If you were a research analyst, would you challenge a CFO on its EBITDAC (C=”Covid”) and other such non-GAAP measures? If so, why?
There is a saying in academia, the worst dean is the person who really wants to be dean. What do you think this means and why did a similar expression seem to apply to this CEO?
Shareholders are complaining about online shareholder meetings. Do (would) you share the sentiment? What would be your opinion if you were a member of the C-suite?
What’s the entry for the $262,000,000,000? Are you surprised that such magnitude was booked for first half of 2020? (PS: Do we impair liabilities? Equity?)
What are some of the pros and cons of this sort of “asset-based” financing? Why did Falcon take the inventory on its books?
Are you surprised at the amount of loan loss provisions at GS, JPM, C? What does it signal about the economic outlook in general and about the firm specific outlook? Can you do the journal entries? Are they cash or non-cash? What is the cash flow effect?
Do you think virtual IPOs will replace in-person IPOs? What is a disadvantage of the former over the latter?
Firms have stockpiled cash because of the pandemic. Why? What will they most likely use the cash for? Will it flow to investors (dividends, share repurchases)?
What is the downside of zero-based budgeting? Would you implement it at your firm when you become CFO? Why or why not?
If you were CFO, how would you handle guidance to Wall Street analysts? Widen the range? Pull it altogether?
What kind of accounting issues do you expect at ULTA (across all 3 main statements), given its review of its stores in the covid era?
What is the “bet” of entering into a pre-issuance hedge to lock in borrowing rates for future debt, as Dominion has done? That is, what must happen for Dominion to “win”? To “lose”?
What is your opinion about Chinese companies being taken off of NYSE for not allowing audit inspections?
Are you interested in this job (Chair of the UK’s Financial Reporting Council)? What would make an ideal candidate?
