We’re kicking off the year with our annual year in review. This week’s blog focuses on the standards issued in 2020 by the AICPA, FASB and GASB. We’ll give a quick executive summary of what was finalized in 2020 for each standard setter as we kick off a new year of standard setting.
Each quarter we review what issued as final standards during the quarter. While the Genuine Learning Blog focuses on what’s coming down the pike and tries to encourage participation in due process, we also know its important to be aware of what get’s finalized. The blog looks at the items issued by the AICPA, FASB and GASB that will be effective in the near future.
FASB has issued a proposed Concept Statement addressing the definition of elements of financial statements. The 10 key elements (assets, liabilities, equity etc.) are getting an update to better define the key components that describe an element. Comments are due November 13th.
The first quarter of 2020 started much like any other first quarter of a the year. However, it didn’t end quite as normal. The impact of COVID really only started to come into play late in the quarter, as such, we expect the brunt of the impact to come in Q1. In the first quarter, the FASB was able to issue 4 final standards including the much awaited ASU 2020-04 addressing reference rate reform. GASB issued the 2020 Omnibus and the AICPA issued SSARS 25 and SAS 139. Time will only tell what the second quarter of 2020 will be. GLS hopes you are staying safe and healthy during these turbulent times!
GASB has issued an exposure draft to update the Conceptual Framework for Note Disclosures. The ED describes the types of information that should be disclosed in notes and the types of information that are not appropriate. The proposal introduces the concept of what is “essential” to users and updates the purpose of note disclosures. Comments are due April 17, 2020.
Melisa F. Galasso is the founder and CEO of Galasso Learning Solutions LLC. A CPA with nearly 20 years of experience in the accounting profession, Melisa designs and facilitates courses in advanced technical accounting and auditing topics, including not-for-profit and governmental accounting.
Her passion is providing high-quality CPE that is meaningful, creates efficiencies and improves quality, and positively impacts ROI. She also supports essential professional development, audit level training, and train the trainer efforts.
Melisa is a Certified Speaking Professional, a Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD), and has earned the Association for Talent Development Master Trainer™ designation. Her passion for instructional design and adult learning techniques is one of the differentiators that set her apart from other CPE providers.
She also serves on the FASB’s Not-for-Profit Advisory Committee (NAC), AICPA Council, and the AICPA’s Women’s Initiative Executive Committee (WIEC). She also serves as a Subject Matter Expert for the Center for Plain English Accounting. She previously served on the AICPA’s Technical Issues Committee (TIC), the VSCPA’s Board of Directors, and is a past Chair of the NCACPA’s A&A committee. In addition, Melisa is the author of Money Matters for Nonprofits: How Board Members Can Harness the Power of Financial Statements by Understanding Basic Accounting which is available on Amazon or anywhere you purchase books online.
Melisa received a Top 50 Women in Accounting Award in 2021 by Ignition, is a 2020 Enterprising Women of the Year Award recipient, and was honored as a “40 under 40” by CPA Practice Advisor in 2017, 2018, and 2019. She was also named the 2019 Rising Star by her regional NAWBO chapter, received the Don Farmer award for achievement in technical content instruction, and earned several other awards for public speaking and technical training.
