Accounting for Security Deposits

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A security deposit is money paid by the tenant to the landlord. This deposit protects the landlord if the tenant vacates without making required payments or damages the rental property. If the tenant gives proper notice and vacates without owing any rent or damages, the landlord must return the security deposit to the tenant in… Read more »

Fighting Back Against Payday Lenders

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Wisconsin lawmakers agreed on Thursday, April 22, 2010, to regulate payday lenders. Wisconsin had been the only state not to regulate this industry, which consumer advocates said allowed its rapid growth and trapped too many borrowers who take out short-term loans with high interest rates in a cycle of debt. Questions: 1. What were some… Read more »

Corporate Sustainability Can Mean Financial Reward, Despite Extra Costs

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Tracking efforts in companies like Wal-Mart, Hewlett-Packard and Clorox, authors Ram Nidumulo, C.K. Prahalad, and M.R. Rangaswami, identified a five-stage process that will benefit companies as they navigate through the adoption of green business models.  In the article, the authors contend that early adopters of this process will develop competencies that will be difficult for… Read more »

Late Payments Matter

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Late Payments Matter According to new research, approximately 4,000 small and medium sized firms in the U.K. collapsed in 2008 due to late payments by customers. This amounted to approximately 62 billion pounds that were more than 30 days late and of this 15.5 billion that were more than 120 days overdue. For more than… Read more »

How to “Regroup” During a Recession

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Chris Mittelstaedt, owner of The FruitGuys, has turned his local business into a national operation by changing strategy during the recession through investment in technology and the restructuring of his operations. Required: 1.  Based on the video, what were some of the things that Chris did to cut costs?  What disaster almost bankrupted his company?… Read more »

Getting to the Bottom of Repurchase Agreements (or Repos)

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The Securities and Exchange Commission is asking public-company CFOs for better disclosures and additional information about repurchase agreements, or repos, which are the same transactions that Lehman Brothers used to make its balance sheet look healthy before the investment bank collapsed into bankruptcy. Based on company responses, the SEC could ask issuers to amend their filings… Read more »

More Forensic Accountants of the Future Needed

Posted by & filed under Accounting Principles, All Articles, Financial Accounting, Fraud Accounting, Intermediate Accounting.

In recent efforts, the AICPA is promoting forensic accounting skills to CPA firms and university professors. As part of this push, the Institute has published a new report entitled, “Characteristics and Skills of the Forensic Accountant, which presents qualities that surveyed attorneys, forensic CPAs and academics see as critical for the forensic accounting discipline, particularly… Read more »

Starbucks’ Social Media Strategy

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It is not an accident that Starbucks is the leading consumer brand on Facebook. CEO and Chairman Howard Schultz explains that Starbucks gained prominence on Facebook by making a significant commitment to investing in social media. Executives at Starbucks have learned that they can’t push a product on a consumer. Rather, they must engage consumers… Read more »

Veggies at the Movies?

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In response to growing awareness of obesity, the head of Sony Pictures is encouraging movie theater owners to sell healthier snacks in their theaters. While no one is proposing that movie watchers munch on broccoli or spinach while they enjoy a movie, healthier offerings such as dried apple chips and air-popped popcorn are being suggested…. Read more »

Subway’s $5 Footlong

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The idea for Subway’s $5 footlong sandwich was conceived by a Subway restaurant owner over 5 years ago.  The sandwich is now a cornerstone of Subway’s marketing campaign.  In fact, some people within Subway believe that every time a competitor markets a $5 product, the customer thinks of Subway. As a direct result of offering… Read more »