Discussion 1: "Off-Balance Sheet Financing"
Respond to the following:
• Based on your review of the current requirements of the SEC and FASB, assess the adequacy of the guidelines for ensuring the transparency of off-balance-sheet transactions to investors, indicating where improvements may still be needed. Provide support for your rationale.
• As a CFO of a publically traded company, evaluate the pros and cons of using off-balance-sheet financing, including a recommendation as to whether or not you support using these types of arrangements. Provide support for your recommendation.
Discussion 2: "Impairment of Long-Lived Asset Investments"
Respond to the following:
• Based on the information found in the e-Activity, assess the key differences between U.S. GAAP and IFRS reporting for the testing of asset impairment and the requirement to write down the asset value. Indicate whether or not you support the U.S. GAAP or IFRS approach. Provide support for your position.
eActivity:Search the Internet for the most recent guidelines or proposals for the reporting of off-balance sheet financing transactions by the Securities and Exchange Commission and Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). Be prepared to discuss.
Search the Internet databases for the current GAAP and IFRS reporting requirements of long-lived assets. Be prepared to discuss.
• As an investor, recommend a strategy for evaluating long-lived asset values contained on the balance sheet of a publically traded company so as to minimize the risk to the investor. Provide support for your strategy.
Discussion 3: "Fair Market Accounting"
Respond to the following:
• Create an argument for the use of Fair Market Accounting as opposed to historical cost. Provide support for your argument.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of the accounting principle guidelines for determining the market value of an asset, indicating improvements to these guidelines. Provide support for your recommendations.
Discussion 4: "Accounting for Derivatives"
Respond to the following:
• Assess the risks associated with derivatives instruments, indicating how these risks may be minimized for a publically traded company. Provide support for your rationale.
• As an investor, assess the potential financial concerns to be raised when reviewing the financial statements of a publically traded company containing derivative instruments providing a recommendation for how the concerns may be identified and addressed.