News
Pay to play? Survey shows increased risks of bribery, corruption
An erosion of ethical standards amongst decision-makers leaves companies increasingly vulnerable to corruption, a new fraud report shows.These risks can pummel your company’s earnings
About half of the most disappointing earnings surprises S&P 500 companies reported in the first quarter were caused by risks that were inherent in the companies’ business model, a first-of-a-kind study suggests.US gets new council for private company financial reporting standards
The US Financial Accounting Foundation (FAF) voted to create a Private Company Council (PCC) to identify and vote on differences in US GAAP for private companies.Six trading myths threaten US, Europe
Common trading myths – rooted in the misconception that offshoring of manufacturing jobs to countries with cheap labour is raising trade deficits in mature economies – can hurt the US and Europe.The look ahead: Is the US economy slowing or growing? Consumers may hold the answer
Consumers are a huge part of the US economy. And in the coming week, economic numbers may show how job security is influencing consumer confidence and the nation’s GDP growth, which appears to be slowing.Are you an accountant or a problem-solver?
The corporate finance professionals who climb the value chain will be interpreters and collaborators able to leverage data as a strategic asset while working across functional areas to solve problems and innovate, according to executives speaking at the American Institute of CPAs’ Council meeting in Washington.Bridging the ethical divide
About 80% of companies have ethics codes, yet only 36% collect ethics data. Learn more about the “ethical divide.”Strategies for the new tech ecosystem
George Colony sees a technology future in which the web fades in prominence to something akin to AM radio, society maxes out on social media, younger consumers’ habits radically depart from those of even the closest generation, and mobile engagement with customers could mean life or death for business models.Entrepreneur brings attitude to economic discussion
When panellists at the American Institute of CPAs’ spring Council meeting in Washington were asked how to fix the economy, business leaders and politicians talked about familiar themes: balancing the federal budget and avoiding deficit spending. They said complex regulations are crippling some businesses.CFOs tell Bank of America they expect to increase hiring in 2012
CFOs doing business with Bank of America’s commercial lending arm have become more optimistic about the US economy and their companies’ futures. But their optimism is limited by a host of concerns.Manufacturing’s future includes localised supply chains, talent shortages
Manufacturers face operational and recruiting challenges that are leading to localised supply chains, investment in energy-efficient processes and new-worker training initiatives, according to research by the World Economic Forum.The look ahead: European leaders to discuss bank bonuses
European Union lawmakers are poised to negotiate details of a proposed law that would ban banks from paying bonuses stemming from profits tied to cheap European Central Bank loans as part of a broader overhaul of proposed banking rules. And in the US, a long-awaited decision is expected on the handling of private company accounting standards.Big-data analytics – where next?
Big-data analytics is the hot topic of 2012, with many predicting that the future success of organisations – big or small, public or private – will depend on their ability to capture, analyse and gain insights from it.Lack of experience flavours investors’ perceptions of Africa
Africa is home to some of the fastest-growing economies in the world. Many of its countries have less corruption, are easier to do business with, and are more democratic than several fast-developing nations in Europe and Asia. But dated perceptions still keep many investors away, according to an Ernst & Young report.Corporate treasurers face cash-management, structural hurdles, report says
Although the financial crisis has strengthened the role of corporate treasurers, they face cash management difficulties while using outdated technology and are experiencing difficulty recruiting talented employees, according to a new survey.Under increased scrutiny, many private equity execs plan to add finance jobs, survey shows
Private equity executives say they are facing increased scrutiny from limited partners, according to a new survey. That’s good news for finance and accounting professionals. More than one-third of private equity execs plan to increase their staffs in 2012.Economic optimism continues to rise among US manufacturers
More US manufacturers expect to hire more, profit more and invest more in the year ahead. Meanwhile, they’re less worried about barriers to growth such as taxes and new regulations. Also, while some manufacturers remain uncertain about the global economy, others are showing gains in sales abroad.To prevent fraud, offer a hotline, train employees on fraud prevention, report says
The typical business loses 5% of its revenue to fraud, a global Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) report estimates. See what sectors are most vulnerable to fraud risk, what types of schemes are most common and most costly, and get tips for detecting and preventing fraud.Formal controls at not-for-profits require careful implementation, CGMA study shows
Although formal performance measurement and management controls can help not-for-profit organizations (NPOs) thrive in a competitive environment, they must be implemented carefully, a new report jointly sponsored by the AICPA and CIMA shows.
Read the latest FM digital edition, exclusively for CIMA members and AICPA members who hold the CGMA designation.