April 2025 Newsletter

April 2025 Newsletter

On April 1, the FASB issued a Staff Educational Paper clarifying how to apply revenue recognition guidance to construction contracts with retainage provisions, leading the PCC to remove a related project from its agenda. The FASB finalized guidance on derivatives and is meeting again to discuss CECL, Purchased Financial Assets, and Paid-in-Kind Dividends on Preferred Stock, with two final ASUs and a proposal on debt exchanges expected this quarter. The GASB had a quieter April but held meetings this week to discuss the 2025 Implementation Guidance Update, Infrastructure Assets feedback, revenue and expense recognition, and a technical plan for the remainder of 2025. GASB’s meetings will conclude on May 1 with a joint session with the AICPA’s State and Local Government Expert Panel. The ASB did not meet in April but has a three-day meeting planned for May to address its fraud proposal and a significant SSAE update, with FinREC also meeting in New York next month. The PEEC did not meet in April but has two upcoming meetings in May, so additional updates are expected soon.

March 2025 Newsletter

March 2025 Newsletter

March experienced a flurry of activities in standard setting. The FAF issued the first ever PCC Annual Report which highlights the work done by the PCC on behalf of private companies. The FASB met with several of its advisory committees (NAC, PCC, and EITF). While no standards were issued the Board voted to ballot Determining the Accounting Acquirer in the Acquisition of a Variable Interest Entity, Hedge Accounting Improvements and Measurement of Credit Losses for Accounts Receivable and Contract Assets for Private Companies and Certain Not-for-Profit Entities which likely means a flurry of standards are forthcoming.

AICPA Ethics: Simultaneous Employment Proposal

AICPA Ethics: Simultaneous Employment Proposal

On December 16, 2024 the AICPA’s Professional Ethics Executive Committee (PEEC) issued proposed revisions related to simultaneous employment or association with an attest client. Key changes from this exposure draft include a new definition of being simultaneously employed or associated with the client, as well as the addition of a new exception to the rules for USERRA/compliance with employment laws. In addition, the proposed revised interpretation uses both a rules-based approach and a principles-based approach in making determinations regarding independence. Comments are due March 16, 2025.

New Ethics Interpretations

New Ethics Interpretations

The AICPA’s latest ethics interpretations address independence risks in recruiting and tax services for attest clients. This update aligns with global standards and introduces new restrictions to mitigate undue influence and advocacy threats. Learn how these changes affect firms and key compliance considerations.

AICPA PEEC Update

AICPA PEEC Update

The Professional Ethics Executive Committee (PEEC) is a senior committee of the AICPA responsible for interpreting, enforcing, and revising the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct. The committee typically meets quarterly for two days, with part of each meeting dedicated to standard-setting activities, which are open to the public, and part focused on case investigations and enforcement matters, which are confidential.

Jaclyn Veno CPA | Auditing Level Training | CPE

Melisa Galasso, CPA, CSP, CPTD

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.