The FAQ Page: 6 Ways to Fine-Tune the Workhorse of Your Web Site

Frequently Asked Questions, or FAQ, pages are the unsung heroes of a company website. Often unappreciated and undervalued, they are nevertheless essential. They can often help communicate the company's brand value to would-be buyers easily and succinctly, enticing them to take a closer look at what the company has to offer. (Read the article The FAQ Page: 6 Ways to Fine-Tune the Workhorse of Your Web Site at Open Forum online.)

Global Accounting Alliance online journal

The Global Accounting Alliance (GAA) comprises the world's leading professional accountancy institutes. It promotes quality services, shares information and collaborates on important international issues. As part of this effort, the GAA publishes an online journal to which its member organizations, including the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (CICA), contribute articles. The April 2010 issue of GAA Accounting is available online and as a Digital Edition.

IASB - Call for interest to Public Companies listed in the US who file in IFRS

XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language) is rapidly becoming the global standard for electronic financial reporting. The IASC Foundation has played an important role in encouraging the development of online financial reporting using XBRL. In December 2008, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted rules that require all US-listed Foreign Private Issuers (FPIs) to submit their financial reports, including their periodic reports, in Interactive Data format, and specifically in XBRL. FPIs, which will be mandated to file with XBRL in IFRS from June 15, 2011, are invited to participate in a pilot initiative being coordinated by the IASC Foundation. The pilot will focus on FPI use of the IFRS Taxonomy 2010 to tag SEC filings in XBRL. (Read the Call for interest to Public Companies listed in the US who currently file financial reports with the US SEC in IFRS.)

Ten Ways for Businesses to Use LinkedIn

More than 150,000 companies have a company profile on LinkedIn. It provides key statistics on companies, recent hires and movers and shakers. Many business people are using LinkedIn to find leads, grow their business globally or find the right vendors. They are also using it to build an industry network, get answers to tough business questions, raise funding, share expertise and unique blog content, keep friends close and keep the competition closer. (Read the article Ten Ways for Small Businesses to Use LinkedIn at Open Forum online.)

Corporate Governance: Best practice reporting, January 2010

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has published Corporate Governance: Best practice reporting, January 2010. This publication is a repository of good practice examples of corporate governance reporting, featuring extracts from the annual reports of FTSE 350 companies. The quality and clarity of reporting are crucial for all businesses, regardless of their size, sector, business success and financial stability. Getting the balance and tone of what is disclosed right, given the fragility of the market, is not going to be easy. It is important for boards to think about the unintended consequences of what is said and how it is said.

PwC - 10Minutes on Competitive Advantage

A measured level of optimism is returning as businesses around the world emerge from the economic downturn. Companies are pursuing new sources of efficiency and growth, transforming their strategies, organizations and operating models to gain new competitive advantage. This edition of 10Minutes offers PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) insights into how executives can view key business issues in a new light and gain a leg up on their competition, attending to near-term concerns with an eye toward the long haul. (Read the April 2010 PwC online guidance 10Minutes on Competitive Advantage.)

Canada - IFRS Conference for Financial Statement Users

The Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (CICA) is hosting an IFRS Conference for Financial Statement Users in Toronto Canada on November 25, 2010. This conference is dedicated specifically to financial statement users and the unique challenges that the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) presents for this group. Investors and other stakeholders need to be able to differentiate reported performance changes caused by the adoption of IFRS from those caused by business activities. This conference will focus on the understanding and interpretation of a set of financial statements prepared under IFRS. The conference will include technical sessions explaining the key areas of differences between Canadian GAAP and IFRS as well as the implications of moving from more "rules based" to "principle based" accounting. The conference will also explore the need for effective communication among key stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition.

Canada - IFRS in North America 2010 Conference

The Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (CICA) and the IASC Foundation are hosting a conference IFRS in North America 2010 in Toronto Canada on November 23-24, 2010. This informative two-day event, with optional workshops, is critical for anyone involved in financial reporting with an organization that is moving to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). It is a unique opportunity to hear the latest IFRS developments directly from the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), the Canadian Accounting Standards Board (AcSB) and the US Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). The conference is being held in conjunction with the Financial Reporting and Accounting Conference.

What would a world-class innovator do?

As we come out of the economic downturn into a hopeful recovery, more organizations are focusing on what they need to do next. My advice to them is to behave like a world-class innovator. And what exactly do world-class innovators do that other organizations don’t? Here’s a rundown... (Read the article What would a world-class innovator do?  by Jim Carroll in the April 2010 issue of CAmagazine online.)

Dissecting the next decade of the new millenium

After the decade of relative peace and prosperity that was the ’90s,expectations were that the good times would carry on into the new millennium. Few could have predicted how different the reality would be: the worst terrorist attack in history, two draining US-led wars that continue today, US$150-a-barrel oil and the near-collapse of the international financial system, which led to a worldwide recession we are just now crawling out of. What are the big concerns confronting Canadian business in the next 10 years? Eight business leaders share their thoughts? (Read the article Dissecting the decade in the April 2010 issue of CA magazine online.)

Battling bad press in the social media

Negative press generated by disgruntled customers or by devious competitors can spark a wildfire in the social media. This often makes business owners, managers and CEOs feel completely powerless. Fortunately, the damage can be mitigated by taking both proactive and reactive measures. (Read the article "Battling Bad Press in the Social Media Arena" at Open Forum online.)

Social Media for Business: 5 Tips for Beginners

Social media is a low-cost way to find new customers and reach out to existing ones. More than 40% of businesses using Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and blogs have generated a customer from each of them, according to Hubspot’s 2010 State of Inbound Marketing report. But if you're brand new to social media, the process of developing a worthwhile business plan might seem intimidating. To truly understand the business ramifications of services like Twitter and Facebook, you first have to start using them -- and just signing up for an account is not enough. Engaging regularly on social networks is the only way to see their potential. (Read the article "Social Media for Business: 5 Tips for Beginners" at Open Forum online.)

Tips for the CEO who wants to be active on social media

Plenty of well-known CEOs really are the bloggers behind their blogs and the tweeters behind their Twitter updates, for example, Virgin CEO Sir Richard Branson, Marriott CEO Bill Marriott, and former Sun Microsystem’s CEO Jonathan Schwartz. So how do they do it? (Read the article "5 Tricks for the Busy CEO Who Wants to be Active on Social Media" at Open Forum online.)

Networking that Works: Amplify Your Professional Networking

Success in business and career building is driven by connections and relationships. With the emergence of social media, the Internet brings the most powerful enhancements to professional networking since the invention of the Rolodex. A paper published by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA ) focuses on the benefits of using the professional networking tools LinkedIn and Twitter in particular. (Read the AICPA Business Brief Networking that Works: Amplify Your Professional Networking.)

Accountants Head to the Cloud

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) is pushing to accelerate adoption of cloud solutions among its 350,000 members, focusing especially on small and midmarket companies as well as CPA firms. The AICPA's first official endorsement of a cloud vendor, payroll-solutions provider Paychex, came several years ago but it has rolled out more such partnerships with increasing frequency, including with bill.com for invoice management and payment in 2008, financial management and accounting software maker Intacct a year ago, and tax-automation supplier Copanion at year-end 2009. The pitch is that the cloud offers a steep drop in information-technology costs, since applications are hosted by the vendors and provided on demand, rather than via physical installations or seat licenses. (Read the article "Accountants Head to the Cloud" at CFO Magazine online and review the white paper 10 Questions to ask about Cloud Computing.)

Three Enemies of Innovation

Everybody seems to agree that innovation is a good idea. Nearly everyone also agrees that innovation is the best path to growth, profit and market dominance. Anyone who would dispute those statements has only to look at Apple’s success over the past decade—all based on innovation. Relative newcomers like Samsung, LG and Hyundai have also relied heavily on innovation for market and brand growth. Sony lived on innovation for years. (Read the article "Three Enemies of Innovation" at Open Forum online.)

Integrated reporting leads to enhanced corporate integrity

A report by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) suggests Britain's largest public companies should integrate internal and external reporting to promote an image of competence and integrity and ward off hostile takeover bids. "Disconnected reporting promotes the wrong image, and it raises questions about the quality of management and governance of a company, which can only contribute to uncertainty and market doubts," said PwC partner David Phillips. (Also, read the article Company reporting falling short - PwC in Accountancy Age online.)

Views on environmental regulation, legislation and taxes

A recent survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) provides insight into the views of the international business community on environmental regulation, legislation and taxes. In almost 700 interviews, conducted in 15 countries including Canada, executives shared their perspectives on the impact of climate change; the role of government in protecting the environment; their preferred environmental policy tools; and the ingredients they see as necessary for a global climate change deal. (Read the PwC publication Appetite for Change.)

XBRL: Linking Business, Public Regulators & Citizens

XBRL International is hosting its 11th global conference, XBRL: Linking Business, Public Regulators & Citizens, on April 20-22, 2010 in Rome, Italy. Participants will hear how XBRL, the standard language for electronic business reporting, is meeting the needs for greater transparency around the world. Attend interactive sessions, obtain training and engage in networking opportunities at this unique event.

Podcast summaries of IASB Board meetings

The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) is currently testing Board meeting audio summaries (podcasts). These podcasts are recorded shortly after each Board meeting and provide a short (approximately 30 minutes) summary of the main topics and projects discussed. (The IASB meeting podcasts for December 2009 to March 2010 are now available on the IASB website.)

Global - IFRS in brief / briefing sheets by KPMG

IFRS in brief, provides news and factual information on developments concerning International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). It includes summaries of new standards and interpretations, comments on the IASB and IFRIC meetings, the agendas and projects of those bodies, as well as KPMG's views on specific issues when appropriate. IFRS in brief is supplemented by IFRS briefing sheets that consider individual issues or requirements in more depth.

Canada - Practical updates on accounting standards for Canadian companies

The IFRS in Canada newsletter provides practical, thorough and concise updates on changing accounting standards. Written by finance professionals with extensive industry experience, IFRS in Canada is a valuable and relevant resource for finance professionals in industry. With over 4,500 subscribers, it is a source of practical information on IFRS transition issues for public companies, as well as the new Canadian GAAP for private companies. (Subscription is free.)