Posted 7 January 2008

• Janet Luallen, Associate Chief Accountant, Office of the Chief Accountant (PDF 67k). Ms Luallen reviewed the activities of Standing Committee No. 1 (SC 1) of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) and its Accounting Subcommittee.

Posted 31 December

• Robert H Herz, Chairman, Financial Accounting Standards Board (PDF 70k). Mr Herz's speech was titled Towards a Global Reporting System: Where Are We and Where Are We Going?

Posted 27 December

• Todd E. Hardiman, Associate Chief Accountant, Division of Corporation Finance (PDF 57k). Mr Hardiman discussed materiality and judgements in preparing financial statements.
• Stephanie L. Hunsaker, Associate Chief Accountant, Division of Corporation Finance (PDF 70k). Ms Hunsaker covered (1) requirement to name and obtain consents from experts, (2) presentation of a change in accounting from the consolidation method to the equity method for an investment, and (3) MD&A disclosures in the current credit environment.
• Steven C. Jacobs, Associate Chief Accountant, Division of Corporation Finance (PDF 59k). Mr Jacobs covered (1) pro forma MD&A and (2) SOX Section 404 implementation issues.
• Joel K. Levine, Associate Chief Accountant, Division of Corporation Finance (PDF 55k). Mr Levine discussed interactive data (XBRL).

Posted 21 December

• Julie A. Erhardt, Deputy Chief Accountant, Office of the Chief Accountant (PDF 53k). Ms Erhardt presented her reactions to some of the points made in some of the approximately 80 comment letters the Commission has received on its Concept Release on the possible use of IFRSs by US issuers to prepare their financial statements for purposes of filings with the Commission.

Posted 16 December

• James L. Kroeker, Deputy Chief Accountant, Office of the Chief Accountant (PDF 40k). Mr Kroeker spoke about (1) 'having increased confidence in reaching accounting conclusions' and (2) how the comments of SEC speakers at a conference like this should be regarded.

Posted 15 December

• Vassilios Karapanos, Associate Chief Accountant, Office of the Chief Accountant (PDF 61k). Mr Karapanos spoke about auditor independence.

Posted 14 December

• Conrad W. Hewitt, Chief Accountant (PDF 46k). Mr Hewitt commented on: (1) adopting release concerning the elimination of the reconciliation to US GAAP for IFRS as issued by the IASB, and the concept release to allow US companies the option to switch from US GAAP to IFRS, (2) the Advisory Committee on Improvements to Financial Reporting (CIFiR), (3) Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL), and (4) a number of other projects of the Office of Chief Accountant.

Posted 12 December

• Josh Jones, Professional Accounting Fellow, Office of the Chief Accountant (PDF 58k). Spoke about four aspects of the SEC's interpretive guidance on SOX Section 404: (1) evaluation of the design of a company's internal controls over financial reporting; (2) focus on areas of higher risk; (3) evaluation of deficiencies; and (4) disclosures of material weaknesses.

Posted 11 December

• Randy Fletchall, Chairman of the AICPA (PDF 57k). Mr Fletchall spoke about the need for simplification of standards, convergence and use of international standards, respect for professional judgement and materiality, XBRL, and enhanced business reporting.
• SEC Commissioner Kathleen L. Casey (PDF 62k). Commissioner Casey addressed a range of topics including internal control audits, the SEC's new Advisory Committee on Improvements to Financial Reporting, the Treasury Department's Advisory Committee on the Auditing Profession, the need for principles-based accounting and auditing frameworks, international convergence of accounting standards, and SEC acceptance of IFRS financial statements.
• Mark Barrysmith, Professional Accounting Fellow, Office of the Chief Accountant (PDF 47k). Spoke about measurement of employee share options under FASB Statement 123R and the recognition and presentation of revenue.
• Ashley W. Carpenter, Professional Accounting Fellow, Office of the Chief Accountant (PDF 73k). Spoke about four financial instrument topics: (1) classification of loan receivables; (2) other than temporary impairment of securities; (3) initial adoption of Statement 159 (fair value option); and (4) accounting for equity derivatives.
• Len Jui, Associate Chief Accountant, Office of the Chief Accountant (PDF 56k). Discussed international auditing matters, particularly the work of IOSCO Standing Committee No. 1 on Multinational Accounting and Disclosure.
• Sandie E. Kim, Professional Accounting Fellow, Office of the Chief Accountant (PDF 71k). Covered software revenue recognition and fair value.
• Katrina A. Kimpel, Professional Accounting Fellow, Office of the Chief Accountant (PDF 57k). Spoke about the SEC's experience in evaluating the accounting for transactions in accordance with IFRSs as issued by the IASB and related reporting presentations, and the SEC's work with other securities regulators to foster consistent and faithful application of IFRSs around the world.
• Zoe-Vonna Palmrose, Deputy Chief Accountant for Professional Practice (PDF 54k). Discussed SEC's efforts to improve implementation of SOX Section 404 on audits of internal controls.
• Eric C. West, Associate Chief Accountant, Office of the Chief Accountant (PDF 59k). Covered three accounting topics that the SEC has considered during the past year: accounting for litigation settlements; the recognition of FIN 45 guarantees in a spin-off transaction; and the application of paragraph 17c of SFAS 141.2 for the purpose of identifying the acquirer in a business combination.