• Practice Management - QuickRead Top Story

    The Continuing Relevance of Financial Statements

    April 15, 2026

    The Key Value of Value A complete set of financial statements also include statements of cash flows and other comprehensive income. These statements play important roles, but earnings are still used in these as the starting and dominant measure. Occasionally, the relevance of financial statements is questioned; this article is written to reaffirm their importance. Accountants have been preparing some sort of financial statements since the beginning of written records, which were developed by the Sumerians in cuneiform around 3400 BCE. A more formal, and familiar, report was developed around 1350 CE by the merchants of Venice, Genoa, and surrounding…

  • Practice Management - QuickRead Top Story

    Vetting a Client’s Projection

    February 25, 2026

    A Process As valuation professionals, we sometimes serve dual roles. In this article, the author shares a step-by-step listing of his vetting process. This checklist is meant as his guide but is also used to help clients start the projection process. The guide is for anyone using a projection as a guide to a valuation analysis. Business valuators are typically provided with a client’s budget or financial projection which can help when preparing the eventual valuation. In most situations, these are optimistic and are usually intended to convince a lender or investor to make a positive decision, so it needs…

  • Forensic Accounting - QuickRead Top Story

    Small Business Valuations

    July 17, 2019

    Using Forensic Accounting Valuing the small business is how most valuators earn their living. These small businesses pose as much issues to valuation professionals as they do for tax, accounting, and legal professionals by providing these entities with advice. The issues are wide-ranging, and the purpose of this article is not to patronize small business owners; rather, the purpose of this article is to discuss the challenges we in the valuation community face when valuing small businesses and how forensic accounting techniques can help. [su_pullquote align=”right”]Resources: Forensic Accounting Academy Forensic Accounting Specialty Webinars Forensic Accounting Techniques in Business Appraisals Financial…

  • QuickPress

    How We Will Learn to Love Big Data in 2018

    June 6, 2018

    Leading futurist and keynote speaker Ross Dawson, who regularly consults to accounting, finance, and banking bodies, spoke with Chris Sheedy about the single greatest opportunity that the future holds for accountants. To read the full article in ICAS, click: How We Will Learn to Love Big Data in 2018.

  • QuickPress

    Microsoft Among First to Give Fuller Picture of Lease Situation

    September 13, 2017

    Microsoft Could Provide Early Test of New Lease Accounting Rules Microsoft had said it would adopt new lease accounting rules July 1 instead of waiting for 2019, when the rules take effect.  Microsoft’s status as a large, high-profile company means other businesses will study its example. To read the full article in Bloomberg, click: Microsoft Among First to Give Fuller Picture of Lease Situation.

  • QuickRead Featured - Valuation/Appraisal

    The Economic Balance Sheet

    August 23, 2017

    and its Application to Enterprise Valuation The value of a firm must equal the value of the claims on its assets. In practice, this is generally expressed as the value FIRM = value DEBT + value EQUITY. Similarly, in a balance sheet prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), assets = liabilities and equity. By comparison, an economic balance sheet is constructed using market values rather than amounts reported in accordance with GAAP, items included are classified as operating, non-operating, debt or equity-related rather than current or long-term, asset or liability, and it includes economic assets and liabilities…

  • QuickRead Featured - QuickRead Top Story - Valuation/Appraisal

    60-Second Method

    May 17, 2017

    Ascertaining the Financial Status of a Business in a Few Quick Glances The 60-Second Method is a system of ascertaining the financial status of a business or other entity in a few quick glances. It is a training tool that can be used to demonstrate how financial analysis works, or instruct decision-makers beginning to read and understand financial statement content.

  • QuickPress

    7 Things to Know About the New Lease Accounting Rules

    April 27, 2016

    The FASB announced sweeping changes to the accounting for leases earlier this year that will affect nearly all financial statement issuers.  Travis W Harms, Mercer Capital’s Financial Reporting Valuation Group lead, discusses each topic. To read the full article in Mercer Capital’s Financial Reporting Blog, click: 7 Things to Know About the New Lease Accounting Rules. This article is republished from Mercer Capital’s Financial Reporting Blog.  It is reprinted with permission.  To subscribe to the blog, visit: http://mercercapital.com/category/financialreportingblog/.

  • QuickPress

    Our Economy Has Changed. Should Our Accounting Standards?

    April 13, 2016

    With the rise of technology and professional service firms, the U.S. marketplace is shifting from one which supplies goods to one which supplies ideas.  Taryn E. Burgess, financial analyst with Mercer Capital, explains there is a growing gap in the balance sheet reflecting this shift from physical assets to intangible ideas. To read the full article in Mercer Capital’s Financial Reporting Blog, click: Our Economy Has Changed.  Should Our Accounting Standards? This article is republished from Mercer Capital’s Financial Reporting Blog.  It is reprinted with permission.  To subscribe to the blog, visit: http://mercercapital.com/category/financialreportingblog/.

  • Financial Forensics - QuickPress

    Crossing the Line: Creative Accounting or Fraud

    October 8, 2013

    Financially-sound companies can more easily obtain lines of credit at low interest rates, as well as more easily issue debt financing or issue bonds on better terms. Companies often take advantage of loopholes to present themselves as more profitable than they are. Most do it in a way that they’re not technically breaking the law, but ethics certainly come into question. When should you be concerned and when is the line crossed between creative accounting and fraud? Rakis Christoforou examines this subjective dilemma in an overview published in the FinancialMirror. In a short but valuable look at the subject of…

  • Mergers and Acquisitions/Exit Planning - QuickRead Top Story

    M&A Multiples: Business Value v. Balance Sheet Value

    February 27, 2013

    Buyers and Sellers Need to Negotiate Delivery Targets for Working Capital and Agree on a Fair Market Value for Fixed Assets. Valuation principles generally hold that the value of a business is largely a function of return on invested capital and growth, writes Ron Stacey, since these are the primary drivers of free cash flow. But how does this cash flow relate to the asset and liability values on the balance sheet?

  • Mergers and Acquisitions/Exit Planning - QuickPress

    5 Must-Ask Questions for Business Buyers —Inc.com

    February 2, 2013

    Many Business Buyers Probably Have Some Boilerplate Questions Ready to Ask Business Sellers — But May be Missing the Most Important Ones.   Mike Handelsman, group general manager for BizBuySell.com and BizQuest.com, the Internet’s largest and most heavily trafficked business-for-sale marketplaces, recently advised readers at Inc.com that if they’re thinking about buying a business, they should put extra effort into preparation.   More:   

  • QuickPress - Valuation/Appraisal

    CFOs: IASB Should Provide Better Definitions for Debt Instruments —CFO.com

    January 8, 2013

    U.S.-Based Multinationals Reporting Under IFRS Struggle With Classification of Equities, Liabilities The International Accounting Standards Board agreed with respondents from its public consultation (a study that reached out to industry professionals at all levels in more than 80 countries in 2011) that it needs to better clarify definitions of assets and liabilities for debt instruments, CFO.com reports. That, in turn, should help eliminate some uncertainty when accounting for assets and financial liabilities or nonfinancial liabilities (which can include land and equipment leases). More: