News
Leases: What should companies do now?
Forward-thinking companies often look ahead to anticipate possible changes and work ahead so they don’t have to scramble when the standard takes effect. Some companies already are doing some of that work with leases, experts say.Switzerland transfers millions to UK and Austria under new agreements
Switzerland’s Federal Tax Administration announced that it transferred almost CHF 900 million ($968 million) to UK and Austrian tax authorities under the terms of Switzerland’s new bilateral tax withholding agreements with those countries.Three reasons finance should focus more on business intelligence
The finance function is well-positioned to take the lead in helping businesses harness the power of business intelligence. Donny Shimamoto, CPA/CITP, CGMA, breaks down the reasons finance should jump at the chance to learn more about business intelligence.Can M&A in US rebound in the second half of 2013?
Despite a slowing in US mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity in the first half of 2013, conditions are ripe for increased transactions in the second half of the year, according to a new analysis.Three steps to safeguard against corruption
Regulators worldwide have stepped up enforcement of anti-corruption laws, especially as more and more companies of all sizes have invested in doing business abroad. Find out how to reduce your risk of corruption and bribery by employees or third parties.Making uncertainty an asset
Accountants could do more to embrace uncertainty, according to Accenture’s David Axson, who spoke at the American Institute of CPAs Financial Planning & Analysis Conference in Las Vegas.IASB seeks feedback on conceptual framework revision
The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) plans to revise the concepts that govern the preparation and presentation of financial statements, and the principles the board uses to develop and revise IFRS.The balanced scorecard, strategy maps and dashboards: Why are they different?
Organisations need to think deeper about what measures drive value and reflect achieving the direction-setting strategic objectives of their executive team.Mandatory rotation not among UK regulator’s proposed audit reforms
The UK Competition Commission decided against including mandatory audit firm rotation among the measures it proposed to promote competition in the statutory audit services market.How can internal audit collaborate and still maintain independence?
To fulfill increasing strategic responsibilities, internal auditors must be able to collaborate within their organisations while maintaining their independence and objectivityCan you succeed in finance without international experience?
The globalisation of business means that international experience has become a desirable quality for accounting and finance professionals.UK introduces anti-abuse rule to prevent abusive tax arrangements
Among its many provisions, the law aims to prevent tax avoidance by introducing a general anti-abuse rule, which imposes a reasonableness test to prevent abusive tax schemes.Increased co-operation builds momentum for integrated reporting
An alliance between the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) and two organizations devoted to corporate environmental impact disclosures is the latest indication of growing momentum for integrated reporting.Half of Canadian businesses report IFRS, GAAP reporting costs in line
Transitioning to IFRS was costly for Canadian businesses, but about half of them reported spending as much on preparing and auditing financial statements under IFRS as they did under Canadian GAAP.Corruption and business risk on the rise worldwide
Corruption is most likely in developing economies, but developed economies in North Americas and Europe experience their share, too, a global survey found. Also, respondents in 80 of the 107 participating countries felt corruption was on the rise.Laser vision
At the child-focused global charity World Vision, Larry Probus’ finance team is helping colleagues with fact-based decision making.How metrics grew access to clean water
Keeping measures simple and highly meaningful to both donors and those in the local community can make all the difference in motivating stakeholders toward a shared vision of healthy lives and livelihoods.New duties on horizon for internal auditors
Strategic duties will become an increased focus for internal auditors over the next two years, according to a new survey.Mexico rivalling China in competition for manufacturing jobs
Relatively low labour and energy costs are increasingly giving Mexico and edge over China, the low-cost manufacturer of choice in the past decade, research by the Boston Consulting Group suggests.
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