AICPA/FAF/NASBA “Blue-Ribbon Panel” on Standard Setting for Private Companies

Objectives and Timeline

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the Financial Accounting Foundation (FAF; the parent organization of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB)), and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) have established a “blue ribbon panel” (the Panel) to address how accounting standards can best meet the needs of U.S. users of private company financial statements. The Panel will conclude its work and issue a report, with any recommendations on the future of standard setting for private companies, to the FAF Board of Trustees (the Trustees) in approximately one year. The Panel’s report will be made available to the public and the Trustees’ resulting action plan is expected to be exposed for public comment prior to that plan being finalized.

Panel Structure and Membership

The Panel is chaired by Rick Anderson, Chairman and CEO of Moss Adams, LLP, and FAF Trustee, and is comprised of 18 members. Panel Members are senior leaders who represent a cross-section of financial reporting constituencies, including lenders, investors, and owners, as well as preparers and auditors. All members have both extensive experience in their field and a keen and broad interest in financial reporting for private companies.

In addition to the Panel members, the Panel also has invited certain regulators and other key stakeholders to serve as Participating Observers.

Others will likely be invited to individual meetings to provide their expertise to the Panel on specific matters.

Staffing is provided by the AICPA and the FAF.

Scope of Review

The Panel will comprehensively review the current system of standard setting for private companies in the U.S., including the following matters: In addressing these matters at a strategic level, the Panel will consider relevant studies and other reports on private company financial reporting that have been done over the years by the AICPA, the FAF, and others.

Panel Meetings

The Panel will have approximately 4-5 in-person, one-day meetings. The meetings will generally be held in either New York or Norwalk, CT, although one of the meetings may be held elsewhere.

Because of the high level of interest in the Panel’s work from various reporting constituencies, the Panel will generally meet in public sessions, with webcasting facilities available to all interested parties. The Panel meetings may also involve private sessions, at the discretion of the chairman, for administrative matters and report drafting.

Depending on the needs of the Panel, sub-panels may be formed to consider various issues in-between panel meetings.

Additional Information

If you would like more detailed information about Blue-Ribbon Panel, call or write:

Jeffrey D. Mechanick, Assistant Director

Financial Accounting Standards Board
401 Merritt 7
Norwalk, Connecticut 06856-5116
United States
Phone: (203)-956-5301
Fax: (203)-849-9470
Email: jdmechanick@fasb.org

Additional Details
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