With the 20th anniversary of the landmark Sarbanes Oxley Act, spotlight on the impact to auditor independence

A look at the lessons and accomplishments of SOX. Since passing the bipartisan law, there has not been a serious case of public company financial fraud in the United States.

June 6, 2022

Most CFOs, CEOs see cybersecurity gaps: Accenture

Many companies face excessive risks after failing to weave cybersecurity into the full fabric of business strategy, Accenture said.  

By Jim Tyson • June 2, 2022

SEC pushes crackdown on COVID-19 scams

Several companies have sought to cash in on public anxiety and investor eagerness by making false claims about the availability of products to combat the coronavirus.

By Jim Tyson • June 1, 2022

Prepping for the next phase of stimulus fraud probes

Federal authorities appear to be operating under a strong mandate to ferret out perceived fraud and abuse in the oft-confusing world of COVID-19 stimulus programs.

By Matthew S. Adams • May 31, 2022

FASB takes up environmental credits, carbon offsets

The U.S. standard setter's move to upgrade environmental credits to its technical agenda signals another new priority for FASB.

By Maura Webber Sadovi • May 27, 2022

Restatements surge to 15-year high on SPAC filings

Tougher SEC oversight triggered a wave of SPAC restatements in 2021 and chilled the market in so-called blank-check companies.

By Jim Tyson • May 26, 2022

Is regulation shifting how CFOs should think about digital assets?

Regulators have been prompted to take a closer look at cryptocurrency as several digital assets have plummeted in value. 

By Grace Noto • May 26, 2022

Climate-related disclosure annually costs companies $677,000 on average

The Securities and Exchange Commission is pushing a climate risk disclosure rule that would require companies to budget for detailed analysis of their greenhouse gas emissions.

By Jim Tyson • May 25, 2022

Compliance costs to surge, straining tight budgets: Accenture

Many compliance executives lack the funding needed to contain an expanding range of risks, Accenture found in a survey.

By Jim Tyson • May 24, 2022

Proposed rule could push more family offices to lawyer up

The proposal comes amid increased scrutiny of family offices in the wake of the Archegos Capital Management meltdown.

By Ted Knutson • May 24, 2022

SEC charges BNY Mellon unit with making false ESG statements

The SEC has stepped up its efforts to ensure companies accurately report their adherence to sustainability best practices.

By Jim Tyson • May 23, 2022

Half of companies didn't meet hiring goals last year: survey

Hiring may actually be harder for employers who are fully remote, the survey said.

By Kathryn Moody • May 19, 2022

Moderna may seek to claw back payments to ex-CFO

The vaccine-maker Moderna said it has the right to recoup any and all payments to ex-CFO Jorge Gomez if the company determines he engaged in any wrongdoing, according to an amended SEC filing Friday. An earlier filing said he would be provided a 12-month salary totaling $700,000 under a severance agreement.

By Maura Webber Sadovi • May 17, 2022

SEC enforcement attorney predicts 'a lot more fraud' in crypto markets

The SEC will turn to litigation if needed to achieve “clarity” as it fights abuses in cryptocurrency markets, according to an attorney in the agency’s Enforcement Division.

By Jim Tyson • May 16, 2022

Companies need to align efforts at disclosure, cybersecurity: SEC attorney

The SEC aims to protect investors from cyber-related risks by cracking down on companies that release misleading disclosures about cyberattacks, according to the top attorney in the agency’s Crypto Assets and Cyber Unit.

By Jim Tyson • May 13, 2022

U.S. regulators see 'endgame' to LIBOR phaseout

Winding down LIBOR has reached the final stage as businesses increasingly borrow using an alternative reference rate, U.S. regulators said.

By Jim Tyson • May 12, 2022

FASB shifts to prioritize 'rapidly evolving' crypto assets

The board is getting serious about improving accounting standards for digital assets even as a crypto market slump is hammering valuations.   

By Maura Webber Sadovi • May 12, 2022

General counsel face heightened liability risk as SEC seeks to drop SPAC safe harbor

Projections to attract shareholders could trigger lawsuits as plaintiffs’ attorneys take advantage of what amounts to a shift in the burden of proof to operating companies.

By Robert Freedman • May 12, 2022

SEC fines NVIDIA $5.5M for failing to disclose cryptomining impact

NVIDIA rode the rush into crypto assets as customers used its gaming devices for cryptomining. The SEC penalized the company for allegedly not disclosing how it gained from the crypto boom.

By Jim Tyson • May 11, 2022

Moderna CFO exits abruptly amid probe at former company

Jorge Gomez's departure came just one day after he took the reins as CFO of Moderna, which has become a household name due to the rapid development and success of its coronavirus vaccine. 

By Maura Webber Sadovi • May 11, 2022

With SEC's proposed climate rules, CFOs should listen to investors

A stakeholder-influenced materiality assessment will help business leaders comply with the SEC's proposed disclosure rules and focus their sustainability efforts.

By Donavan Hornsby • May 9, 2022

Judge dismisses class action against Wells Fargo, former CEO, ex-CFO

Investors led by a retirement fund for Hawaii state employees failed to prove the bank unjustifiably inflated loans, understated loss reserves or misstated its practices, a judge ruled Friday.

By Robin Bradley • May 9, 2022

Appointment of women to Fortune 500 boards hits record high

Boards have made strides toward greater diversity but still do not sufficiently represent some racial and ethnic groups, Heidrick & Struggles said.

By Jim Tyson • May 6, 2022

FASB homes in on cryptocurrency

FASB has generally been cautious about moving to standardize accounting for bitcoin and other digital asset investments but its stance appears to be shifting. 

By Maura Webber Sadovi • May 6, 2022

Global ESG standard-setting gains speed

CFOs seeking to provide shareholders with more sustainability data must choose from a patchwork of inconsistent measurement frameworks. Regulators and other standard setters worldwide are now building a consensus behind uniform rules for gauging sustainability.

By Jim Tyson • May 4, 2022