35th Annual SEC Reporting & FASB Forum

With the revenue and lease standards in the rear-view mirror but CECL still to be adopted, it is as important as ever to keep up with new and evolving accounting standards and regulations especially given the SEC’s Disclosure Modernization and Simplification initiatives. The Annual Forum will provide key insights and updates from regulators, industry and topic experts. Attendees will learn about the standard-setting agenda of the FASB as well as updates on rulemaking, interpretive guidance, frequent comments, and enforcement actions emanating from the SEC. In addition, we have a panel on ethical challenges which qualifies for ethics credit for CPE purposes. Our experienced faculty will provide practical approaches to new and complex accounting and disclosure requirements.

Fenwick securities enforcement co-chair Michael Dicke will be speaking on the panel “Staying Out of Trouble – SEC Enforcement Update” from 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. on December 2. The panel will cover enforcement priorities, recent cases and their impact, whistleblower awards, and managing the enforcement process.

For more details on additional topics to be covered by the forum's other sessions, see below.

What You Will Learn

• Updates on rulemaking and interpretive guidance in the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance including proposed changes to the definitions of “accelerated filer” and “large accelerated filer” and changes to disclosures about acquired and disposed businesses
• Hot topics in CorpFin’s comment process
• Implementation of FASB’s lease accounting standard with a focus on year-end disclosures and the SEC’s observations
• The latest trends in sustainability and integrated reporting
• Gearing up for your MD&A disclosures including changes to MD&A from the SEC’s Disclosure Effectiveness project
• Lessons from SEC comment letters
• Recent SEC enforcement actions, whistleblowing developments and ethical challenges
• Financial instruments guidance and CECL adoption issues, including SAB 74 disclosures and the impact on entities outside the financial services industry
• Other key accounting developments from the FASB, including their projects on segment reporting and performance reporting
• PCAOB update and the requirement for auditors to report on Critical Audit Matters, with examples from audit reports where the guidance has been adopted
• Our SEC Reporting Roundtable will provide a lively discussion of current events, including reporting fatigue, ICFR and audit committee interaction
• Key focus areas and hot topics throughout

Who Should Attend

SEC reporting professionals, including those involved in the preparation or review of financial statements, partners of public accounting firms and their staff, lawyers and corporate legal staff, investor relations professionals, and audit committee members.