Goodwill impairment testing during COVID-19 times

Economic uncertainty is forcing finance chiefs to rethink the impairment testing process.

By Suzanne Northington • April 30, 2020

When to reprice or replace equity-based compensation awards

If your executive team members' compensation includes stock options or other equity awards, don’t rush to change them; values have plummeted, financial planners say. 

By Robert Freedman • April 30, 2020

Explore the Trendline➔

Financial reporting enters a new age

Finance leaders are increasingly relying on metrics including churn, net promoter score and customer growth to reveal company performance in a way traditional GAAP measures cannot.

By CFO Dive staff

CFOs cautioned on post-lockdown tort risk

Plaintiff attorneys face a high bar to show someone contracted COVID-19 after workspaces reopen, but defending against their claims is expensive.

By Robert Freedman • April 29, 2020

Tax expert: Maximize operating losses to get most from stimulus

Carrying back losses under the federal government's pandemic-response rule changes can get your company a bigger tax refund, according to BDO partner Randy Schwartzman. 

By Robert Freedman • April 23, 2020

As pandemic eases, expect uptick in tax collection woes

Online sales might be on the rise, but so are tax obligations for each state in which you have economic nexus. 

By Robert Freedman • April 21, 2020

Study: Pandemic impact on small companies worsened by Sarbanes-Oxley

A provision in the 2002 federal law to improve corporate accounting leaves companies reliant on debt at a time when credit markets are wobbling.

By Robert Freedman • April 14, 2020

SEC charges Ironclad CEO, CFO with fraud

The CEO, CFO and senior vice president of Texas-based Ironclad Performance inflated revenues by more than $6 million, the Securities and Exchange Commission has charged.  

By Jane Thier • April 12, 2020

Citing pandemic, FASB to delay lease, franchisor standards

Lease accounting changes for private companies and nonprofits have already been delayed once even though analysts prefer they be treated the same as public companies.

By Robert Freedman • April 12, 2020

Shutdown-impacted businesses taking PPP loans may risk losing CARES Act tax benefits

Until rules are out, it's not clear paying expenses with stimulus loan funds will help your business come tax time.

By Robert Freedman • April 7, 2020

UK CFOs' advantage over US counterparts: Wage help

The $2.1T stimulus encourages companies to retain employees, but assistance isn't explicitly geared to that end.

By Robert Freedman • April 1, 2020

The $2.1T stimulus: What's in it for business?

The law includes $500 billion for large businesses that can be leveraged into several trillion dollars in loans. Another $350 billion is set aside for forgivable loans to small businesses.

By Robert Freedman • March 30, 2020

Stimulus bill includes favorable treatment of net operating losses

Restored advantageous tax carrybacks will help abate the liquidity crunch facing CFOs.

By Robert Freedman • March 29, 2020

Get to the core of coronavirus impacts in your reporting, AICPA specialist says

Accounting standards provide flexibility to work around coronavirus challenges, AICPA director Bob Durak said.

By Ted Knutson • March 26, 2020

FDIC chair asks FASB to waive credit-loss rule

Banks dealing with credit market upheavals as a result of the pandemic shouldn't have to adjust to sweeping changes in loss allowances right now, the regulator says.

By Robert Freedman • March 24, 2020

Wall Street goes remote as NYC becomes COVID-19 epicenter

While many companies shift to remote work, Wall Street has two large roadblocks: compliance and security. 

By Jane Thier • March 23, 2020

Tax Day postponement to July 15 'welcome news' for small business

The U.S. Treasury Secretary announced that, amid the coronavirus' economic impact, Tax Day would be postponed to July 15. But where does that leave small businesses?

By Jane Thier • March 20, 2020

PCAOB chair: focus is on preventing bad audits

The regulator is making a push for audit reviews to include a meeting with company audit committees, agency chair William Duhnke said.

By Ted Knutson • March 11, 2020

10-K filings to reflect uncertainty of new accounting rules

New ways to account for leases and expected credit losses may pose a reporting test for companies.

By Robert Freedman • March 7, 2020

SEC gives companies extra 45 days for reporting amid coronavirus uncertainty

By the end of April, companies must summarize why the outbreak is keeping them from filing public disclosures.

By Robert Freedman • March 5, 2020

SEC hits Cardinal Health with accounting violations

The company didn't have controls in place to detect improper payments by a former Chinese subsidiary, the SEC says. 

By Robert Freedman • March 3, 2020

Former CFO of fabrication company charged with fraud

Joseph Nader allegedly misrepresented financial information to make it appear the company was generating more revenue than it was, a U.S. attorney says.   

By Robert Freedman • March 1, 2020

How to use external obsolescence to reduce property taxes

Technology and other forms of disruption that have impacted your business model open the door to a property tax appeal, tax specialists say. 

By Robert Freedman • March 1, 2020

As XBRL in financial reporting matures, focus is on accuracy

The ability to increase financial transparency with machine-readable tags is improving, but few means are in place to ensure data quality. 

By Ted Knutson • Feb. 25, 2020

Can a CFO restore his reputation after SEC fraud allegation?

After a long legal battle, the SEC dropped fraud charges against former Osiris Therapeutics CFO Gregory Law, but his professional standing may never recover. 

By Robert Freedman • Feb. 24, 2020

More scrutiny in store for CECL bank credit-loss standard

Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Calif., the new chair of a House investor protection subcommittee, hopes to shine more light on FASB and PCAOB's roles in accounting and auditing.

By Robert Freedman • Feb. 23, 2020