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Articles From Lumsden McCormick

The Impact and Timing of Subsequent Events

Major events or transactions — such as a natural disaster, a cyberattack, a regulatory change or the loss of a large business contract — may happen after the reporting period ends but before financial statements are finalized. The decision of whether to report these so-called “subsequent events” is one of the gray areas in financial reporting. Here’s some guidance from the AICPA to help you decide.

Recognition

Financial statements reflect a company’s financial position at a particular date and the operating results and cash flows for a period ended on that date. However, because it takes time to complete financial statements, there may be a gap between the financial statement date and the date the financials are available to be issued. During this period, unforeseeable events may happen in the normal course of business.

Chapter 27 of the AICPA’s Financial Reporting Framework for Small- and Medium-Sized Entities classifies subsequent events into two groups:

1. Recognized subsequent events. These provide further evidence of conditions that existed on the financial statement date. An example would be the bankruptcy of a major customer, highlighting the risk associated with its accounts receivable. There are usually signs of financial distress (such as late payments or staff turnover) months before a customer actually files for bankruptcy.

2. Nonrecognized subsequent events. These reflect conditions that arise after the financial statement date. An example would be a tornado or earthquake that severely damages the business. A business usually has little or no advanced notice that a natural disaster is going to happen.

Generally, the former must be recorded in the financial statements. The latter events aren’t required to be recorded, but the details may have to be disclosed in the footnotes.

Disclosure

To decide which events to disclose in the footnotes, consider whether omitting the information about them would mislead investors, lenders and other stakeholders. Disclosures should, at a minimum, describe the nature of the event and estimate the financial effect, if possible.

In some extreme cases, the effect of a subsequent event may be so pervasive that your company’s viability is questionable. This may cause your CPA to re-evaluate the going concern assumption that underlies your financial statements.

When in Doubt

If you’re unsure how to handle a subsequent event, we can help eliminate the guesswork. Contact us for more information.

The Impact and Timing of Subsequent Events

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Doug is a partner in Lumsden McCormick’s accounting and auditing department and has been with the Firm since 2008. Prior to joining the Firm, he worked at KPMG for three years. Doug is responsible for the supervision of staff and planning and completion of client engagements including audits, reviews, compilations, and other bookkeeping and consulting engagements. He has prepared financial statements, coordinated and reviewed work performed by internal auditors, and presented audit findings to management and boards. Doug has experience providing services to financial institutions, workers’ compensation trusts, employee benefit plans, and other commercial businesses, including those in manufacturing, construction, and general service industries. Additionally, he has experience working on SEC engagements. Doug is a member of the Firm’s recruiting team and chairs the Firm’s Accounting & Auditing Technical Committee.

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