News
Four internal factors to consider when determining executive pay
Although shareholders are voicing their frustrations by registering disapproval of executive compensation packages, business leaders believe shareholders ought to have more say in top execs’ pay. There is considerable support for linking public company executives’ pay to performance.Scope of appropriate content, structure in auditor’s report under debate
Change apparently is coming to the auditor’s report, but views vary over the appropriate content and structure for reports, and particularly over the issue of “auditor commentary.”Recession dampens effort to stem corporate corruption
A few wealthy nations stepped up efforts last year to crack down on companies that bribe foreign officials to get lucrative contracts abroad, a watchdog group reported. But most of the 39 countries that joined the crackdown launched 15 years ago have done nothing or not enough, according to the report.Job creation is key to Africa’s economic future
To continue to lift millions out of poverty, raise living standards of emerging middle-class consumers and entrench economic growth, African economies must accelerate the creation of wage-paying jobs.Private-company financials often shielded from employees
Most private companies do not share financial details with all employees, according to a new survey by Robert Half. But some executives think openness has its benefits. Among them: Quelling fears about the future, and showing employees how their work contributes to the bottom line.US standard-setter sees flexibility, relevance as cures to disclosure overload
Flexible reporting requirements based on relevance are the foundation of a project FASB is undertaking to attempt to reduce disclosure overload in notes to financial statements.Accounting and finance hiring plans in US stabilise
Accounting and finance staffing appears to be entrenched in a period of relative calm, a recent survey of CFOs shows.US bank executives pessimistic about local, national economic growth
Few US bank executives believe their local economies will improve in the next six months, and they take a dimmer view of the national outlook. A Grant Thornton survey found that 27.5% see an improving local economy, down from 44% who expected improvement in 2011.Accountants sour on US economy as election nears
After rising significantly at the end of 2011 and the beginning of 2012, CPA business leaders’ optimism over the US economy has faded substantially in recent months, according to the latest American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) Business & Industry Economic Outlook Survey.Play the office politics game … and win
Well-intentioned workers who avoid office politics are missing out on opportunities to build relationships that will advance their careers, experts say. But about 40% of workers are sitting on the side lines of office politics – or do not believe office politics are necessary for advancement.Accounting staff in the UK get a slight pay bump
Accounting workers in the UK feel slightly better about their salaries and job satisfaction. A survey of CIMA members shows a slight rise in worker salaries and continuing belief that the CIMA qualification helps members professionally. Overall sentiment about their companies remains lukewarm.The look ahead: Asia-Pacific economies to talk about trade issues, euro-zone crisis
Envoys from 21 countries in Asia and on the Pacific Rim will meet September 8th and September 9th at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 20th economic leaders’ meeting in the far eastern Russian port city Vladivostok.Report: Euro-zone crisis largely to blame for economic slowdown in BRIC economies
After about a decade of outpacing advanced economies, BRIC economies are seeing their growth slow. Deloitte’s most recent global economic outlook largely blames the euro-zone debt crisis but also on domestic challenges in some of the BRICs.Chinese, Japanese firms flex muscles in cautious M&A environment
Companies in China and Japan are taking advantage of the euro zone’s woes and low US asset valuations to find acquisition bargains in developed markets.US standard-setter takes new path in contentious financial instruments project
The US Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) is crafting a new expected credit loss impairment model in hopes of moving forward again in the joint accounting for financial instruments project the board is pursuing with the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB).European CFOs’ forecast far gloomier than that of US counterparts
European CFOs possess a far gloomier view of the next 12 months in terms of employment and other economic indicators than their US counterparts. Although US CFOs are keeping a close eye for residual threats from Europe’s woes, they are significantly more confident than European CFOs.The look ahead: Euro zone braces for recession; US job outlook; China manufacturing
With the UK already in a double-dip recession and the euro zone expected to follow suit in the third quarter, financial markets are waiting to see whether Europe’s central banks will extend helping hands.Australian CFOs bullish on economic growth, hiring
Despite worries about the euro-zone crisis and the economic slowdown in China, Australian CFOs remain bullish on economic growth and their companies’ hiring plans.Four ways to guard against lax cybersecurity
Cybercriminals aren’t fooled by your simple passwords. They have found ways to crack the code on company data through public-domain searches, KPMG research shows. One cybersecurity expert offers four tips on keeping up your defences.
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