contemporary business issues | Wiley Accounting Updates

Refunds: why retailers are making it harder for you to get them

Posted 11:41 pm by Gerry La Rocca & filed under Auditing, Fraud, Fraud Accounting, Marketing & Strategy.

Returns fraud costs customers in terms of higher prices, more restrictive store policies Want your money back? Not so fast. Return policies are getting tighter as retailers try to protect themselves from returns fraud — and honest customers often pay the price. Not only that, but at many stores, policies are unevenly applied, a CBC… Read more »

Investing puzzle a hard one to solve (Tax Free Savings Accounts)

Posted 11:16 pm by Gerry La Rocca & filed under Canadian Economy, Taxation, Taxation & Planning.

Increase in savings by Canadians Recent data indicate that Canadians are saving more. Statistics Canada reports that the Household Savings Rate is currently 5.4%, a 0.4% increase from the previous year. Likewise, a recent BMO Bank of Montreal study found that 48% of Canadians are now investing in Tax-Free Savings Accounts (TFSAs), a 23% increase… Read more »

Target Stores & Neiman Marcus are latest victims of security breach

Posted 10:47 pm by Gerry La Rocca & filed under Canadian Economy, Fraud.

Neiman Marcus is latest victim of security breach Neiman Marcus confirmed Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014 that thieves may have stolen customers’ credit and debit card information and made unauthorized charges over the holiday season, becoming the second retailer in recent weeks to announce it had fallen victim to a cyber-security attack. (M. Spencer Green/Associated… Read more »

Global trade deal reached after 2 decades

Posted 11:35 pm by Gerry La Rocca & filed under Canadian Economy, International Business Operations.

The World Trade Organization has forged a deal that could add $1 trillion to the world economy. It’s aimed at cutting red-tape to help poorer countries sell their goods to wealthier nations. A deal to boost global trade has been approved by the World Trade Organization’s 159 member economies for the first time in… Read more »

Black Friday deals no guarantee of retail bonanza

Posted 11:29 pm by Gerry La Rocca & filed under Canadian Economy, Marketing & Strategy.

Canadian retailers are pulling out more stops this year to lure bargain hunters on Black Friday, but the promotional blitz may not reap the bottom line rewards many stores are hoping for. From B.C. to the Atlantic Provinces, malls are opening before sunrise as the U.S. shopping phenomenon pegged to the day after American Thanksgiving makes further… Read more »

Late to the party, Hortons finally unveils cup sleeve

Posted 10:02 pm by Gerry La Rocca & filed under International Business Operations, Marketing & Strategy.

In the fall of 1993, a struggling realtor in Oregon named Jay Sorensen patented a cup sleeve. He’d been driving his daughter to school, coffee in hand, and burned himself. He figured there had to be a better way. Battle with Starbucks He got into a battle with Starbucks, which later came up with a… Read more »

With Great Data Comes Great Responsibility

Posted 3:23 pm by Gerry La Rocca & filed under Accounting Careers, Fraud Accounting, Intermediate Accounting.

The risk of data to the forensic accountant & client The forensic accounting profession is ever changing and evolving. White collar criminals are finding new ways to commit fraud, and litigation matters are becoming more and more complex. In order to meet the needs of clients, forensic accountants are learning new skills and using new… Read more »

Nortel patents at issue in suits against Google, Huawei

Posted 11:42 pm by Gerry La Rocca & filed under Accounting Principles, Advanced Accounting, Financial Accounting.

The group that owns thousands of patents for technology developed by defunct Canadian telecom company Nortel filed patent lawsuits Thursday against Google, Samsung, HTC and Huawei. Rockstar, an Ottawa-based company that is co-owned by Apple, Microsoft, BlackBerry, Ericsson and Sony, claims that protected Nortel technology underlies some of Google’s search technology. Rockstar bought the portfolio… Read more »

5 Canadian consumer trends to shape the future of retail

Posted 11:06 pm by Gerry La Rocca & filed under Canadian Economy, Marketing & Strategy.

Canadians consumers are increasingly looking for healthy and locally made products, according to a new study from the Business Development Bank of Canada that identifies five trends shaping consumer behaviour. A BDC study just released looks at the increasing importance of the internet in decision-making, with half of consumers conducting an online search prior to… Read more »

What’s trending today in Accounting & Finance?

Posted 6:46 pm by Gerry La Rocca & filed under Accounting Careers, Canadian Economy, Corporate Social Responsibility, CPA, Financial Accounting, Fraud, IFRS, International Accounting, Taxation.

These are dynamic days for the profession and opportunities abound. Here’s everything you’ve ever wanted to know about best bets for jobs About six years ago Cathy Logue, an accountant by trade, and her two business partners launched Ambit Search in Toronto. The boutique executive recruiting firm is focused exclusively on filling finance and accounting… Read more »