When Will They Ever Learn?

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

Bank of America (BoA) is in the news again. This time, Bank of America must pay a $30 million fine after a financial regulator found numerous violations related to the accounts of 73,000 military service members. Questions: 1. What actions did the bank take against military service members that were illegal? 2. What steps did… Read more »

The Hidden Costs of Beautiful Nails

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

Manicures were once for special occasions only. Now they have become a staple for women across the economic spectrum. With more than 17,000 nail salons in the United States, there are about 2,000 nail salons in New York City alone. This New York Times research article looks at the dirty little secret of exploitation of… Read more »

Is the use of videoconferencing one to improve recidivism or profits?

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

Jails are replacing face-to-face visits with video conferencing screens and are passing the costs on to inmates and their families. In some cases, these costs are up to $1 per minute. Questions: 1. Where do most videoconferencing companies make their money? 2. Who are the industry giants in prison videoconferencing? 3. Explain the last statement… Read more »

Fraud at Florida-based adult entertainment businesses

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

Paul Anthony Ruggieri, accountant, pleaded guilty Friday to assisting in the tax fraud scheme of Anthony Andreozzi, the owner of two Florida-based adult entertainment businesses. Questions: 1. Based on the information in the article, how long had Mr. Ruggieri been Andreozzi’s accountant? Go to the Certified Fraud Examiner’s website and compare this amount of time… Read more »

Why Can’t I Get A Break on Airline Tickets, with Gas Down to Record Lows?

Posted by & filed under Accounting Principles, All Articles, Cost Accounting, Financial Accounting, International Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Video Updates.

Even with oil prices down, it seems like airline tickets are either increasing in price or staying level. In fact in October 2014, there were four separate attempts by U.S. airlines to hike airfares with mixed success. But why? Questions: 1. To what conditions does Seany attribute the high airline ticket prices? 2. Do you… Read more »

New Class Action Lawsuit

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

Zillow, the number one online real estate website, is facing a $5 million class action lawsuit for intimidating employees to skip meals and work long hours without pay. Questions: 1. Who was Zillow’s top competition and how much did Zillow pay to buy the company? 2. Would this acquisition be reported on the Statement of… Read more »

Shopping Comes at A Price

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

According to Chico Harlan, five years after the Great Recession, the most striking change in the world of low-income commerce has been the proliferation of rent-to-own stores. Questions: 1. How do rent to own stores avoid state usury laws and other regulations aimed at excessive interest payments? 2. What percentage of items are returned or… Read more »

Dutch Treat?

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

According to the New York Times, “Dutch pensions are scrupulously funded, unlike many United States plans, and are required to tally their liabilities with brutal honesty, using a method that is common in the financial-services industry but rejected by American public pension funds.” This article discusses the Dutch belief that each generation should pay its… Read more »

Rip Off: We Work Hard for the Money!

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

Although Guadalupe Rangel worked nearly 70 hours per week, he never saw any overtime pay at the Schneider warehouse in Mira Loma, California. As a result he joined a lawsuit involving hundreds of warehouse workers where he will likely receive more than $20,000 in back pay as part of the recent $21 million legal settlement… Read more »

Scamming scammers: The underbelly of debt collection

Posted by & filed under Accounting Principles, All Articles, Cost Accounting, Financial Accounting, Financial Reporting and Analysis, Financial Statement Analysis, Intermediate Accounting, Managerial Accounting.

From 2006 to 2009, the nation’s top nine debt buyers purchased almost 90 million consumer accounts with more than $140 billion in “face value.” This article details the saga of debt accounts that continue to be stolen, double-sold or otherwise exchanged without accurate supporting information by “debt collectors, including statements or copies of original signed… Read more »