What is your external auditor’s responsibility for cybersecurity?

Data breaches can be costly. The average total cost of a data breach has risen to roughly $4.45 million, according to a 2023 survey of information technology (IT) security professionals by the Ponemon Institute (a research center dedicated to privacy, data protection and information security policy). That figure has grown 15% overall in the last […]

FASB issues new segment expense disclosure rules

On November 27, 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued updated accounting rules on segment reporting. The guidance concludes several years of discussions aimed at providing investors with better information about a company’s business unit costs from the viewpoint of management. The rules will take effect next year for public companies. Existing rules The term […]

It’s important to track tools and small equipment

Is your business constantly replacing its tools and small equipment? Certain items that can fit in a backpack, pocket or even the armrest of a vehicle — such as power tools, hard hats, iPads and RFID readers — have a tendency to “walk away” from job sites, warehouses and offices. However, the cost of lost, […]

Using QuickBooks to prepare 2024 budgets and forecasts

As year end nears, many businesses and nonprofits are planning for 2024. QuickBooks® provides budget and forecast features to help management make financial predictions, as well as assess “what if” scenarios to help make more-informed business decisions. Here’s how you can use these tools for your year-end financial planning. Budgets vs. forecasts The budget function […]

Overview of the offsetting rules

As companies explore hedging strategies in today’s uncertain economy, management might need to become familiar with the accounting rules for offsetting. Here are the basics, including what needs to be disclosed in your footnotes about these contractual arrangements. Right of setoff In general, it’s not proper to offset assets and liabilities in the balance sheet […]

Are you ready for year-end inventory counts?

As year end approaches, it’s time for some calendar-year businesses to perform physical inventory counts. This activity is more than a time-consuming chore; it’s an opportunity to improve your company’s operational efficiency. Here are some best practices as you prepare to count your inventory, as well as guidance on how to get more from these […]

Teaching your accounting staff to master the art of negotiation

Effective negotiation skills are critical when hiring a CEO or salesperson who deals with major contracts on a regular basis. Yet these skills aren’t necessarily at the forefront when looking for a bookkeeper or controller to “count the beans” at your organization. Mastery of the fundamentals of negotiating is essential for accountants, too — whether […]

Accounting for M&As

Business merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions have significant financial reporting implications. Notably, the company’s balance sheet will look markedly different than it did before the business combination. Here’s some guidance on reporting business combinations under U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Allocating the purchase price GAAP requires a buyer to allocate the purchase price to […]

Tips for a faster month-end close

Does your company struggle to close its books at the end of each month? The month-end close requires accounting personnel to round up data from across the organization. This process can strain internal resources, potentially leading to delayed financial reporting, errors and even fraud. Here are some simple ways to streamline your company’s monthly closing […]

Shareholder advances: Debt or equity?

From time to time, owners of closely held businesses might need to advance their companies money to bridge a temporary downturn or provide funds for an expansion or another major purchase. How should those advances be classified under U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)? Depending on the facts and circumstances of the transaction, an advance […]