Corporate tax evasion ‘crackdown’ more bark than bite

Posted by & filed under Accounting Careers, Canadian Economy, Corporate Restructuring, Corporate Social Responsibility, Fraud, Fraud Accounting, Taxation, Taxation & Planning.

Global efforts to stop companies from eroding tax base by moving profits offshore have no teeth, experts say Tax Evasion Tactics In December 2012, demonstrators led a country-wide protest against Starbucks over the coffee chain’s tax evasion tactics. A Reuters investigation found that through the magic of profit shifting, the company had avoided paying any… Read more »

New Revenue Recognition Standards on the Way for Contractors

Posted by & filed under Accounting Principles, Advanced Accounting, All Articles, Auditing, Cost Accounting, Financial Accounting, Financial Reporting and Analysis, Financial Statement Analysis, Intermediate Accounting, Managerial Accounting.

Contractors should be educating themselves on the impact of the new proposed revenue recognition standards and the recently published (June 24, 2010) exposure draft pertaining to revenue from contracts with customers. Public comments are due October 22, 2010, and it is expected the standards will be finalized in 2011. Questions: 1. What are some of… Read more »

What Does It Cost To Make An Apple IPhone4?

Posted by & filed under Accounting Principles, All Articles, Cost Accounting, Managerial Accounting.

According to market research firm, Apple’s iPhone 4 wireless handset components cost about  $187.51. The iPhone 4 sells for $199 and $299. The most expensive component is the LG display that costs $28.50. According to the consultant, the iPhone has typically hovered around the $170-to-$180 cost range because Apple seems to be trying to hit… Read more »

“Deadbeat” and proud of it?

Posted by & filed under Accounting Principles, All Articles, Auditing, Fraud Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Video Updates.

When you hear the word “deadbeat,” you automatically think bad things.  According to former MBNA employee, Jerry Young, a credit card deadbeat is the insider term used by credit card company executives, that refers to credit card users who pay off their bills promptly and in full each month. Doesn’t sound too bad, right? By doing… Read more »

A Cost Allocation Dilemma

Posted by & filed under Accounting Principles, Cost Accounting, Managerial Accounting.

A Cost Allocation Dilemma The CIO Executive Board is a membership of senior executives with a shared commitment to steward enterprise-wide IT initiatives. In their role of offering cross-functional perspectives on IT and practical tools to promote strategic agendas, the Board found via a survey that most companies are using a “lump sum” cost allocation… Read more »

Corporate Sustainability Can Mean Financial Reward, Despite Extra Costs

Posted by & filed under Accounting Principles, All Articles, Cost Accounting, Managerial Accounting.

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 »

How to “Regroup” During a Recession

Posted by & filed under Accounting Principles, All Articles, Managerial Accounting, Video Updates.

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 »

Veggies at the Movies?

Posted by & filed under Accounting Principles, Managerial Accounting, Video Updates.

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 »

Recessionary Cost-Cutting Revisited

Posted by & filed under All Articles, Cost Accounting, Managerial Accounting.

In an effort to keep their heads above water in recessionary times, many companies ignored their traditional strategic plans. They grabbed at any transactions that were above variable costs in efforts to cover fixed costs. Moving away from value-based pricing, they relied on cost-plus pricing. Unfortunately, as this article mentions, cost-cutting can only go so… Read more »