A director's guide to corporate financial reporting [electronic resource] / Krista Fiolleau, Kris Hoang, and Karim Jamal.

By:

Fiolleau, Krista

Contributor(s):

Publisher number: 1 | BEPSeries: Corporate governance collection[New York, N.Y.] (222 East 46th Street, New York, NY 10017) : Business Expert Press, 2010Edition: 1st edDescription: 1 electronic text (109 p.) : digital fileContent type:

Media type:

Carrier type:

ISBN:

9781606491324 (electronic bk.)
1606491326 (electronic bk.)

Subject(s):

DDC classification:

657.3

LOC classification:

HF5681.B2 F563 2010

Online resources:

Click here to access online

Available additional physical forms:

Also available in print.

Contents:

Introduction -- Chapter 1. Reporting the truth: a quest for neutrality and transparency -- Chapter 2. Accounting as a process by which financial information is recorded -- Chapter 3. Accounting as a process by which financial information is classified -- Chapter 4. Accounting as a process by which financial information is summarized -- Chapter 5. Accounting as a process by which financial information is interpreted -- Chapter 6. Accounting as a process by which financial information is communicated -- Chapter 7. Current issues in financial reporting -- Chapter 8. Accounting for a not-for-profit organization -- Conclusion -- Appendix 1. Definitions of some key accounting terms -- Appendix 2. Further reading -- Notes -- Index.

Abstract: This book is designed for current and prospective corporate directors, as well as executives in business courses who want to gain a better understanding of accounting in a board setting. Corporate directors and managers are under pressure from constant changes in the law (especially the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and a move toward International Financial Reporting Standards) and demands by shareholders and the public to be more informed, vigilant, and involved in the governance of business organizations. One area in particular, accounting and financial reporting, has been a source of great consternation for directors. Breakdowns in internal control, reporting scandals, restatements, and outright accounting fraud have made accounting a source of dread and confusion for corporate directors. We have designed a guidebook with action steps, probing questions, and cases to help directors address key accounting issues that boards face. We discuss what accounting tries to accomplish, how well it achieves its purpose, and why and how accounting and financial reporting go awry. Emphasizing that accounting is a nonneutral financial reporting process, we show directors that accounting is a process by which financial information is recorded, classified, summarized, interpreted, and communicated. By focusing on key issues, including fair value reporting, performance measurement, and the board's role in policy formation, directors can learn to effectively scrutinize and advise their organizations about accounting practices and understand the impact of accounting issues on the operation of their organization.

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Includes bibliographical references and index.

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This book is designed for current and prospective corporate directors, as well as executives in business courses who want to gain a better understanding of accounting in a board setting. Corporate directors and managers are under pressure from constant changes in the law (especially the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and a move toward International Financial Reporting Standards) and demands by shareholders and the public to be more informed, vigilant, and involved in the governance of business organizations. One area in particular, accounting and financial reporting, has been a source of great consternation for directors. Breakdowns in internal control, reporting scandals, restatements, and outright accounting fraud have made accounting a source of dread and confusion for corporate directors. We have designed a guidebook with action steps, probing questions, and cases to help directors address key accounting issues that boards face. We discuss what accounting tries to accomplish, how well it achieves its purpose, and why and how accounting and financial reporting go awry. Emphasizing that accounting is a nonneutral financial reporting process, we show directors that accounting is a process by which financial information is recorded, classified, summarized, interpreted, and communicated. By focusing on key issues, including fair value reporting, performance measurement, and the board's role in policy formation, directors can learn to effectively scrutinize and advise their organizations about accounting practices and understand the impact of accounting issues on the operation of their organization.