NOT IN USE – Custom Skills for Accounting Research (University of North Texas)

by Collins

ISBN: 978-1-61853-468-2 | Copyright 2022

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Skills for Accounting Research, 4e (pg. 1.2)
Chapter 1 Overview of Accounting Research (pg. 1.2)
Why Accounting Research Skills Matter (pg. 1.4)
What Is Accounting Research, and Why Is It Performed? (pg. 1.4)
In What Future Roles Might I Perform Accounting Research? (pg. 1.5)
Now [ YOU ] Try 1.1 Your Role as a Researcher (pg. 1.6)
When Is Accounting Research Performed? (pg. 1.6)
Researching a Proposed Transaction (pg. 1.7)
Now [ YOU ] Try 1.2 (pg. 1.8)
Researching a Past Transaction (pg. 1.8)
Research Performed After Financial Statement Issuance (pg. 1.9)
Now [ YOU ] Try 1.3 (pg. 1.9)
Research for the Purpose of Shaping Future Accounting Standards (pg. 1.10)
In What Environments Is Accounting Research Performed? (pg. 1.10)
Different Guidance for Each Research Environment (pg. 1.11)
Now [ YOU ] Try 1.4 (pg. 1.12)
Accounting Standard-Setting Bodies (pg. 1.12)
The Securities and Exchange Commission (pg. 1.12)
Now [ YOU ] Try 1.5 (pg. 1.13)
The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (pg. 1.14)
The Financial Accounting Standards Board (pg. 1.14)
Now [ YOU ] Try 1.6 (pg. 1.14)
Now [ YOU ] Try 1.7 (pg. 1.15)
Now [ YOU ] Try 1.8 (pg. 1.15)
Chapter Summary (pg. 1.16)
Review Questions (pg. 1.16)
Exercises (pg. 1.17)
Case Study Questions (pg. 1.18)
Chapter 2 The FASB Codification: Introduction and Search Strategies (pg. 1.20)
What is the FASB Codification? (pg. 1.22)
Now [ YOU ] Try 2.1 (pg. 1.23)
What Sources of Guidance Were Used to Populate the Codification? (pg. 1.23)
Now [ YOU ] Try 2.2 (pg. 1.24)
How is the Codification Updated? (pg. 1.24)
Navigating The Codification (pg. 1.24)
How is Information Organized Within the Codification? (pg. 1.25)
Now [ YOU ] Try 2.3 (pg. 1.26)
Areas and Topics (pg. 1.26)
Now [ YOU ] Try 2.4 (pg. 1.27)
Subtopics (pg. 1.28)
Now [ YOU ] Try 2.5 (pg. 1.28)
Sections (pg. 1.28)
Now [ YOU ] Try 2.6 (pg. 1.33)
Subsections and Paragraphs (pg. 1.33)
Now [ YOU ] Try 2.7 (pg. 1.34)
Tips for Performing Browse Searches (pg. 1.35)
Join All Sections (pg. 1.35)
Navigating a Subtopic, Considering All Areas of “Required Reading” (pg. 1.36)
Now [ YOU ] Try 2.8 (pg. 1.38)
Other Search Methods (pg. 1.39)
Keyword Searches (pg. 1.39)
Now [ YOU ] Try 2.9 (pg. 1.42)
Now [ YOU ] Try 2.10 (pg. 1.43)
Search by ASC Reference Number (pg. 1.43)
Cross Reference Tab (pg. 1.44)
Master Glossary (pg. 1.44)
Pending Content and Effective Dates (pg. 1.45)
What is “Pending Content”? (pg. 1.45)
Now [ YOU ] Try 2.11 (pg. 1.45)
Understanding Effective Dates (pg. 1.46)
Now [ YOU ] Try 2.12 (pg. 1.46)
Private Company Accounting Alternatives in the Codification (pg. 1.47)
Now [ YOU ] Try 2.13 (pg. 1.47)
Chapter Summary (pg. 1.47)
Review Questions (pg. 1.47)
Exercises (pg. 1.49)
Case Study Questions (pg. 1.50)
Chapter 3 The Research Process (pg. 1.54)
Why Use A Research Process? (pg. 1.56)
The Accounting Research Process (pg. 1.56)
Pre-Step: Understand the Business (Industry) (pg. 1.57)
Now [ YOU ] Try 3.1 (pg. 1.59)
Step 1: Understand the Facts/Background of the Transaction (pg. 1.59)
Now [ YOU ] Try 3.2 (pg. 1.60)
Step 2: Define the Problem. That Is, Identify the “Researchable Question.” (pg. 1.61)
Now [ YOU ] Try 3.3 (pg. 1.62)
Now [ YOU ] Try 3.4 (pg. 1.62)
Step 3: Stop and Think: What Accounting Treatment Will Likely Be Appropriate? (pg. 1.62)
Step 4: Search Potentially Relevant Sources of Guidance, Copying Any Relevant Guidance into a Word (pg. 1.63)
Now [ YOU ] Try 3.5 (pg. 1.63)
Now [ YOU ] Try 3.6 (pg. 1.64)
Step 5: Analyze Alternatives, Documenting Your Consideration of Each (pg. 1.65)
Now [ YOU ] Try 3.7 (pg. 1.65)
Step 6: Justify and Document Your Conclusion (pg. 1.67)
Now [ YOU ] Try 3.8 (pg. 1.67)
Judgment And Decision Making-A Brief Introduction (pg. 1.67)
Common Biases (pg. 1.68)
Now [ YOU ] Try 3.9 (pg. 1.69)
Learn from Your Mistakes (and Successes!) (pg. 1.70)
Now [ YOU ] Try 3.10 (pg. 1.70)
Chapter Summary (pg. 1.70)
Review Questions (pg. 1.71)
Exercises (pg. 1.71)
Case Study Questions (pg. 1.73)
Additional References (pg. 1.75)
Chapter 4 Creating Effective Documentation (pg. 1.76)
Documentation Is Integral to Accounting Research (pg. 1.78)
Communicating Accounting Research (pg. 1.79)
Emailing the Results of Research Questions (pg. 1.79)
Now [ YOU ] Try 4.1 (pg. 1.81)
Drafting an Accounting Issues Memorandum (pg. 1.83)
Facts (pg. 1.84)
Now [ YOU ] Try 4.2 (pg. 1.85)
Issue(s) (pg. 1.86)
Analysis (pg. 1.86)
Now [ YOU ] Try 4.3 (pg. 1.89)
Now [ YOU ] Try 4.4 (pg. 1.90)
Now [ YOU ] Try 4.5 (pg. 1.91)
Now [ YOU ] Try 4.6 (pg. 1.92)
Financial Statement and Disclosure Impacts (pg. 1.93)
Reread Your Work Before Submitting (and what to look for) (pg. 1.93)
Now [ YOU ] Try 4.7 (pg. 1.94)
Properly Referencing Accounting Guidance (pg. 1.94)
How Do I Reference a Passage from the Codification? (pg. 1.94)
Now [ YOU ] Try 4.8 (pg. 1.95)
Should I Ever Use Footnotes in Professional Memos? (pg. 1.95)
When Should I Use Quotation Marks? (pg. 1.96)
When Is It Appropriate to Alter an Excerpt from the Guidance? (pg. 1.96)
When Is It Appropriate to Use Ellipses? (pg. 1.97)
Style Tips for Professional Communication (pg. 1.98)
Use Proper Voice in Your Memos (pg. 1.98)
Keep Your Language Neutral (Avoid Strong Words) (pg. 1.98)
Get the Grammar Right (pg. 1.99)
Getting Feedback On Your Writing (pg. 1.100)
Chapter 4 Appendix (pg. 1.101)
Sample Accounting Issues Memo (pg. 1.101)
Chapter Summary (pg. 1.105)
Review Questions (pg. 1.105)
Exercises (pg. 1.106)
Case Study Questions (pg. 1.108)
Shelby Collins

Shelby Collins

Shelby Collins currently works as a consultant assisting companies with adoption of the new FASB revenue and lease accounting standards. Prior to this role, she taught the Masters-level accounting and auditing research course at the University at Buffalo School of Management from 2011 through 2016.

Shelby’s entire career has focused specifically on performing and communicating technical accounting research, in a diversity of settings. Immediately after receiving her Bachelors’ and Masters’ degrees in Accountancy from the University of Georgia, Shelby went on to serve as a postgraduate technical assistant at the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). From there, Shelby went on to work in KPMG’s Accounting Advisory Services group, then in the Accounting Policy and Research group at Exelon Corporation in Chicago. In these roles, Shelby focused on the application of technical accounting guidance to complex and judgmental transactions.

While at the University at Buffalo, finding no textbook on the market that offered a hands-on, active learning approach to accounting research, she chose to create her own course materials including handouts, lecture slides, and case studies. Many of these materials have been incorporated into this book and its supplements.

Few professionals have the opportunity to hit the ground running with a career in research; accountants often get their first shot at higher-level research projects after several years on the job. Shelby's career is unique in that she started researching before she even had the depth of knowledge afforded by several years of experience. She quickly achieved that depth of knowledge through her work as a researcher. She therefore understands how to convey complex accounting concepts alongside the basic skills necessary for success in research, in a language that beginning researchers can understand. Her enthusiasm for teaching will serve as an asset to students utilizing this book.

Skills for Accounting Research, 4e - FASB Codification & eIFRS (Collins, Salzman)
Errata
Last Updated: Feb 28 2020

Corrections to identified errors in text