ChatGPT wrote this blog post!

The last post covered the recent exposure draft of “Annual Improvements to IFRS Accounting Standards – Volume 11” Shortly after drafting that, it occurred to me that I hadn’t directly experienced the ChatGPT that everyone’s talking about, although I’d heard a few things about its ability to knock out a usable first draft on virtually…

Annual Improvements to IFRS, or: no more leaks!

The IASB recently issued its exposure draft of “Annual Improvements to IFRS Accounting Standards – Volume 11”, with comments requested by December 11, 2023. So look, suppose someone says to you, I just improved my home; and you say, sounds great, what did you do; and he says, I fixed a leaky faucet….well, you might…

Inside standard setting, or: slow down. you’re paddling too fast!

Continuing on our recent theme of happy takes on accounting… …this time from a perhaps unexpected source, the Chair of Canada’s Accounting Standards Board, Armand Capisciolto. He’s instigated a series of “Inside Standard Setting” articles, comprising “A little “inside baseball” on accounting standard setting” – a serious purpose, executed with a light touch. The first…

Financial statements as narratives, or: no more stories!

Well, it’s been a few years since the last installment, so let’s continue the periodic series I call “Great Cliches of IFRS.” Today’s example – well, you’ll see: Over the course of my career, one of the most valuable lessons I have learned is the value of storytelling and how to use stories to convey…

Some share-based payment issues, or: accelerated confusion!

Here’s the background to an issue recently considered by Canada’s IFRS Discussion Group: On January 1, 20X5, an employee receives a share-based payment award that vests if Entity A’s share price hits a market performance condition (“target”) either by December 31, 20X5 (“Date 1”), or by December 31, 20X6 (“Date 2”). the award has the…

ESG due diligence, or: cancel culture!

Over Half of M&A Dealmakers have Canceled Deals on ESG Due Diligence Findings, states an ESG Today report on a recent KPMG survey. Here’s some of what it had to say: The survey found that three quarters (74%) of professionals are already integrating ESG considerations as part of their M&A agenda, with the identification of…

Talking to investors, whoever they are…

Is there a term that’s applied more unproductively in the world of standard-setting and regulation than “investors”? It’s easy (and perhaps inevitable) for example to cite “investor protection” as a justification for almost anything a regulator might be inclined to do. But of course, “investors” is an extremely broad category, incorporating a wide range of…

Adopting the ISSB standards – time is of the essence!

The International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) recently announced their endorsement of the ISSB’s Sustainability-related Financial Disclosures Standards. Here’s an extract: IOSCO has engaged extensively with the ISSB over the last two years, culminating in a comprehensive and independent review of the final ISSB Standards. After a detailed analysis, IOSCO has determined that the ISSB…