Debt Disclosure Problems

Posted by & filed under Accounting Information Systems, Accounting Principles, Advanced Accounting, All Articles, Auditing, Cost Accounting, Financial Accounting, Financial Reporting and Analysis, Financial Statement Analysis, IFRS, Intermediate Accounting, International Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Uncategorized.

According to the New York Times, Greensill Capital promised a win-win for buyers and sellers, until it all fell apart, igniting concerns about opaque accounting practices. Questions: How much was Greensill valued at less than 2 years ago? Explain how Greensill’s problems extend to the U.S. Explain Mr. Greensill’s position in the firm as the… Read more »

A Deep Freeze for GE Pensions

Posted by & filed under Accounting Information Systems, Accounting Principles, Advanced Accounting, All Articles, Auditing, Cost Accounting, Financial Accounting, Financial Reporting and Analysis, Intermediate Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Uncategorized, Video Updates.

According to the WSJ, General Electric Co. said it was freezing its pension plan for about 20,000 U.S. workers and offering pension buyouts to 100,000 former employees, as the conglomerate joins the ranks of U.S. companies phasing out a guaranteed retirement. Questions: Who is the CEO? The video said the CEO has been aggressive. What has he… Read more »

Is less better?

Posted by & filed under Accounting Information Systems, Accounting Principles, Advanced Accounting, All Articles, Auditing, Cost Accounting, Ethical Dilemma, Financial Accounting, Intermediate Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Uncategorized.

According to Axios, listed companies, who previously provided detailed breakouts of information on earnings reports, are now paring down these disclosures. Questions: 1. What is(are) the reason(s) for this minimalist reporting? 2. What changes did Ford Motors make and what may be a reason for this? 3. Companies say the old metrics are less appropriate… Read more »

Move along now, no data here.

Posted by & filed under Accounting Information Systems, Accounting Principles, Advanced Accounting, All Articles, Auditing, Cost Accounting, Ethical Dilemma, Financial Accounting, Income Taxes, Intermediate Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Uncategorized, Video Updates.

Mick Mulvaney, the acting head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), told bankers that he is not required to post data on banking institutions that violate the rules or receive significant complaints. Questions: 1. Do you agree with the removal of these types of data from the government websites? Why or why not? 2…. Read more »

Sifting through the numbers

Posted by & filed under Accounting Information Systems, Accounting Principles, Advanced Accounting, Auditing, Cost Accounting, Ethical Dilemma, Financial Accounting, Intermediate Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Uncategorized.

According to Bloomberg.com, General Electric (GE) Co.’s last quarter earnings were 28 cents a share. They were also 13 cents a share, 19 cents a share and 15 cents a share — all at the same time. How can this be? Questions: 1. What do the numbers include or exclude? 2. What are the new… Read more »

Transparency Improved or Impeded?

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A little-noticed accounting change is coming down the pike that will have a major impact on business. According to the New York Times, this one has corporate executives up in arms — and scrambling to comply. Questions: 1. What is the title of the new FASB rule? 2. Which equity investments are affected? 3. How… Read more »

More Bad Uber Press

Posted by & filed under Accounting Information Systems, Accounting Principles, Advanced Accounting, All Articles, Auditing, Cost Accounting, Ethical Dilemma, Financial Accounting, Intermediate Accounting, International Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Video Updates.

According to the New York Times, over the last several years, Uber has engaged in a worldwide program of deceit aimed at keeping authorities in the dark regarding markets where the low-cost ride-hailing service violated regulations or avoided laws. This has occurred through actually banning ridership for authorities. Questions: 1. How did they accomplish this… Read more »

Changes Coming!

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According to the Associated Press, Federal regulators recently announced new rules governing the prepaid debit card industry. It’s a big change more than two years in the making that’s expected to bring some basic account protections to its customers, who are often financially disadvantaged. Questions: 1. How much money was loaded on prepaid cards in… Read more »

Big Brother and Hedge Fund Land

Posted by & filed under Accounting Information Systems, Accounting Principles, Advanced Accounting, All Articles, Auditing, Cost Accounting, Ethical Dilemma, Financial Accounting, Intermediate Accounting, Managerial Accounting.

Ray Dalio, billionaire founder of the world’s largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates, claims that one of his firm’s core operating principles is “radical transparency, regarding employee grievances and concerns. However, according to Stevenson and Goldstein in this New York Times article, at least one Bridgewater employee sees the firm as a “cauldron of fear and… Read more »

Mutual Funds Extinct?

Posted by & filed under Accounting Information Systems, Accounting Principles, Advanced Accounting, Auditing, Cost Accounting, Financial Accounting, Intermediate Accounting, Managerial Accounting.

According to Matt Turner at Business Insider, passive investing is taking over the money-management world through exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which simply track an index. Questions: 1. What are some of the advantages of ETFs for investors? 2. During April in the U.S., what amount of money was tied up in ETFs? And according to Credit… Read more »