FASB Chairman Steps Down

Yesterday, Robert Herz, Chairman of the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB"), announced his resignation amidst a number of critical issues requiring resolution by the board.  It is interesting timing given that Mr. Herz had two years remaining for his term as Chairman.  It certainly adds to the uncertainty about the direction the board will take in the areas of mark-to-market accounting and the convergence of GAAP and IFRS.  Here is the Wall Street Journal's view.

Mr. Herz's departure, set for Oct. 1, also comes as the body is enmeshed in a battle over a proposal to expand the use of mark-to-market accounting, which requires companies to use market prices rather than management estimates to value financial holdings. Some investors say this practice brings a more realistic view to the numbers that public companies report, but banks have vigorously opposed the practice. They say it will introduce unnecessary volatility into results and exacerbated the financial crisis.

At the same time, Mr. Herz's departure may affect the board's ability to complete projects designed to bring together its rules and those set by the London-based International Accounting Standards Board. Mr. Herz's long-stated goal was to make both accounting regimes similar enough that U.S. public companies could abide by the international standards.

Mr. Herz may be stepping down now rather than succumb to continuing political pressure being placed on the board. We may never know if that is the case, but one thing is for certain - the new Chairman will certainly have his or her hands full when they begin their term.

Looming IFRS Risks Pose Significant Challenges

More and more companies are beginning to examine the potential impact of the imminent conversion from U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP") to the International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS").  The big difference between the two sets of standards is the fact that GAAP is primarily "rules-based", while IFRS is "principles-based".  The nature of a more principles-based set of standards adds to the amount of interpretation and risk in financial reporting.   Here is what an article in September 2009 issue of the Journal of Accountancy recently noted on the emerging risks from IFRS implementation.

Conversion to IFRS will be far more than a technical accounting exercise. Implementing IFRS will impact many, if not all, aspects of your business operations. It may bring companywide changes that will spawn new risks. These include system changes, modifications to processes impacting employees’ day-to-day duties, and new accounting policies.

Companies will also need to evaluate the impact these differences may have on their accounting policies, as well as the underlying information technology systems that support the company’s financial reporting structure. Changes to policies and systems on this scale will invariably give rise to additional risks that your organization may need to monitor and control.

The move to IFRS represents a huge opportunity for global companies to streamline their financial reporting, while at the same time poses major risks in the quality of implementation across the organization.  Wheelhouse Advisors can help your company analyze the IFRS related risks and provide solid expertise to support a successful implementation. Visit www.WheelhouseAdvisors.com to learn more.