PwC's accounting podcast

New York City Climate Week brings together international business leaders, policymakers, and other civic leaders to help drive progress and speed transition on climate-related issues. This year’s event highlighted the sustainability advancements made over the past year – with a look ahead to the actions companies need to take next to prepare for net zero.This week, host Heather Horn is joined by Will Jackson-Moore, PwC’s Global Sustainability Leader, to discuss some of the bigger themes that emerged from the week, from energy transition and demand reduction to the impact of emerging sustainability reporting regimes around the world.In this episode, you’ll hear discussion of:3:04 - An overview of the current sustainability landscape and the challenges that companies face with decarbonization8:00 - The relative priority companies are assigning to climate actions and progress10:32 - How organizations are executing strategic planning and reporting on climate15:44 - The time runway for companies to transform their businesses and assets for resilience22:13 - The role of reporting in driving climate action26:09 - The evolving prominence of the chief sustainability officer role34:38 - How meaningful demand reduction progress can be made by embedding energy efficiency in strategy beginning with the C-suite Looking for more information on sustainability strategy and reporting? Check out our previous podcasts on TNFD, CSRD, and the sustainability expectation gap in reporting. Will Jackson-Moore is PwC’s Global Sustainability Leader, responsible for leadership of our sustainability teams, technology, alliances, and methodologies.Heather Horn is PwC’s National Office thought leader, responsible for developing our communications strategy and conveying firm positions on accounting and financial reporting matters. She is the engaging host of PwC’s accounting and reporting weekly podcast and quarterly webcast series. With over 30 years of experience, Heather’s accounting and auditing expertise includes financial instruments and rate-regulated accounting.Transcripts available upon request for individuals who may need a disability-related accommodation. Please send requests to us_podcast@pwc.com.Did you enjoy this episode? Text us your thoughts and be sure to include the episode name.

As companies move forward with clean energy investments and decarbonization projects, many face questions about which of these projects qualify for tax incentives under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and how best to utilize the act’s credits and other green initiatives. In today’s episode, Heather Horn welcomes back Matt Haskins, PwC principal, to discuss the latest IRS guidance for IRA initiatives, marketplace transactions, and further considerations for companies looking to take advantage of the IRA. In this episode, you’ll hear discussion of:5:06 - Advanced energy project credits under IRS Section 48C, and the status of the current allocation of the $10 billion budgeted pool9:09 - Transferability and timing considerations of tax credits 12:07 - Choosing between investment tax credits and production tax credits14:55 - Risk of recapture of paid tax credits and relevant mitigating strategies23:53 - How a government shutdown would impact IRA initiatives27:59 - Market developments in the hydrogen production tax credit33:07 - The interplay between the IRA and European Union regulations, including the impact of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)36:05 - The importance of evaluating decarbonization costs on an after-tax basisLooking for more information on the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism? Check out our previous podcast on how the CBAM may impact your company.Looking for more information on transferability of IRA credits? Check out our latest publication on accounting for IRA credits and our podcast on renewable energy credits for more information.Matt Haskins is a principal in PwC’s Washington National Tax Services, where he leads the firm's Cleantech tax practice, focusing on renewable energy financing and M&A transactions. In addition to writing and speaking on issues in the renewable energy industry, Matt has co-chaired the energy and environmental taxes working group for the US Council on International Business and served as a delegate for key energy initiatives of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.Heather Horn is PwC’s National Office thought leader, responsible for developing our communications strategy and conveying firm positions on accounting and financial reporting matters. She is the engaging host of PwC’s accounting and reporting weekly podcast and quarterly webcast series. With over 30 years of experience, Heather’s accounting and auditing expertise includes financial instruments and rate-regulated accounting.Transcripts available upon request for individuals who may need a disability-related accommodation. Please send requests to us_podcast@pwc.com.Did you enjoy this episode? Text us your thoughts and be sure to include the episode name.

Continuing our October all-star series, Tom Barbieri, PwC US Chief Accountant, shares insights on critical accounting and reporting topics.Tom is joined by Nick Milone, a PwC practice partner with experience advising clients on hedging strategies, to discuss effective hedging strategies for various types of macroeconomic and business risks.In this episode, you’ll hear:2:47 - An overview of the theory and purpose of hedge accounting6:04 - Initial considerations for applying hedge accounting, including an overview of the effectiveness assessment10:07 - A breakdown of the three most common hedge strategies and why companies might use them10:21 - Cash flow hedges12:23 - Fair value hedges14:33 - Net investment hedges17:49 - Common examples of and questions related to hedging strategies 22:02 - Common pitfalls in applying hedge accounting27:57 - An overview of other hedging strategies, their purpose and how to use them28:04 - Forecasted debt issuance hedges35:29 - Foreign currency hedges39:04 - Hedging strategies for companies with foreign subsidiaries42:42 - Commodity hedges47:05 - Hedging strategies that do not qualify for hedge accounting50:22 - Final reporting considerations and key reminders for companies using hedge accountingFor more information, read our Derivatives and hedging guide. Tom Barbieri is PwC’s Chief Accountant. He has over 30 years of experience advising large financial services and multinational corporations on complex accounting issues. Tom leads the Accounting & SEC Services Group within the National Office, which is focused on supporting our clients and engagement teams in navigating complex technical accounting and financial reporting matters. He is also a member of the Financial Accounting Standards Advisory Council.Nick Milone is a partner in PwC’s Financial Markets practice, and formerly a practice fellow at the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), with a wealth of experience advising clients on structured transactions, derivatives and hedging activities, transfers of financial assets, securitizations, financings, investments, valuation and other issues. Heather Horn is PwC’s National Office thought leader, responsible for developing our communications strategy and conveying firm positions on accounting and financial reporting matters. She is the engaging host of PwC’s accounting and reporting weekly podcast and quarterly webcast series. With over 30 years of experience, Heather’s accounting and auditing expertise includes financial instruments and rate-regulated accounting.Transcripts available upon request for individuals who may need a disability-related accommodation. Please send requests to us_podcast@pwc.com.Did you enjoy this episode? Text us your thoughts and be sure to include the episode name.

Daniel O'Brien, PwC's Sustainable Business Solutions lead and TNFD member, discusses the launch and implementation of the TNFD framework, addressing the urgency of nature-related issues and the integration of nature in climate risk assessments. He emphasizes the need for phased adoption, global data sets, and subject matter expertise in hotspot analysis. The challenges of standardizing scenario analysis and the importance of qualitative approaches are also highlighted.

In today’s episode, sustainability and financial reporting intersect. We discuss accounting for green incentives that arise from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The IRA, signed into law in August 2022, provides climate and clean energy tax credits. With many types of credits available in the IRA, companies have raised questions about the financial accounting implications of the credits given the unique features that these credits have compared to past federal incentives. This week, Heather Horn is joined by Pat Durbin, a Deputy Chief Accountant in PwC’s National Office, and Jillian Pearce, a partner in our utilities practice, both of whom have closely followed accounting for the credits, to discuss what to look out for in accounting for IRA tax credits.In this episode, you’ll hear discussion of:2:38 - The background, including the breadth, scope, and structure of available IRA credits7:45 - The different pathways to realization of tax credits11:45 - How companies should allocate consideration paid for IRA credits17:07 - The difference between renewable energy credits (RECs) and IRA credits24:32 - Accounting for tax credits by analogy to IAS 20, Accounting for Government Grants and Disclosure of Government Assistance43:16 - Accounting for tax credits using under the ASC 740, Income Taxes, model56:44 - Tax credit disclosure and control considerationsLooking for more information on accounting for IRA energy incentives? Check out our latest publication on IRA credits. Additionally, check out our podcast episode on renewable energy credits for more information.Pat Durbin is a Deputy Chief Accountant in PwC’s National Office. He has over 30 years of experience consulting with our clients and engagement teams on complex accounting matters, including issues related to revenue, compensation, income taxes, and inventory under both US GAAP and IFRS.Jillian Pearce is a partner in PwC's National Office, providing advice on financial instruments and other technical accounting issues to power and utilities clients. She was a Professional Accounting Fellow in the Office of the Chief Accountant at the SEC, and has over 15 years of auditing experience.Heather Horn is PwC’s National Office thought leader, responsible for developing our communications strategy and conveying firm positions on accounting and financial reporting matters. She is the engaging host of PwC’s accounting and reporting weekly podcast and quarterly webcast series. With over 30 years of experience, Heather’s accounting and auditing expertise includes financial instruments and rate-regulated accounting.Transcripts available upon request for individuals who may need a disability-related accommodation. Please send requests to us_podcast@pwc.com.Did you enjoy this episode? Text us your thoughts and be sure to include the episode name.

Every Tuesday in August, Bret Dooley, Deputy Chief Accountant in PwC’s National office, is taking over the podcast to share insights on financial instruments hot topics. In each 25-minute episode, Bret will discuss 5 things you need to know.In this episode, Bret is joined by John Horan, a managing director in PwC’s National office with a focus on financial instruments, to break down what we need to know on earnings per share (EPS).In this episode, you’ll hear:2:20 - Reminders on the basic EPS calculation, including considerations for participating securities and application of the the two-class method11:45 - The impact of mezzanine equity on the basic EPS calculation15:12 - The impact of new FASB guidance (ASU 2020-06) on EPS calculations for contracts that can be settled in cash or shares 20:01 - Complexities in the dilution calculation for liability-classified warrants and convertible debt with bifurcated conversion options21:48 - Why companies should evaluate repurchased convertible instruments separatelyFor more information, read chapter 7 of our Financial statement presentation guide. Additionally, check out a prior podcast in this mini series.John Horan is a managing director in PwC’s National office where he assists clients with complex accounting issues in the areas of foreign currency, liabilities and equity, earnings per share, and derivatives and hedging. John specializes in large capital transactions and initial public offerings.Bret Dooley is a Deputy Chief Accountant in PwC’s National office who leads teams focused on the financial services sectors and accounting for financial instruments. He has over 25 years of experience in the financial services, banking, and capital markets industries. Bret focuses on emerging financial reporting issues related to financial instruments, developing interpretive guidance, and assisting clients in resolving complex accounting matters.Heather Horn is PwC’s National office thought leader, responsible for developing our communications strategy and conveying firm positions on accounting and financial reporting matters. She is the engaging host of PwC’s accounting and reporting weekly podcast and quarterly webcast series. With over 30 years of experience, Heather’s accounting and auditing expertise includes financial instruments and rate-regulated accounting.Transcripts available upon request for individuals who may need a disability-related accommodation. Please send requests to us_podcast@pwc.com.Did you enjoy this episode? Text us your thoughts and be sure to include the episode name.

Every Tuesday in August, Bret Dooley, Deputy Chief Accountant in PwC’s National office, is taking over the podcast to share insights on financial instruments hot topics. In each 25-minute episode, Bret will discuss 5 things you need to know.In this episode, Bret is joined by Chip Currie, another partner in PwC’s National office with a focus on financial instruments, to discuss convertible instruments and the impacts of updated accounting guidance in this area.In this episode, you’ll hear discussion of:1:38 - Why companies use convertible instruments and the complex financial decisions accompanying their use6:38 - The impact of new accounting guidance for convertible instruments in ASU 2020-06 9:49 - Key information when accounting for induced conversions12:10 - Down round provisions in equity-linked instruments19:27 - Judgments involved in determining whether to separate the conversion option and account for it as an embedded derivative For more information, read chapter 6 of our Financing transactions guide and chapter 3 of our Derivatives and hedging guide. Additionally, check out a prior podcast in this mini series.Chip Currie is a partner in PwC’s National office with over 25 years of experience assisting companies in resolving complex business and accounting issues. He concentrates on the accounting for financial instruments under both current and emerging standards and works with many of the firm's largest financial services clients and a number of non-financial services clients on treasury-related matters.Bret Dooley is a Deputy Chief Accountant in PwC’s National office who leads teams focused on the financial services sectors and accounting for financial instruments. He has over 25 years of experience in the financial services, banking, and capital markets industries. Bret focuses on emerging financial reporting issues related to financial instruments, developing interpretive guidance, and assisting clients in resolving complex accounting matters.Heather Horn is PwC’s National office thought leader, responsible for developing our communications strategy and conveying firm positions on accounting and financial reporting matters. She is the engaging host of PwC’s accounting and reporting weekly podcast and quarterly webcast series. With over 30 years of experience, Heather’s accounting and auditing expertise includes financial instruments and rate-regulated accounting.Transcripts available upon request for individuals who may need a disability-related accommodation. Please send requests to us_podcast@pwc.com.Did you enjoy this episode? Text us your thoughts and be sure to include the episode name.

Every Tuesday in August, Bret Dooley, Deputy Chief Accountant in PwC’s National office, is taking over the podcast to share insights on financial instruments hot topics. In each 25-minute episode, Bret will discuss 5 things you need to know.In this episode, Bret shares insights on the current expected credit loss model, or CECL, and why it’s not just for banks. All companies, regardless of industry, need to understand the requirements.In this episode, you’ll hear:1:50 - A refresher on CECL3:34 - Insights on the impacts of CECL across industries7:03 - A discussion of how to apply CECL to various asset classes, considerations on estimation methodologies, and why companies should seek continuous improvement in the application of CECL9:32 - Key information to consider when preparing CECL disclosures 11:22 - How subsequent events could impact CECL estimates20:43 - An overview of the FASB’s exposure draft that proposes changes to the accounting for purchased credit deteriorated assetsFor more information, read chapter 7 of our Loans and investments guide. Additionally, check out the prior podcast in this mini series.Bret Dooley is a Deputy Chief Accountant in PwC’s National office and leads teams focused on the financial services sectors and accounting for financial instruments. He has over 25 years of experience in the financial services, banking, and capital markets industries. Bret focuses on emerging financial reporting issues related to financial instruments, developing interpretive guidance, and assisting clients in resolving complex accounting matters.Heather Horn is PwC’s National office thought leader, responsible for developing our communications strategy and conveying firm positions on accounting and financial reporting matters. She is the engaging host of PwC’s accounting and reporting weekly podcast and quarterly webcast series. With over 30 years of experience, Heather’s accounting and auditing expertise includes financial instruments and rate-regulated accounting.Transcripts available upon request for individuals who may need a disability-related accommodation. Please send requests to us_podcast@pwc.com.Did you enjoy this episode? Text us your thoughts and be sure to include the episode name.

Every Tuesday in August, Bret Dooley is taking over the podcast to share insights on financial instruments hot topics. In each episode, Bret will discuss 5 things you need to know in 25 minutes.To kick off the series, Bret shares insights on accounting for investment securities, a topic of recent headlines. He breaks down the complexities of held-to-maturity and available-for-sale securities, and touches on foreign currency bonds.In this episode, you’ll hear discussion of:2:05 - Key reminders for identifying and accounting for debt securities6:32 - Accounting for held-to-maturity (HTM) securities and the long-term implications of HTM designation12:30 - Tips on accounting for unrealized losses on available-for-sale (AFS) securities17:18 - An overview of accounting for foreign currency bonds19:25 - Complexities in the application of the measurement alternative model for equity securities For more information, read chapters 2, 3, and 8 of our Loans and investments guide. Bret Dooley is a Deputy Chief Accountant in PwC’s National office and leads teams focused on the financial services sectors and accounting for financial instruments. He has over 25 years of experience in the financial services, banking, and capital markets industries. Bret focuses on emerging financial reporting issues related to financial instruments, developing interpretive guidance, and assisting clients in resolving complex accounting matters.Heather Horn is PwC’s National office thought leader, responsible for developing our communications strategy and conveying firm positions on accounting and financial reporting matters. She is the engaging host of PwC’s accounting and reporting weekly podcast and quarterly webcast series. With over 30 years of experience, Heather’s accounting and auditing expertise includes financial instruments and rate-regulated accounting.Transcripts available upon request for individuals who may need a disability-related accommodation. Please send requests to us_podcast@pwc.com.Did you enjoy this episode? Text us your thoughts and be sure to include the episode name.

Every Tuesday in July, Jay Seliber is taking over the podcast to share insights on business combinations, which are often significant events in a company’s life cycle. Jay takes us on a journey through a deal, beginning with the complexities of the overall acquisition accounting model, then diving into some of the more complex areas—identifying the accounting acquirer, accounting for contingent consideration, and reporting with the SEC.To continue the series, Heather and Jay are joined by Ryan Spencer, a PwC National office partner who specializes in SEC reporting, to break down the SEC filing requirements for business combinations, including the application of significance tests used to determine the reporting requirements.In this episode, you’ll hear:2:02 - A breakdown of the SEC filing requirements for business combinations7:10 - A discussion of significance tests and how they help to determine filing requirements17:36 - A summary of financial statement requirements, including considerations on timing and the age of financial information23:38 - An overview of the unique guidelines for a company filing (1) a new registration statement, (2) transactional proxy statements, and (3)  reverse-merger information32:30 - A summary of pro forma reporting requirements, including timing considerations43:36 - The distinction between the SEC and US GAAP disclosure requirements47:06 - Final advice for companies navigating the filing requirements for a business combinationFor more information, read chapter 17 of our Financial statement presentation guide and the SEC Financial Reporting Manual. Also check out the prior podcast in this miniseries on business combinations. Jay Seliber is a partner in PwC’s National office. He leverages over 30 years of experience to help clients with their most complex accounting matters, particularly in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, revenue recognition, stock compensation, earnings per share, employee benefits, restructurings, impairments, and financing transactions. Jay is presently PwC's representative on the FASB's Emerging Issues Task Force.Ryan Spencer is a partner at PwC's National office specializing in SEC financial reporting. He has over 20 years of experience serving clients and is a frequent contributor to PwC’s publications and communications.Heather Horn is PwC’s National office thought leader, responsible for developing our communications strategy and conveying firm positions on accounting and financial reporting matters. She is the engaging host of PwC’s accounting and reporting weekly podcast and quarterly webcast series. With over 30 years of experience, Heather’s accounting and auditing expertise includes financial instruments and rate-regulated accounting.Transcripts available upon request for individuals who may need a disability-related accommodation. Please send requests to us_podcast@pwc.com.Did you enjoy this episode? Text us your thoughts and be sure to include the episode name.