charged a total of $603,172.96 to company credit cards and kept the reward points, Minnesota District Court alleged in a complaint.

By Jane Thier • Sept. 29, 2021

Court upholds SEC 'gag rule' for executives who settle

The Securities and Exchange Commission has unique power to prevent defendants from challenging allegations they believe were never adequately proven, critics say.

By Robert Freedman • Sept. 28, 2021

Gaining greater control over your regulatory compliance with financial close automation

Manual processes are no longer simply a hindrance. Rather, they can lead your organization to deal with the consequences of missing the mark on meeting requirements around regulatory compliance.

Sept. 27, 2021

SEC asks companies for details on impact of climate change

The SEC has asked CFOs for details about the risks and opportunities from climate change while preparing a proposed rule on disclosure.

By Jim Tyson • Sept. 23, 2021

Portfolio companies could see indirect impact from House carried-interest changes

None of the changes are big but there could be some tweaks to the terms of capital raises as investors make tax-related strategic choices.

By Robert Freedman • Sept. 23, 2021

Rise in non-financial disclosures gives CFOs a chance to shine

As organizations pack their reports with more information, the workload is increasing but so is the opportunity to tell a compelling story.

By Ted Knutson • Sept. 22, 2021

Gensler warns no extension coming to LIBOR's end on Dec. 31

Some institutions will wait until the last minute to switch from LIBOR to a new reference rate, SEC Chair Gary Gensler predicted, leading to some “choppy” trading toward the end of 2021.

By Jim Tyson • Sept. 21, 2021

Trump Organization CFO appears before New York Supreme Court

Allen Weisselberg will get more time to file a pre-trial motion to review "millions of pages" of documents that weren't part of the case before. 

By Jane Thier • Sept. 20, 2021

SEC charges high school district CFO with misleading investors

Former finance chief Karen Michel told investors Sweetwater Union High School District in San Diego County would end the 2018 fiscal year with a $19.5M general fund balance while it was actually on track for a $7.2M deficit, the SEC says.

By Jane Thier • Sept. 17, 2021

Ways & Means bill seeks higher taxes on domestic, foreign income

Changes to carried interest rules could also have an impact, if investment firms rethink equity strategies.

By Robert Freedman • Sept. 17, 2021

BlackRock losing 'patience' on pace of corporate ESG disclosure

The hedge funds that lead most proxy battles seek to ride a rising tide of investor concern about sustainability.

By Jim Tyson • Sept. 16, 2021