Broker-Dealer Accounting Conference Self-Study Webinar
Overview
Hear directly from FINRA, the SEC, the CFTC, the PCAOB, and leading accounting experts as they share the latest developments shaping the Broker-Dealer industry. This year’s conference delivers essential updates on financial reporting, enforcement priorities, and emerging risks, helping you stay compliant and prepared in a rapidly changing regulatory landscape.
Gain practical insights into net capital and customer protection rules, FASB and PCAOB updates, digital asset oversight, cybersecurity, and other high-impact topics. With guidance from regulators and Big 4 leaders, you’ll walk away ready to anticipate new challenges, adapt your firm’s strategy, and navigate today’s complex financial environment with confidence.
AGENDA HIGHLIGHTS
• Broker-Dealer Industry Perspective
• Regulatory Trends, Industry Initiatives & Challenges
• PCAOB Update
• Net Capital and Customer Protection Rule Compliance
• SEC Enforcement Issues
• Technical Accounting Update
• Digital Assets & Fintech – Emerging Issues
Agenda
Welcome & Opening Remarks
8:45 – 9:00 AM
Broker-Dealer Industry Perspective
9:00 – 9:30 AM
This session will highlight all of the latest challenges and opportunities in the Broker-Dealer industry and what to expect in the future from the perspective of financial professionals. A highly qualified expert will demonstrate how accountants can safely and efficiently keep up with changing regulatory compliance requirements, new accounting pronouncements, digital transformation and other potential risks. We will focus on:
• Current market conditions
• SEC and FINRA rulemaking
• Financial reporting/FASB hot topics
• AICPA stockbrokerage and investment banking expert panel topics
Break
9:30 – 9:35 AM
Regulatory Trends, Industry Initiatives & Challenges
9:35 – 10:35 AM
Broker-Dealer firms continue to be challenged by regulatory, accounting, and auditing issues. This session will be led by experts from FINRA and will provide insights into the changes and evolution of the market, as well as FINRA's latest priorities. Topics to be discussed include:
• Accounting and reporting issues impacting Broker/Dealers
• Regulatory guidance on exemption reports
• Hot topics and recent SEC rulemaking
• Oversight observations
• FINRA topics and FAQs
Break
10:35 – 10:40 AM
PCAOB Update
10:40 – 11:40 AM
In this informative session, you will quickly be brought up to speed on the PCAOB’s latest reports and inspections related to audits of Broker-Dealers, and gain a number of useful tips and valuable insights to stay current and compliant. We'll look at:
• Final standards and rules
• Proposed standards and rules
• PCAOB areas of focus
• Other standard-setting activities
Break
11:40 – 11:45 AM
Net Capital & Customer Protection Rule Compliance
11:45 AM – 12:30 PM
Broker-Dealers must maintain strict adherence to the SEC’s Net Capital Rule (Rule 15c3-1) and Customer Protection Rule (Rule 15c3-3) to ensure the financial integrity of their firms and the safeguarding of customer assets. This session provides a practical overview of current regulatory expectations, common examination findings, and emerging areas of focus. We will discuss:
• Net capital requirements for open contractual commitments
– Common compliance challenges
– Guidance for meeting Rule 15c3-1 obligations
• Record retention requirements
– SEC and FINRA requirements and challenges related to Broker-Dealer recordkeeping
– Best practices for compliant retention systems
• Enforcement trends and insights
– Recent actions related to Broker-Dealer financial responsibility rules
– Practical takeaways
• Capital and custody: crypto and digital asset securities
– Regulatory developments impacting Broker-Dealers
– Financial responsibility and risk considerations for Broker-Dealers
• New rulemaking: daily reserve formula calculations
– Summary of Rule 15c3-3 daily reserve computation requirements
– Operational impact and readiness planning
Lunch
12:30 – 1:15 PM
SEC Enforcement Issues
1:15 – 2:30 PM
The SEC has undergone significant changes, returning to a more simple “back to basics” approach concerning enforcement. Using recent examples, this session will give you a solid understanding of how these changes are expected to impact Broker-Dealer firms, with a look at:
• Overall trends in enforcement actions
• The whistleblower program
• SEC exam priorities
• PCAOB trends
• Recent auditing and accounting related activities
• Electronic communications
• Digital asset securities
• Cybersecurity regulations
Break
2:30 – 2:35 PM
Technical Accounting Update
2:35 – 3:35 PM
FASB’s recent major changes will have an impact on Broker-Dealers in many important areas. This session will update you on what these changes are and show you the most effective ways to handle them. An expert will address:
• Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses
• Accounting for and disclosure of software costs
• Debt with conversion and other options
• Improvements to income tax disclosures
• Financial instruments—credit losses
• Share-based considerations
• Recently issued ASUs
Break
3:35 – 3:40 PM
Digital Assets & Fintech – Emerging Issues
3:40 – 4:40 PM
As digital assets, blockchain applications, and fintech innovations continue to evolve, Broker-Dealers face a complex mix of regulatory, operational, and compliance challenges. This session will explore the following:
• The use of digital and crypto assets by broker-dealers
• Current regulations and what to expect in the future
• Fintech integration in broker-dealer operations
• Custody and safeguarding obligations
• Tracking and accounting including impact of distributed ledger technology
Closing Remarks
4:40 – 4:50 PM
Conference Ends
4:50 PM
Speakers
Tunde Adeyemo, Managing Director, EY
Mark Attar, Partner - Co-Chair, Broker Dealer, StradleyRonon
Stephen Attard, Inspection Leader, Division of Registration and Inspections, PCAOB
James D'Arcangelo, Director, BDO
Joseph David, Senior Principal Specialist, Credit Regulation at FINRA
John Iacobellis, Assurance Partner, BDO
Tyler Kane, Director, Office of Financial & Operational Risk Policy, FINRA
Laura Lisi, Assurance Principal, BDO
Taylor McFarland, Former Inspections Specialist, PCAOB, Professional Practice Director, Audit Quality, BDO
Anne McKinley, Assistant Regional Director, Division of Enforcement, SEC
Laura Pruitt, Partner, Jones Day
Mark Ramler, Director, Office of Financial & Operational Risk Policy, FINRA
Zohaib Qamar, Partner, CitrinCooperman
Stephen (Chip) Verrone, Managing Director, EY
Anthony Vinci, Director, Financial and Operational Risk Policy, FINRA
Annette Vitale, Audit Manager, CFTC
Mike Walters, Regional Associate Director, PCAOB
Bill Witt, Consulting Director, Accounting and Transaction Services at MorganFranklin
Detailed Learning Objective
DETAILED LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• Understand the SEC’s rescission of SAB 121 and the new accounting requirements under SAB 122 for safeguarding crypto assets
• Identify when ASC 450-20 applies in evaluating contingent obligations to safeguard digital assets
• Recognize the retrospective adoption requirements and disclosure considerations associated with SAB 122
• Explain the new FASB income tax disclosure requirements under ASU 2023-09
• Disaggregate income tax expense and cash tax payments by federal, state, and foreign categories
• Identify the rate reconciliation disclosure enhancements required for public business entities
• Apply the 5 percent jurisdictional threshold for disclosure of taxes paid
• Understand the purpose and scope of ASU 2024-03 regarding the disaggregation of income statement expense line items
• Identify expense categories considered “relevant” for DISE disclosures
• Interpret the tabular disclosure requirements for employee compensation, depreciation, amortization, and selling expenses
• Evaluate the effective dates and early adoption options for DISE
• Recognize the FASB’s proposed improvements to hedge accounting guidance
• Understand the proposed clarifications for aggregating similar hedge risks and hedging choose-your-rate instruments
• Evaluate whether broker-dealer hedge strategies fall within the scope of the proposed amendments
• Understand stakeholder concerns regarding the current definition of a public business entity
• Identify how an expanded PBE definition impacts disclosure obligations for closely held and non-issuer broker-dealers
• Monitor ongoing FASB agenda consultations related to PBE definition revisions
• Identify other emerging technical accounting updates applicable to broker-dealers
• Recognize required disclosures for crypto-asset holdings under Subtopic 350-60
• Apply relevant transition, measurement, and disclosure requirements across the featured ASUs