The Accounting subject group

Financial Times | 14 June 2021

Adaptable managers help companies pull trough

A study on UK companies’ survival rate co-authored by Geoff Meeks and Geoffrey Whittington featured in the Financial Times. The study, inspired by natural selection theory, finds that only 19 of 1,513 UK companies (1.26%) survived over the biblical “threescore years and ten” (70 years) from the postwar Companies Act in 1948 which made consolidated accounts mandatory.

Responsible Investor | 12 April 2021

Why accounting really matters for climate change, and what you need to know about it

David Pitt-Watson, Research Fellow at Cambridge Judge Business School, writes about a new accounting approach which is compatible with climate sustainability. “Investors have been clear that they want the companies they own to commit to a business model which is compatible with climate sustainability,” he writes. “The acid test of that commitment is shown in the company accounts, and in how they calculate their profitability. We have the opportunity to insist that that is done in a way which is consistent with the Paris Agreement.”

The Conversation | 19 January 2021

Annual reports should inform society – not only those with a financial interest

Alan Jagolinzer, Professor of Financial Accounting at Cambridge Judge Business School, writes on how accounting is a public policy initiative. “With many companies such as airlines and retailers struggling during the pandemic, there’s a lot of focus on their short-term financial health. This is all laid out in corporate annual reports and quarterly announcements, describing carnage in the usual clinical financial terminology,” Alan writes.

Stanford Business | 15 July 2020

Stimulus money might stimulate insider trading

A study co-authored by Alan Jagolinzer, Professor of Financial Accounting at Cambridge Judge Business School, found that “politically connected shareholders cashed in with suspiciously well-timed trades during the 2008 federal bailout.” The study examined trades made by officers and directors of nearly 500 financial institutions between 2005 and 2011.

Bloomberg | 1 July 2020

Wirecard exposes Big Four accounting lapses endure post-Enron

Dr Michael Willis, Director of the Master of Accounting programme at Cambridge Judge Business School, comments on the issue of the Big Four auditing firms. “A few months ago the threat of seismic government action seemed more credible but COVID-19 has put a pause to that for now,” Michael said, “I don’t think we’ll see a lot of regulatory change in the short run because of the COVID-19 volatility.”

Future-Proof | 28 October 2019

Addressing recruitment and retention woes

Alan Jagolinzer, Professor of Financial Accounting at Cambridge Judge Business School, discusses mental health issues with traditional US career recruitment in accounting and the need to foster and train creativity and disruption in the profession. “The accounting and finance profession needs to think about how we can tap into the creative energy of these kids,” Professor Jagolinzer said.

The New York Times | 14 October 2019

Epstein estate’s first legal bill in fight against accusers: $90,000

Alan Jagolinzer, Professor of Financial Accounting at Cambridge Judge Business School, comments on financial issues involved in a legal battle surrounding the estate of the late Jeffrey Epstein. Professor Jagolinzer said it raises “way too many questions” as it is “hard to understand how Financial Trust reported losses at a time when the stock market was rallying strongly after the 2008 financial crisis”.

Market Watch | 3 September 2019

Opinion: Cannabis stock investors should pay attention to this potential threat to share prices

A study looking at a cannabis accounting case by Alan Jagolinzer, Professor of Financial Accounting at Cambridge Judge Business School, is mentioned in the article. The case study looks at accounting practices in the marijuana industry, and was co-authored with cannabis investor White Sheep Corp. It was first taught at Cambridge Judge last year with an aim to guide students through the reporting process for the industry.

Accounting Web | 3 May 2019

Small practices continue to feel the recruitment crunch at Accountex

Dr Mike Willis, Senior Faculty in Management Practice at Cambridge Judge, gave a talk at the Accountex conference on accounting education and recruitment. “Firms do need a certain kind of person and I don’t think the universities are turning them out right now. One of the problems is that accountants tend to be risk-averse, when in reality the industry needs leaders who are comfortable with and embrace ambiguity and are able to lead through change.”

Market Watch | 11 February 2019

How marijuana companies can profit without selling pot

A case study co-authored by Alan Jagolinzer, Professor of Financial Accounting at Cambridge Judge, is featured in the article. The case study looks at accounting practices in the marijuana industry, and was co-authored with cannabis investor White Sheep Corp. The case was first taught at Cambridge Judge Business School last year with the aim to guide students through the reporting process for the industry.

Bloomberg | 22 January 2019

Buyers beware of marijuana stocks

A case study looking at accounting practices in the marijuana industry co-authored by Alan Jagolinzer, Professor of Financial Accounting at Cambridge Judge, is featured in Bloomberg. The case co-authored with cannabis investor White Sheep Corp. “explains what the financial professionals of tomorrow need to know about the cannabis industry.”

Accounting Insight News | 23 November 2018

Accountants: you don’t have the right skills

Dr Michael Willis, Director of the Master of Accounting programme at Cambridge Judge, writes about challenges that accountants face and what the future looks like for the industry. “The path to a career in professional accounting typically requires passing a series of rigorous exams and acquiring relevant work experience. This is a good thing! But there is a gap between this type of training and the skills required to lead a team, an organisation, and a profession through the uncertainty, ambiguity, and complexity that seems to be increasing.”

Business Weekly | 28 August 2018

Accountants alerted to financial impact of eco issues

Accounting for rising sea levels and other uncertain effects of climate change present significant new challenges to companies and accountants, says Dr Michael Willis, Director of the Master of Accounting (MAcc) programme at Cambridge Judge Business School. “We can see the advantages in giving companies and investors time to adapt and develop how they report on climate risks and opportunities. But only if reporting is mandatory are we likely to see comprehensive and comparable climate risk disclosures.”

Poets and Quants | 18 May 2018

Business schools tap into cannabis sector

With marijuana being legalized in some US states, business schools are now looking into the market in order to stay ahead. Earlier this year, Cambridge Judge Business School and cannabis investor White Sheep Corp announced their collaboration on the first “seed-to-sale” accounting case study on the cannabis industry – “‘High’ Profits From Accounting For Cannabis Plant Inventory”. The study is co-authored by Alan Jagolinzer, Professor of Financial Accounting at Cambridge Judge, and the goal is to have students “develop an understanding of the complexities behind financial reporting in the sector as well as the level of discretion that management has in dictating these figures.”

MJ Business Daily | 9 February 2018

Study looks to untangle ‘fundamentally confusing’ cannabis financial statements

Cambridge Judge Business School and cannabis investor White Sheep Corp announced their collaboration on the first “seed-to-sale” accounting case study on the cannabis industry – “’High’ Profits From Accounting For Cannabis Plant Inventory”. The study is co-authored by Alan Jagolinzer, Professor of Financial Accounting at Cambridge Judge. The goal of the case study, first taught at Cambridge Judge on 29 January, is to have students “develop an understanding of the complexities behind financial reporting in the sector as well as the level of discretion that management has in dictating these figures.”

Quartz | 30 January 2018

Cambridge is teaching the world’s first business case study on weed

Cambridge Judge Business School and cannabis investor White Sheep Corp announced their collaboration on the first “seed-to-sale” accounting case study on the cannabis industry – “’High’ Profits From Accounting For Cannabis Plant Inventory”. The study is co-authored by Alan Jagolinzer, Professor of Financial Accounting at Cambridge Judge. The goal of the case study, first taught at Cambridge Judge on 29 January, is to have students “develop an understanding of the complexities behind financial reporting in the sector as well as the level of discretion that management has in dictating these figures.”

• Financial Times: How to spot companies at risk of earnings manipulation | 6 September 2017
• Cambridge Business Magazine: Theresa May won’t like this… | 1 September 2016
• The Wall Street Journal: The morning risk report: CEO-employee pay ratio disclosure no panacea | 9 August 2016
• Financial Times: UK disclosure rules tying CEO pay and performance not working | 27 June 2016
• Cambridge Business Magazine: Gender diversity and executive roles | 1 May 2016
• LexisNexis: Strategies to get women into senior roles – does any of it work? | 12 April 2016
• The Wall Street Journal: Earnings season: Time to tweak Warren Buffett’s maxim | 11 April 2016
• Reuters Breakingviews: Boardroom gender quotas have hidden value | 9 March 2016
• City AM: International Women’s Day | 2016
• Cambridge Business Magazine: Earnings manipulation unmasked | 1 February 2016
• Reuters Breakingviews: Beat surrender | 10 December 2015
• The Economist: How companies massage their profits to beat market forecasts | 8 December 2015
• The Economist: Executive compensation: If you hire them, pay will come… | 21 November 2014
• The Times: Hiring pay ‘experts’ brings rich rewards for chief executives | 17 November 2014
• The Economist: If you hire them, pay will come | 11 November 2014
• New York Times: Dealbook: More transparency, more pay for CEOs | 10 November 2014
• The Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance & Financial Regulation: New evidence on compensation consultants and CEO pay | 16 October 2014
• Financial Times: Women working in financial education | 21 June 2012