Why do you think the IPO market is weak and new startups are opting to sell themselves rather than go public? If you were an entrepreneur of a startup, what would you consider in making the decision?
The SEC wants to eliminate duplicative disclosures found elsewhere in the financial statements. How did the disclosure system get to the point where certain disclosures are required in two different places. What are some implications of eliminating duplicate disclosures? Who benefits from the proposed change? Who might lose?
Why do you think Electronic Arts decided to discontinue reporting non-GAAP measures? Who benefits from this? Who loses? Do you think their decision is a good one?
What would you do, as a CFO, to try to offset the increase in the underfunded status of your DB pension plan caused by declining interest rates?
BP will accrue a charge in the current quarter of several billion for the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Why do you think it has taken so long for BP to be able to estimate the damage and accrue such a charge? What is the threshold for accruing such charges under U.S. GAAP? Under IFRS?
In what roles do you see technology being sophisticated enough to displace humans in the accounting profession? Who benefits from this?
According to the article (clink to link to it), a Tesla car that was self-driving crashed. In your opinion, should this have triggered an SEC disclosure? What is the threshold for disclosure? What is the name of the form firms use for such disclosures?
The SEC can bring a case against a registered firm and use its own “in-house” judges to try the case. Do you think the proposed changes to this will be fairer?
$2.4 trillion (TRILLION) of “indefinitely reinvested” profits of U.S. multinationals are overseas. Why? Is this a problem? If so, for whom? If so, what solutions would you propose? What is the effect on the effective tax rate of indefinitely reinvested profits?
How would you balance inventory between retail stores and distribution centers? Do you foresee more and more shopping online, even for toothpaste? Who wins? Who loses?
If so many firms are using pro forma (adjusted) accounting measures, can you make a case that GAAP should be discontinued?
Can you write down in simple equation form how goodwill impairments are currently measured and how they are proposed as being measured (step 2 of the impairment test)? Can you articulate how the proposed test will make it much easier for firms?
Do you think it is reasonable to require such “crystal-ball” foresight re: loan losses? Why was there such a push to require early recognition? Will it help? Whom? How?
What are some of the negative implications of the concentration of audit services in so few audit firms? Should anything be done about it? Why or why not?
Which credentials will you need (CPA, CMA, CFA, CIA, CGMA, etc.)? Is credentialing more important than your degree? Why or why not?
What are some of the reasons so many firms have increased dividends and share repurchases? What are some long term implications of this?
If you were a C-suite exec, would you want your bonus calculated on GAAP results or pro forma results?
Tiffany’s sales were down for the quarter, and management warned that earnings for the current quarter would be worse than previously predicted. Are managers required to give such warnings? What are the consequences of not providing them?
