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The Risk of Abuse in Accounting Estimates: GAAP Insights and Audit Strategies ON DEMAND

Available Until

Your Desk

2.0 Credits

Member Price $58.00

Non-Member Price $67.00

Overview

This course examines the important role of accounting estimates in financial reporting and auditing. Participants in this course will gain an understanding of how estimates are used across key areas of U.S. GAAP, their inherent risks, and how they can be abused. The course also explores the responsibilities of auditors and highlights some of the procedures for evaluating accounting estimates.

Highlights

Accounting estimates in GAAP and their risks. Risks and challenges in using estimates. Examples of key estimates. Fair value measurements. Impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets. Contingent liabilities. Revenue recognition. Pension and other post-retirement benefits. Income taxes. Allowance for doubtful accounts. Stock-based compensation. Asset retirement obligations. Auditing accounting estimates, and more.

Prerequisites

None.

Designed For

CPAs, CEOs, CFPs, auditors, and other accounting professionals.

Objectives

Identify key areas in U.S. GAAP where accounting estimates are required. Recognize the potential risks and challenges associated with accounting estimates. Differentiate between the proper use of estimates and instances of misuse or manipulation. Determine the impact of inaccurate accounting estimates on financial statements. Identify the auditor’s responsibilities in evaluating accounting estimates. Select appropriate audit procedures for testing the accuracy of accounting estimates. Recognize common challenges auditors face when testing complex estimates. Differentiate between effective and ineffective audit strategies for assessing accounting estimates.

Preparation

None.

Notice

None.

Leader(s):

Leader Bios

Kelen Camehl, Western CPE

Kelen is a recognized author and reviewer of CPE courses and has authored over 85 courses (225+ CPE credit hours) covering a range of accounting, auditing, financial reporting, regulatory, and ethics topics. His courses are available for purchase from many online CPE providers including the AICPA. Kelen has also remained involved in CPA exam content development for nearly 10 years and has authored more than a thousand multiple choice questions for various sections of the CPA exam. He also serves as an Editorial Advisor for the AICPA’s “Journal of Accountancy”.

Kelen has over 15 years of progressive finance and accounting experience. He currently serves as an Accounting Policy Consultant with HP, Inc. in Dallas, TX. Most recently he was located in Budapest, Hungary on a three-year international assignment and served in the company’s Houston, TX location prior to this assignment. Prior to HP, he served in multiple accounting roles in the oil & gas industry with ConocoPhillips including technical accounting policy, SOX compliance, and internal audit. He also gained public accounting experience with PricewaterhouseCoopers, working with various clients in the energy, electric, power, gas, and utility sectors.

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Non-Member Price $67.00

Member Price $58.00