Dell buys big

Posted by & filed under Advanced Accounting, Cloud computing, Marketing & Strategy.

Description: Computer maker Dell  is buying in big to the data storage business with a $67 billion takeover of EMC Corp. With the computer market stagnating, this move is seen as one which opens doors for Dell to participate in the expanding market for cloud services. The market’s initial reaction has been lukewarm to this… Read more »

MEC changes gears

Posted by & filed under Contemporary Business Issues, Corporate Governance, Corporate Social Responsibility.

Description: Mountain Equipment Co-op, better known perhaps by its signature letters MEC, is a much admired Canadian co-operative. Members can still join for simply putting down $5 for a share. But recently some members have been concerned that MEC seems to be shifting its governance profile to be more corporate like, meaning that some members… Read more »

Big banks cut costs

Posted by & filed under Accounting Principles, Managerial Accounting.

Description: TD Bank, CIBC, the National Bank and the Bank of Nova Scotia, all representatives of a highly profitable Canadian banking sector, all appear to be in a cost-cutting mode. One of TD’s moves will be to shrink its branch footprint through amalgamations and closures of branches. But TD is also proposing shrinking the actual… Read more »

Cashiers out in the cold

Posted by & filed under Ethics, Fraud, Internal control.

Description: Apparently it was cheaper for the organization running the rink where the Edmonton Oilers play hockey to fire all the parking lot cashiers rather than track down which cashiers had been stealing parking fees. Investigations this past summer caused management at Northlands to conclude that they were losing about 20% of the possible revenue… Read more »

Chip Wilson speaks out

Posted by & filed under Accounting Theory, Managerial Accounting.

Description:  Ousted Lululemon Chair, Chip Wilson, had some things to say about the company he founded.  The clothing company has been facing pressure from rivals such as Under Armour, pressures which had driven down Lululemon’s market value in recent months. Wilson remarked that while Under Armour has about three times the market value of Lululemon,… Read more »

Real estate loophole

Posted by & filed under Accounting Careers, Taxation.

Description: The BC government has stated it intends to crack down on a tax loophole that appears to be allowing foreign investors to escape paying property transfer taxes in a red-hot real estate market. An investigation by the Globe and Mail revealed the disturbing news that some foreign investors were using trusts or transferring property… Read more »

Tax changes coming?

Posted by & filed under Canadian governments, Personal Tax.

Description: Canadians are anticipating some personal income tax changes following Justin Trudeau’s election victory on October 19. The Prime Minister designate campaigned on a platform of tax breaks for the middle class while stating his intention to raise the rates of the highest income earners. All this has prompted New Brunswick’s Finance Minister, Roger Melanson,… Read more »

In jail until at least Tuesday

Posted by & filed under Accounting Careers, Auditing, Fraud Accounting.

Description: A former Quebec lieutenant governor will remain in jail until at least Tuesday after being sentenced to 18 months in jail for fraud and breach of trust. Lise Thibault’s problems started with a 2007  report by federal and provincial auditors general that pointed out questionable expense claims of over $700,000. Thibault’s lawyer is arguing… Read more »

Just an argument between accountants?

Posted by & filed under Advanced Accounting, Auditing, Financial Reporting and Analysis.

Description: This past week the Province of New Brunswick released its financial statements, claiming that its deficit was lower than projected. The big problem though was that the Auditor General, Kim MacPherson, gave the Province a qualified audit opinion for the way it accounted for its so-called shared risk pension funds. And. in somewhat of… Read more »

A taxing situation

Posted by & filed under Personal Tax, Tax Planning.

Description: The details of the tax situation are scant. But it appears negotiations have broken down between the federal Department of Justice and giant accounting firm KPMG regarding a tax haven program KPMG marketed to at least 25 wealthy Canadians. The KPMG plan appears to have offered their clients tax haven protection in the Isle of… Read more »