Footnote & Risk Factor Disclosures: Current Examples & Best Practices

Overview: 

Footnotes are a vitally important part of virtually every financial statement and SEC filing. And today, reporting on risk factors, such as cybersecurity issues, is the target of ever-increasing scrutiny by the SEC. That is why it is critical that you know how to successfully handle these disclosures. In this seminar, you’ll use real-world examples to learn how to:

  • Identify the major accounting policies and methods used
  • Provide additional necessary information and details for investors with footnotes
  • Handle all the latest SEC and FASB disclosure requirements
  • Deal with new risk factors such as cybersecurity, climate change and more
     
Objective: 

To update you on the latest rules for the footnotes and risk factor disclosures currently required in GAAP financial statements and SEC filings, and provide you with best practices to successfully prepare these disclosures.

Emphasis: 
  • Footnotes
    – Their use and importance
    – General footnotes
       – Accounting policies
       – How revenue is recognized
       – Company and industry-specific considerations
    – Specific footnotes—how to handle footnotes on the following topics:
       – Derivatives
       – Financial instruments
       – Taxes
       – Pensions
       – Contingencies
       – Investments/fair value
       – Impairments and more
  • Risk Factor Disclosures
    – Update on the latest risk factor disclosure requirements for SEC filings
    – Lessons learned from case studies of recent filings
    – Specific risks
       – Cybersecurity
       – Climate change
       – Lawsuits
       – Impact of recent or upcoming new regulations
       – Market or financing risk
       – Company or industry-specific risks
    – Best Practices for handling risk disclosures in SEC Filings
    – The SEC’s recently issued concept release, business and financial disclosures required by Regulation S-K and its potential impact on risk factor disclosures
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Prerequisite: 

Basic knowledge of financial accounting and reporting.

Preparation: 

No advance preparation required.

Level of Knowledge: 

Intermediate.

CPE Credit: 
8.00
NASBA Field of Study: 
Accounting