Corporate Sustainability Can Mean Financial Reward, Despite Extra Costs

Posted by & filed under Accounting Principles, All Articles, Cost Accounting, Managerial Accounting.

Tracking efforts in companies like Wal-Mart, Hewlett-Packard and Clorox, authors Ram Nidumulo, C.K. Prahalad, and M.R. Rangaswami, identified a five-stage process that will benefit companies as they navigate through the adoption of green business models.  In the article, the authors contend that early adopters of this process will develop competencies that will be difficult for… Read more »

Getting to the Bottom of Repurchase Agreements (or Repos)

Posted by & filed under Accounting Principles, Advanced Accounting, All Articles, Financial Accounting, Fraud Accounting.

The Securities and Exchange Commission is asking public-company CFOs for better disclosures and additional information about repurchase agreements, or repos, which are the same transactions that Lehman Brothers used to make its balance sheet look healthy before the investment bank collapsed into bankruptcy. Based on company responses, the SEC could ask issuers to amend their filings… Read more »

Green Accounting Roadmap

Posted by & filed under Accounting Principles, Financial Accounting.

A new report by Ceres, a leading coalition of investors, environmental and public interest organizations in North America, stresses that companies must make immediate envrionmental improvements to remain competitive in the 21st century global economy.  Sustainable performance, not short-term environmental initiatives, will position companies to plan and innovate in an increasingly resource-contstrained economy.  Included in… Read more »

Is the SEC Going to Get Tough On Compliance with Executive Pay Disclosures?

Posted by & filed under All Articles, Financial Reporting and Analysis, Financial Statement Analysis.

The SEC revised its disclosure guidelines for executive pay in late 2006. Since that time the regulator has been sending out letters to violator companies with insufficient disclosures, but has seen little compliance. Now the commission indicates that reviews will be tighter and there’s no room for a “Mister Nice Guy” approach. In fact, its… Read more »