Version 1 April 2, 2007
BA 429/529
Topics in Accounting
Spring 2007
Course Number: BA 429/529
Course Credits: Four
Course Schedule: BA 429/529 meets once per week in a four hour block on Monday
BA 429/529 meets from 6:00 pm – 9:50 pm
Course Location Bexell Hall Room 207
Prerequisites: Department approval
Phone: 541 737 3226 (Do not leave messages)
503 799 2686 (Cell phone - leave messages)
E-mail larry.brown@bus.oregonstate.edu
Office Hours: Monday 1:30 pm-3:30 pm
Tuesdays 8:00 am- 9:00 am (recommend appointment)
Wednesday 12:15 pm-1:15 pm
Or by appointment
Learning Resources: There are no textbooks for this class. Reading materials, if any, will be assigned for each presentation. There will also be reading materials required for preparation of the research memorandum assignments and make-up assignments as further discussed below.
Changes to Syllabus
and Tentative
Schedule: The instructor reserves the right to make changes to this syllabus and course schedule as necessary. Any changes to the course content or syllabus will be announced during a regular class period.
Course Description: This course covers concepts related to various current accounting, auditing and related topics that are currently impacting the accounting profession. Emphasis is placed on understanding the current topics that are presented and also to gain an understanding and appreciation for the way changes have taken place and will continue to take place in accounting and auditing standards and practices. Emphasis is also placed on the ability to research accounting, auditing and related issues and expressing your views in writing. This course also emphasizes classroom attendance and active participation. You should make sure that your schedule allows you to attend this course regularly. You should also make every effort to participate in classroom discussion and activities.
Use of e-mail: Be professional when writing e-mail – present your point or request without making demands or accusations – be respectful and use professional salutations. Check your spelling and grammar as best you can. Be aware that I may not reply to e-mail I consider frivolous or unprofessional. Also all email communication that I initiate will occur through your ONID email address.
Measurable Student
Learning
Outcomes: The primary learning outcomes of BA 429 are to acquire sufficient knowledge and comprehension of current accounting, auditing and related topics that are currently impacting the accounting profession and an understanding and appreciation for the way changes have taken place and will continue to take place in accounting and auditing standards that will allow you to apply the knowledge you gain to properly prepare comprehensive memo’s with respect to issues as they arise, to analyze changing accounting and auditing standards, to formulate solutions to complex proposed and/or new accounting and auditing standards, to assess various accounting and auditing issues that are impacted based on the underlying facts and circumstances and to communicate your understanding of the related accounting and/or auditing issues to clients and colleagues.
Classroom
Environment: BA 429 will be conducted primarily by lecture and classroom discussion. There will also be time devoted to discussing the lecture material in small groups as well as possible presentation of materials by students. Please do not come into class late, read during class, or talk excessively with other students during lectures. TURN THE CELL PHONES OFF. Such behaviors are disruptive to the learning environment and disrespectful. Respect for your fellow students and instructors are of utmost importance. This is a cooperative learning environment and I want you to feel comfortable asking questions. Please also see the grading matrix below for more discussion on classroom attendance and participation.
Grade
Distribution:
Your course grade will be determined by your performance based on the total points earned There will be no curve. The grade distribution will be as follows:
|
A |
90-100 |
|
B |
80-89 |
|
C |
70-79 |
|
D |
60-69 |
|
F |
Below 60 |
I will be pleased to discuss any grading related questions. However you must contact me if you have a question regarding graded items within the two week period beginning the day subsequent to the day the graded items are returned in class. You are responsible for tracking the points you earn on attendance, participation and assignments and comparing them to the posted scores.
Evaluation of Student
Performance: BA 429 requirements include classroom attendance, participation during the lectures as well as small group discussions and presentations, written research memorandums and a final exam. The weighting on the course requirements is as follows:
|
Grading Matrix |
Points possible |
|
Classroom attendance (4 points available for each class session; no points awarded for class sessions missed or for which you arrive late or leave early; see discussion below) |
32 |
|
Classroom participation (5 points available for each class session; no points awarded for class sessions missed or for which you arrive late or leave early; see discussion below) –points will be awarded at the sole discretion of the instructor |
40 |
|
Research memorandum No. 1 |
9 |
|
Research memorandum No. 2 |
9 |
|
Final examination |
10 |
|
Total Possible Points |
100 |
Since this class is primarily based on lectures and requires minimal reading or other advance preparation, classroom attendance and participation is extremely important. Approximately 72% of your grade is based on attendance and participation. Therefore no attendance and participation points will be awarded for any class session for which you do not attend, for which you arrive late or for which you leave early. NO EXCEPTIONS!!!
However I realize there may be unavoidable circumstances that may cause you to not be able to attend a class session (or to arrive on time or require you to leave early). Generally such unavoidable situations are as follows:
1. You have a medical emergency or illness/injury that prevents you from attending a class session. You must provide medical documentation.
2. You have experienced a death in your immediate family that you will be able to document.
3. You are participating in an official Oregon State University event. You must make me aware of such commitment in advance of the class session.
4. You experience some other unknown extreme circumstance that may require you to miss a class session.
If you miss a class session (or arrive late or leave early) as a result of one of the above situations you must discus with me immediately (in advance if at all possible). If, in my sole discretion, I believe that it is due to one of the unavoidable situations above I will excuse the absence (or late arrival or early departure). In such situations no points will be awarded for class attendance and participation, however I will allow you to do a make-up assignment for an excused absence. You will be awarded up to 9 points for the make-up assignment which will require a research memorandum and presentation to the class. There will be no possibility to do a make-up assignment or earn the related points for any unexcused absence.
Class Participation: Class participation includes attentive and active participation during the lectures, as appropriate, including participation in discussions and asking appropriate questions. Class participation also includes group discussions as well as short memorandums regarding the topic, as assigned.
Research
Memorandums: Research memorandum assignments are as set forth above in the ‘Evaluation of Student Performance’ and are due as set forth in the ‘Class Schedule’ below. The topics selected are to supplement the concepts covered in lecture and reading and to enhance the student learning outcomes.
Tentatively the topics for the research memorandums are: 1) corporate sustainability reporting and 2) assessing and responding to risks in a financial statement audit or an income tax related topic. However the topic(s) may change. I will provide further guidance on the topics for the research memorandums. I will also inform you any additional specific requirements and the basis of how points will be awarded.
Your ability to effectively and concisely communicate your knowledge is essential to a successful career. The purpose of the written memorandum assignments is to teach you how to research and communicate your findings in a professional manner, to analyze a situation and to provide advice. All assignments are due as set forth in the ‘Class Schedule’. No late assignments will be accepted except for situations similar to excused absences. All assignments must be in professional format which means neatly hand-written or typed, proof read, clear, and accurate. Be aware that if I can not read your research memorandum, it will not be graded and you will receive a score of 0. You may not resubmit the assignment homework if it is rejected as unreadable. You may wish to keep copies of your assignments as they may not be returned to you.
For research memorandums you may work in a group (2-3) if you wish to research and/or discuss the topic. However you must each submit individual research memorandums You should not submit identical papers. Please include the names of others that you collaborated with on the top of the first page. I strongly encourage you to develop your own thoughts so you learn about the topic and form your own views, and so you do not become subject to the academic dishonesty rules discussed below.
Working in
Groups: For group assignments you should collaborate as a team with all group members contributing substantially equally and as set forth in the instructions, if any, to the assignment. If any team member believes that one of their team members is not contributing equally they should discuss this with the other team members and try to reach resolution. After you have had these discussions, please feel free to discuss with me if you believe that the team member is still not contributing equally. A team member that is determined to not be contributing substantially equally may be awarded lesser participation points or not be awarded any participation points..
Final Examination: There will be a final examination which will cover information included in the presentations, readings (if any) as well handouts provided during class. The final examination will be given according to the university final schedule. See the assignment schedule for final examination date. There will be no make-up final examination. It must be taken at the scheduled time during finals week).
Academic
Dishonesty: Academic Dishonesty is not tolerated. All University regulations regarding academic honesty apply to College of Business Courses. If you cheat in any way on a test or assignment, you will receive a zero on that item. Cheating includes copying test material, using unacceptable items during a test, copying or substantially using another students (regardless of when, where, why or how) writing or return, plagiarizing or using the ‘solutions’ to problems, assignments or the tax return provided to other students in previous classes. Academic dishonesty rules apply both to the originator and the copier. You should guard your work carefully. I do not tolerate dishonesty and any suspected dishonesty will be reported to the University and processed according to their published academic dishonesty procedures. See Statement of Expectations for Student Conduct at http://oregonstate.edu/admin/stucon/achon/htm.
Statement
Regarding Students
With Disabilities: Accommodations are collaborative efforts between students, faculty and Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD). Students with accommodations approved through SSD are responsible for contacting the faculty member in charge of the course prior to or during the first week of the term to discuss accommodations. Students who believe they are eligible for accommodations but who have not yet obtained approval through SSD should contact SSD immediately at (541) 737-4098.
A Little Personal
Background: I started my accounting career with Coopers & Lybrand (now PricewaterhouseCoopers) in 1975 and was a partner in PwC from 1983 until my retirement in 2005. I was located in Portland, Oregon throughout my entire career. I served numerous publicly and privately held clients in a variety of industries including retail/distribution, real estate, construction, food processing and manufacturing. I provided audit related services to publicly held businesses and provided audit, review and compilation services to privately held businesses as well as income tax planning and compliance services to those businesses and to their owners and key management.
I assisted many of my clients in addressing accounting, tax and operational issues such as identifying and analyzing financing alternatives, evaluation of acquisition targets, entity formation and structuring, preparing prospective financial information, evaluating capital project alternatives, developing and evaluating accounting methods and procedures and reviewing income tax planning strategies. .
I received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration (with a concentration in Accounting) from Oregon State University in 1975. I currently serve on the OSU College of Business Circle of Excellence and the OSU Accounting Circle. I am a member of the Oregon State Alumni Association and have also been active with the accounting program at Oregon State University making numerous presentations at Beta Alpha Psi meetings as well as being a guest lecturer in accounting classes.
I am a member of the American Society of Certified Public Accountants, Oregon Society of Certified Public Accountants. I have also belonged to numerous trade associations over the years. I currently serve on the complaints committee of the Oregon State Board of Accountancy. I am also a past Chairman of the Oregon Donor Program, past Assistant Treasurer of the Juvenile Diabetes of Oregon, past Treasurer of the Lake Oswego High School parent club and was a Little League and youth softball coach, as well as being active in other youth athletic programs, for many years.
I met my wife, Joanne, at Oregon State University, and we have been married for almost 32 years and have two daughters, Ashley and Kelly. Ashley is currently a senior at Oregon State University.
In my retirement I am doing some consulting, serve as a corporate board member and am involved with nonprofit/charitable activities. I also have been doing some traveling.
Class Schedule
The following is the class schedule of dates, subjects and presenters of the related subject matter. This schedule may be revised due to conflicts, changes in hot topics or other unforeseen circumstances without advance notice.
DATE SUBJECT PRESENTER(S)
April 2, 2007 PCAOB (Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board) Allison Rosario, Stephanie Peel
April 9, 2007 Internal v. External Audit
Coordination/Issues Tony Amandi
April 16, 2007 FCPA (Foreign Corrupt
Practices Act) Tracey Heinrich, Aaron Saito
April 23, 2007 Discussion of IFRS (International
Financial Reporting Standards) and
comparison with GAAP
(Generally Accepted Accounting
Principles in the United Stares) Larry Brown
April 30, 2007 Accounting for Derivatives Roger Mills
May 7, 2007 Business Combinations Trevor Tyacke
May 7, 2007 Research memorandum No. 1 is due (a)
May 14, 2007 SPA Topic Stephanie Peel, Weston Nelson, Brent Hutchings
May 21, 2007 No class-Beta Alpha Psi Spring Awards Banquet
May 23, 2007 Research memorandum No. 2 is due (a)
May 28, 2007 No class-Memorial Day Holiday
June 4, 2007 International Tax Rick Giolitti
June 11, 2007 Final Examination
(a) Research memorandums are due in my office or sent to my email address by 12 noon on the respective due date. No points will be awarded for any assignments turned in late.
The following are other topics that may be substituted for topics above or may be used for make-up assignments discussed above. You may use other topics for make-up assignments as well. However all make-up assignment topics (either form the list below or other) must be pre-approved by the instructor.
Accounting for Income Taxes with emphasis on FIN # 48-Accounting for Uncertain Tax Positions
PCAOB independence rules with respect to tax services and contingent fees
SEC ability to have input into FASB position appointments
Internal Control Over Financial Reporting –Guidance for Smaller Public Companies published by COSO (Committee of Sponsoring Organizations)
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 154-Accounting for Changes and Error Corrections
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 157-Fair Value Measurements
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 158-Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Post Retirement Plans
Statement of Auditing Standards No. 113-Omnibus Statement on Auditing Standards—2006 with focus on amendments to SAS No. 95 and SAS No. 99
Statement of Auditing Standards No. 114-The Auditor’s Communication With Those charged With Governance