The Financial Accounting Standards Board issued an update to its leases standard regarding discount rate guidance for lessees that are not public business entities.
Accounting & Auditing
FASB update provides expedient for valuing share-based awards
The Financial Accounting Standards Board has provided a practical expedient for private companies to reduce the complexity of determining the fair value of share-based awards.
FASB passes on third leases delay
The Financial Accounting Standards Board declined providing private companies and certain not-for-profit organizations a third date delay to its leases standard, which is scheduled to take effect fiscal years beginning after Dec. 15, 2021.
FASB proposes amendments to interim disclosure requirements
The Financial Accounting Standards Board proposed an update to its interim reporting standard as part of its disclosure framework project aimed at improving the clarity, consistency, and effectiveness of financial statement disclosures.
SEC appoints four to overhauled PCAOB; Erica Williams named chair
The SEC appointed Erica Williams to serve as chairperson of the newly overhauled PCAOB. Kara Stein, Christina Ho, and Anthony Thompson will join as new additions, while Acting Chair Duane DesParte will remain on as a board member.
SEC approves rule establishing process for delisting foreign companies
The SEC approved a rule establishing the process for delisting foreign companies from U.S-based exchanges if they do not allow U.S. regulators to examine their finances.
PCAOB 2020 inspection reports: PwC bucks deficiency trend, dethrones Deloitte
PwC ended its three-year run of increasing deficiency percentages to boast the lowest rate among Big Four firms in the PCAOB’s 2020 inspection reports—the first time Deloitte hasn’t performed best since 2016.
Grant Thornton UK fined for ‘skepticism failures’ in Interserve audit
Grant Thornton UK received a “severe reprimand” and reduced penalty of £718,250 (U.S. $981,000) for breaches that arose in the context of audit work on the 2015-17 financial statements of now-collapsed construction firm Interserve.
FASB update addresses revenue recognition in business combinations
The Financial Accounting Standards Board announced an update to its business combinations standard aimed at clarifying how to apply requirements under its revenue recognition rule.
SEC: Akazoo to pay $38.8M in fraud case concerning SPAC merger
Akazoo, a music streaming subscription company based in Greece, reached a $38.8 million settlement with the SEC for allegedly defrauding investors out of tens of millions of dollars related to a 2019 SPAC merger.


