The Audit Analytics Accounting Quality + Risk Matrix (AQRM) makes it easy to identify accounting, audit, and governance red flags for public companies. This blog series breaks down the risks associated with specific firm-level events included in the AQRM. Changes in accounting estimates (CAE) … Continue reading
Tech giant Microsoft [Nasdaq: MSFT] announced its first quarter 2021 results on October 27, 2020. Growth in Microsoft’s gross margin and operating income was driven by a change in accounting estimate for the useful lives of server and network equipment. … Continue reading
While some numbers in financial statements are relatively straightforward, others can be complex. Some of the more complex figures that are unable to be concretely quantified require management to make significant estimates. There are many components of financial statements that … Continue reading
In theory, accounting is supposed to be black and white, with binary decision-making processes and no wiggle room. In practice, however, not all figures shown in financial statements are unequivocal. In some cases, the lines are blurry because transactions are … Continue reading
Launched back in 2013, the Audit Analytics Changes in Accounting Estimates database now has nearly 18 years worth of changes in accounting estimate disclosures. We’ve analyzed all annual and quarterly SEC filings going back to January 1, 2000. We have just … Continue reading
On August 19th, the PCAOB issued a Staff Consultation Paper on Auditing Accounting Estimates and Fair Value Measurements. As discussed in the paper, Accounting Estimates is one of the most challenging topics for auditors and companies alike. Other regulatory bodies, … Continue reading
While some figures in financial statements are relatively straightforward, others are more complex. Some of the more complex figures require judgments about future events. For example, a certain number of accounts receivable will not be collected, but neither the actual … Continue reading