Accounting and Auditing Sites

Sites for the investor, academic, and practitionerC&RL News, February 2008Vol. 69, No. 2by Colleen D. Anderson Understanding and trust are factors critical to the stable working of the securities markets. Abbreviated below:
Full-text publications available on the Web site under the FASB Pronouncements and EIFT Abstracts link include FASB pronouncements, Statements of Financial Accounting Standards, Statements of Financial Accounting Concepts, FASB Interpretations, FASB Technical Bulletins, and EIFT Abstracts. Access: http://www.fasb.org/.
• Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB). Financial reporting at both the local and national levels of government provide information for making economic, political, and social decisions and also help ensure the government’s accountability to its citizens. Access: http://www.gasb.org/.
• International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). IASB, founded in April 2001 by the International Accounting Standards Committee Foundation (IASCF), develops and sets global accounting standards known as International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
Access: http://www.iasb.org/.Enforcement and regulatory bodies
• The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB). PCAOB is a private sector, nonprofit corporation created by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 to oversee auditors of public companies.
Access: http://www.pcaob.org/.
• U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Most investors know the SEC site as the place to go to obtain required financial filings oncompanies. Access: http://www.sec.gov/.
Professional associations
• American Accounting Association (AAA). AAA is an organization of persons interested in accounting education and research. The association’s mission is topromote worldwide excellence in accounting education, research, and practice. Its Web site includes free access to faculty development materials, job posting for teaching positions in accounting and auditing, and links to information about its journals and newsletters. The site also includes links to the AAA’s journals: The Accounting Review, Issues in Accounting Education, and Accounting Horizons. Access: http://aaahq.org/.
• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). With some 350,000 members, AICPA is the largest national professional organization of certified public accountants.
Access: http://www.aicpa.org/.
• Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA). IIA is an international professional organization of 130,000 members working in the fields of internal auditing and risk management. Access: http://www.theiia.org/.
• Institute of Management Accountants (IMA). Management accountants work inside organizations to ensure their economic viability.
Access: http://www.imanet.org/.
• International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). This global organization for the accountancy profession represents 2.5 million accountants and works with 158 member organizations in 123 countries.
Access: http://www.ifac.org/.Licensing board
• The National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA). Licensing and continuing education requirements for accountants are set by 55 individual state boards of accountancy (including the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Washington, D.C.).
Access: http://www.nasba.org/.Blogs
• CPASense. Developed and maintained by Milt Baker, a retired but still active CPA. Blog content discusses diverse issues such as tax rules, financial planning, or selecting a CPA. Much of the content has been taken from other prominent accounting and tax sites, tax publishers, or the IRS. Some of the entries focus on happenings in Michigan, where Baker resides. A fine selection of well-organized content.
Access: http://cpasense.blogspot.com/.
• Inside Sarbanes-Oxley. The implications of Sarbanes-Oxley in the world of financial reporting are profound enough to give this blog a useful role in any accounting professional’s life. The authors of this blog describe the 2002 legislation as “The most demanding requirements placed on publicly traded companies since the Securities and Exchange Act of 1933…”
Access: http://www.insidesarbanesoxley.com/.Portals
• AccountantsWorld. Sign up for a free lifetime membership to this accounting portal to access current news, stories, and articles on timely accounting topics. Distinctive features of the site include its Tools of the Trade and the Comprehensive Research & Resources links. A link to the full text of one of the leading accounting journals, Abacus, is also provided. Access: http://www.accountingworld.com/.
• Rutgers Accounting Web (RAW). RAW is a site from Rutgers University that posts current accounting research and links to an accounting portal. Work from the drop down box at the top of the site to view your desired content. The Accounting Research Directory link lists, evaluates, and categorizes major articles published between 1963 and present in nine leading accounting journals (registration is free). The Accounting Resources portal includes links to the Big Four accounting firms, journals and publications, state CPA associations, newly released books, and more. Access: http://raw.rutgers.edu/.
• SmartPros.com News & Information Portal. SmartPro.com’s News & Information Portal is one of the most comprehensive sources available for accounting information.
Access: http://accounting.smartpros.com/.Miscellaneous
• Simple Studies Free Introduction to Accounting Lessons. Free accounting lessons presented in an understandable format that provide an introduction to the principles of financial accounting. Modules include an Introduction to Accounting, Accounting for Accruals, Accounting for Deferrals, Double-entry Account System, and more. Each module contains exercises to test your knowledge and a link to the site’s Accounting Glossary. Access: http://www.simplestudies.com/.
• Ten Steps to Accounting Research. Written by Peter Z. McKay, business librarian at the George A. Smathers Libraries at the University of Florida, this site explains how to organize the research process to find information on a particular accounting topic. References to print and electronic resources and links to relevant literature and bodies are included throughout the text. Access: http://web.uflib.ufl.edu/cm/business/tutors/acctutor.htm.ReferencesAccounting Standards and Auditing Standards, (1998), published by Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) at www.microfinancegateway.org/files/2722_02722.pdf.Facts About the IFA, (Nov. 2007) at www.ifac.org/MediaCenter/files/Facts_About_IFAC.pdf.The Investors Advocate: How the SEC Protects Investors, Maintains Market Integrity, and Facilitates Capital, (2007) at www.sec.gov/about/whatwedo.shtml.A Roadmap for Convergence between IFRS and U.S. GAAP—2006-2008: A Memorandum of Understanding between the FASB and the IASB, (27 February 2006) at www.iasb.org/NR/rdonlyres/874B63FB-56DB-4B78-B7AF-49BBA18C98D9/0/MoU.pdf.
Colleen D. Anderson is head of reference services at Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island, e-mail: canderso@bryant.edu© 2008 Colleen D. Anderson


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