SEC hits PE firm Ares with $1M compliance fine

The firm's investment advisory arm used non-public information about a portfolio company from its private equity arm without adequate controls.

By Robert Freedman • May 27, 2020

Need and eligibility keys to avoiding PPP loan liability risk

Document what goes into your decision to apply for a loan to protect yourself and your company if you're hit with an audit or lawsuit, an attorney says. 

By Robert Freedman • May 25, 2020

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from CFO Dive

The promises and traps of generative AI, revamped modern finance teams and stark geopolitical risks are among the top forces CFOs are grappling with this year.

By CFO Dive staff

As going-concern opinions rise, so too could debt covenant defaults

Audits that question the likelihood of a company's survival during the downturn could inadvertently cause a breach in credit terms.

By Robert Freedman • May 21, 2020

Delay in lease, revenue recognition rules made official

A one-year delay in new standards mainly affects private companies and nonprofits that haven't yet put them in place. 

By Robert Freedman • May 21, 2020

Morningstar hit with $3.5M fine for conflicts of interest

The credit rating agency, in several instances, failed to separate its analysts from selling and marketing to potential clients. 

By Robert Freedman • May 18, 2020

CFOs urged to buy back debt if it is trading below par value

Credit market dislocations make now a potentially good time to deleverage balance sheets.

By Robert Freedman • May 18, 2020

SEC charges companies for making false COVID-19 claims

The actions signal a stepped-up federal effort to curb marketing ploys playing on fears of infection.

By Robert Freedman • May 17, 2020

Timing of stimulus tax deferral payback could cause liquidity crunch

Companies can expect to take a liquidity hit in 2021 and 2022, when payroll tax deferrals come due.

By Robert Freedman • May 14, 2020

IRS: Business expenses not deductible under PPP loans

The chairs of the House and Senate tax-writing committees are expected to challenge the IRS' interpretation of the program to help small businesses survive the pandemic.  

By Robert Freedman • May 12, 2020

CFO in the Know: Are CFOs ready to go with the EU's medical device regulations?

Requiring fewer applications to submit for approval, the new process could ultimately cost companies less.

By Ed McCarthy • May 12, 2020

Wages holding back repatriation of foreign profits, study finds

The drop in the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% is unlikely to lead to a boom in repatriation of foreign profits by U.S. corporations. 

By Robert Freedman • May 11, 2020

75% payroll rule makes PPP loans useless, business owners say

Small business owners need help with operational costs, which the government's program fails to cover without risking loan forgiveness.

By Robert Freedman • May 3, 2020

Goodwill impairment testing during COVID-19 times

Economic uncertainty is forcing finance chiefs to rethink the impairment testing process.

By Suzanne Northington • April 30, 2020

When to reprice or replace equity-based compensation awards

If your executive team members' compensation includes stock options or other equity awards, don’t rush to change them; values have plummeted, financial planners say. 

By Robert Freedman • April 30, 2020

CFOs cautioned on post-lockdown tort risk

Plaintiff attorneys face a high bar to show someone contracted COVID-19 after workspaces reopen, but defending against their claims is expensive.

By Robert Freedman • April 29, 2020

Tax expert: Maximize operating losses to get most from stimulus

Carrying back losses under the federal government's pandemic-response rule changes can get your company a bigger tax refund, according to BDO partner Randy Schwartzman. 

By Robert Freedman • April 23, 2020

As pandemic eases, expect uptick in tax collection woes

Online sales might be on the rise, but so are tax obligations for each state in which you have economic nexus. 

By Robert Freedman • April 21, 2020

Study: Pandemic impact on small companies worsened by Sarbanes-Oxley

A provision in the 2002 federal law to improve corporate accounting leaves companies reliant on debt at a time when credit markets are wobbling.

By Robert Freedman • April 14, 2020

SEC charges Ironclad CEO, CFO with fraud

The CEO, CFO and senior vice president of Texas-based Ironclad Performance inflated revenues by more than $6 million, the Securities and Exchange Commission has charged.  

By Jane Thier • April 12, 2020

Citing pandemic, FASB to delay lease, franchisor standards

Lease accounting changes for private companies and nonprofits have already been delayed once even though analysts prefer they be treated the same as public companies.

By Robert Freedman • April 12, 2020

Shutdown-impacted businesses taking PPP loans may risk losing CARES Act tax benefits

Until rules are out, it's not clear paying expenses with stimulus loan funds will help your business come tax time.

By Robert Freedman • April 7, 2020

UK CFOs' advantage over US counterparts: Wage help

The $2.1T stimulus encourages companies to retain employees, but assistance isn't explicitly geared to that end.

By Robert Freedman • April 1, 2020

The $2.1T stimulus: What's in it for business?

The law includes $500 billion for large businesses that can be leveraged into several trillion dollars in loans. Another $350 billion is set aside for forgivable loans to small businesses.

By Robert Freedman • March 30, 2020

Stimulus bill includes favorable treatment of net operating losses

Restored advantageous tax carrybacks will help abate the liquidity crunch facing CFOs.

By Robert Freedman • March 29, 2020

Get to the core of coronavirus impacts in your reporting, AICPA specialist says

Accounting standards provide flexibility to work around coronavirus challenges, AICPA director Bob Durak said.

By Ted Knutson • March 26, 2020