PwC's accounting podcast

Sustainability strategies are evolving as companies focus on protecting margins, building resilience, and identifying opportunities for growth. We discuss how companies can drive business value by embedding sustainability into business strategy, connecting sustainability initiatives to financial outcomes, and using data to guide business decisions.

Key topics and timestamps

• 1:31 — Embedding sustainability into business strategy
• 10:06 — Quantifying the financial impacts of sustainability risks and opportunities
• 14:19 — Climate risk, supply chain resilience, and business strategy
• 19:38 — Using sustainability information to inform business decisions
• 22:32 — AI’s sustainability impacts and responsible use

For more on sustainability and business strategy, check out our Sustainability News Brief.

Looking for the latest developments in sustainability reporting? Follow this podcast on your favorite podcast app and subscribe to our weekly newsletter to stay in the loop. 

About our guest

Lynne Baber is PwC’s Global Sustainability Leader. She works with the PwC Global Sustainability Leadership Team to deliver PwC’s ambition to be the leading business adviser on sustainability issues, grounded in PwC’s client-centric, business-first approach. She provides support and advice to the PwC network on how to integrate sustainability factors with the broader business to both protect and create value. As well as this strategic advisory role, Lynne is PwC's Global Corporate Sustainability Leader, advancing PwC's own sustainability actions and commitments.

About our host

Heather Horn is the PwC National Office Sustainability and Thought Leader, responsible for developing our communications strategy and conveying firm positions on accounting, financial reporting, and sustainability matters. In addition, she is part of PwC’s global sustainability leadership team, developing interpretive guidance and consulting with companies as they transition from voluntary to mandatory sustainability reporting. She is also the engaging host of PwC’s accounting and reporting weekly podcast and quarterly webcast series.

Transcripts

Transcripts available upon request for individuals who may need a disability-related accommodation. Please send requests to [email protected]. 

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Software and software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies are navigating accounting questions as AI technologies become part of their products and development processes. We discuss how companies can apply existing accounting guidance to new revenue recognition questions involving software licenses, SaaS, AI-enabled services, and commercial arrangements. Our guests also discuss capitalizing and classifying software development costs.  

Key topics and timestamps

• 1:47 — Software licenses versus software-as-a-service
• 8:36 — AI-enabled services and revenue recognition
• 15:37 — Reseller arrangements and principal versus agent considerations
• 19:50 — Customer-vendor arrangements and consideration payable to a customer
• 23:56 — Minimum spend commitments and performance obligations
• 28:00 — AI costs and software capitalization

Additional resources

For more information see our publication, Revenue recognition: A Q&A guide for software and SaaS entities and our Software costs guide. 

Additionally, follow this podcast on your favorite podcast app and subscribe to our weekly newsletter to stay informed.

About our guests

Angela Fergason is a partner in PwC's National Office. Her areas of specialty include revenue recognition, accounting for employee compensation arrangements, and other accounting and reporting issues impacting the technology industry. Angela is also PwC's standard setting leader, managing PwC's participation in the accounting standard setting process. 

Mike Coleman is a partner in PwC's National Office who specializes in accounting for revenue and software arrangements and has served technology clients for much of his career. In addition, Mike has represented the firm on the AICPA Software Task Force.

About our guest host

Pat Durbin is a PwC National Office Deputy Chief Accountant. 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.

Transcripts

Transcripts available upon request for individuals who may need a disability-related accommodation. Please send requests to [email protected]. 

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Geopolitical shifts are reshaping infrastructure decisions as companies navigate growing demand for AI and data centers, energy constraints, global supply chain dependencies, and climate-related pressures. We discuss how these interconnected forces are creating strategic vulnerabilities and critical dependencies—and how companies can build resilience while identifying opportunities in an evolving global environment.

Key topics and timestamps

• 1:45 — Geopolitics and infrastructure strategy 
• 6:29 — AI, data centers, and global dependencies 
• 11:12 — Power grid challenges and energy demand 
• 17:59 — Identifying strategic vulnerabilities 
• 22:47 — Balancing sustainability and energy security 
• 29:16 — A framework for board-level risk oversight
• 34:04 — Turning geopolitical risk into opportunity

For more details on geopolitics and infrastructure, check out these other publications:

• Climate Week 2026 recap: Key takeaways from the conversations happening on the ground
• Managing geopolitical risk in a more turbulent world — 7 things to consider

Follow this podcast on your favorite podcast app and subscribe to our weekly newsletter to stay in the loop for the latest thought leadership on sustainability standards. 

About our guest

Craig Stronberg is the Senior Director of PwC Intelligence. He works for PwC leaders, enabling decision confidence about how geopolitics impacts business strategy and investment. He leads the geopolitical capability for PwC Intelligence, spearheading a team of analysts that provide global intelligence to key stakeholders. In addition, he is the primary geopolitical risk advisor to PwC leadership and the PwC board of directors.

About our host

Heather Horn is the PwC National Office Sustainability and Thought Leader, responsible for developing our communications strategy and conveying firm positions on accounting, financial reporting, and sustainability matters. In addition, she is part of PwC’s global sustainability leadership team, developing interpretive guidance and consulting with companies as they transition from voluntary to mandatory sustainability reporting. She is also the engaging host of PwC’s accounting and reporting weekly podcast and quarterly webcast series.

Transcripts

Transcripts available upon request for individuals who may need a disability-related accommodation. Please send requests to [email protected].

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Finance and management teams play an important role in helping audit committees stay informed, focused, and prepared in a fast-changing business environment. We discuss how management can better support audit committee oversight through timely information, thoughtful scenario analysis, effective pre-read materials, and more forward-looking discussions—including as boards consider evolving areas such as AI, cybersecurity, geopolitical uncertainty, and regulatory change.

Key topics and timestamps

• 2:54 — Audit committee priorities
• 5:15 — Scenario planning and analysis 
• 7:01 — Effective pre-reads and meeting materials 
• 10:10 — AI oversight and governance 
• 13:15 — Key risks on the agenda 
• 17:48 — Board priorities for what’s ahead

Additional Resources

For more on supporting effective audit committee oversight, check out these PwC publications:

• Board oversight of AI transformation
• Overseeing the external auditors
• Financial reporting oversight

For more conversations like this one, join our Quarterly accounting webcast. Each quarter we bring together PwC specialists and prominent external guests to share diverse perspectives on the latest developments in accounting and reporting, along with timely insights to help you prepare for the reporting cycle ahead.

Additionally, follow this podcast on your favorite podcast app and subscribe to our weekly newsletter to stay informed.

About our guest

Laura Hay serves on the boards of MetLife [NYSE: MET], Everest Group [NYSE: EG], and Hippo Holdings [NYSE: HIPO]. She chairs the audit committees of MetLife and Everest and contributes to Audit, Risk & Finance, Tech/Cyber and Nominating & Governance Committees between the three boards. She previously served on the board of KPMG US, chairing its Compensation/Pension and Nominating Committees and contributing to Risk and Audit/Finance.

About our guest host

Kathy Nieland is a partner in PwC’s Governance Insights Center, where she leads governance practices for directors serving on audit committees. She has over 30 years of experience in providing assurance and advisory services to PwC clients. Her current roles also include oversight of PwC’s largest global industrial and services audit clients. Client service experience includes serving Global SEC registrants in the chemicals, manufacturing, engineering and construction, energy services, clean technology, metals, retail, and services industries.  

Transcripts

Transcripts available upon request for individuals who may need a disability-related accommodation. Please send requests to [email protected].

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Interim income tax accounting can be complex, but it starts with a foundational concept: estimating the annual effective tax rate (AETR). In this episode, we continue our back-to-basics series with a look at the AETR calculation, including ordinary income, discrete items, when the usual AETR approach may not apply, and interim disclosures.

Key topics and timestamps

• 1:11 — Calculating the AETR and interim tax provision
• 3:54 — Forecasting ordinary income and tax expense
• 6:31 — Defining ordinary income
• 8:36 — Identifying discrete items 
• 15:10 — AETR and discrete impacts
• 19:06 — Exceptions to the AETR approach
• 24:34 — Interim tax disclosures

Additional resources

This episode is part of our Back to basics series in[M(1] which we revisit core accounting topics. For more information on interim income tax provisions, see Chapter 16 of PwC’s Income taxes guide. Additionally, follow this podcast on your favorite podcast app and subscribe to our weekly newsletter to stay informed.

About our guests

Keith Rymer is a partner in PwC’s National Office, with over 30 years of experience having advised clients in various industries on federal, international, and multi-state tax complexities that he leverages to navigate complex tax accounting matters. 

Kassie Bauman is a managing director in PwC’s National Office, with over 25 years of experience in both auditing and consulting on complex accounting matters. She is a subject matter specialist in accounting for income taxes under both US GAAP and IFRS.

About our guest host

Pat Durbin is a PwC National Office Deputy Chief Accountant. 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.

Transcripts

Transcripts available upon request for individuals who may need a disability-related accommodation. Please send requests to [email protected].

Did you enjoy this episode? Text us your thoughts and be sure to include the episode name.

Tariffs levied by the US government continue to evolve, creating significant implications for finance and accounting teams, from accounting for tariff refunds and staying ahead of rising enforcement activity to financial reporting and internal controls. This episode explores recent tariff developments and what a finance team should have on its radar ahead of year-end reporting season.

Key topics and timestamps

• 1:32 — Why tariffs matter to finance teams
• 3:56 — IEEPA tariff refunds
• 6:32 — Accounting for tariff refunds
• 14:22 — Sections 232 and 301
• 19:43 — How tariff stacking works
• 26:32 — US-Canada trade developments
• 30:55 — Heightened tariff enforcement
• 37:13 — Year-end reporting

Additional resources

For more, read our in depth, Accounting implications of tariffs. Additionally, follow this podcast on your favorite podcast app and subscribe to our weekly newsletter to stay informed.

About our guest

Sharon Martin is a principal with PwC’s Customs and International Trade practice with extensive experience advising clients on both trade compliance and strategic planning related projects. Sharon has worked with clients in a variety of industries providing strategic advice on customs advisory, risk mitigation, and duty planning.

About our guest host

Pat Durbin is a PwC National Office Deputy Chief Accountant. 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.

Transcripts

Transcripts available upon request for individuals who may need a disability-related accommodation. Please send requests to [email protected]. 

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To close out our four-part Back to basics discussion on consolidation accounting, we turn to presentation and disclosure. In this episode, we discuss how consolidated entities are reflected in the financial statements, the disclosure requirements for both variable interest entities (VIEs) and voting interest entities (VOEs), and what a company may need to disclose when it holds an interest in a VIE but does not consolidate it.

Key topics and timestamps

• 2:28 – The purpose of consolidated financial statements and the guiding frameworks
• 6:20 – General consolidation presentation and disclosure principles
• 8:28 – Principles and objectives for the presentation and disclosure of variable interests in VIEs, including from the perspective of: 
  • 12:51 – A holder of variable interests in a VIE, regardless of primary beneficiary status
  • 14:51 – A primary beneficiary of a VIE
  • 16:47 – An entity with variable interests in VIEs for which it is not the primary beneficiary
• 21:05 – Presentation and disclosure for VOEs

Additional resources

This episode is part of our Back to basics series, where throughout the year we’ll revisit core accounting topics. This is the fourth and final episode focused on consolidation. In the first three episodes, we covered the foundations of consolidation accounting, how to determine whether an entity is a VIE, and how to identify which party, if any, should consolidate a VIE.

• Back to basics: Consolidation–Getting started
• Back to basics: Consolidation–Identifying a VIE
• Back to basics: Consolidation–Determining the primary beneficiary

Looking for more guidance on consolidation accounting? See PwC’s Consolidation guide. For more on consolidation presentation and disclosure, see chapter 18 of our Financial statement presentation guide. Also, follow this podcast on your favorite podcast app and subscribe to our weekly newsletter to stay in the loop.

About our guests

Alexander Martin is a partner in PwC's Deals practice who specializes in helping clients solve complex accounting, financial reporting, and business issues arising from deals, structured transactions, and other transformational events. With over 15 years of experience, Alexander has deep expertise in US GAAP and SEC reporting, gained through his roles as an advisor in PwC's Deals practice, a regulator at the SEC, and most recently as a partner in PwC's National Office.

Matt Sabatini is a deputy chief accountant in PwC's National Office who helps clients and engagement teams navigate the accounting and financial reporting for complex transactions. He specializes in the accounting for M&A, consolidations, corporate reorganizations, recapitalizations, joint ventures, and other investments.

About our guest host

Diana Stoltzfus is a partner in PwC’s National Office who helps to shape PwC’s perspectives on regulatory matters, responses to rulemakings and policy development, and implementation related to significant new rules and regulations. She is also one of the firm’s technical experts on sustainability reporting. Prior to rejoining PwC, Diana was the Deputy Chief Accountant in the Office of the Chief Accountant (OCA) at the SEC where she led the activities of the OCA’s Professional Practices Group.

Transcripts

Transcripts available upon request for individuals who may need a disability-related accommodation. Please send requests to [email protected].

Did you enjoy this episode? Text us your thoughts and be sure to include the episode name.

We’re continuing our refresher series on consolidation accounting. In this episode, learn how to determine which party, if any, should consolidate a variable interest entity (VIE). We explore key considerations for identifying a VIE’s primary beneficiary, including assessing power over the entity’s most significant activities, evaluating economic exposure, and considering related-party interests.

This episode is part of our new Back to basics series, where throughout the year, we’ll revisit core accounting topics. It is the third of four episodes on consolidation. In our first episode, Back to basics: Consolidation—Getting started, we laid the foundation for consolidation accounting. In the second episode, Back to basics: Consolidation-Identifying a VIE, we took a deeper look at how to determine whether an entity is a VIE. Stay tuned for our fourth and final episode on consolidation presentation and disclosure considerations.

Looking for more guidance on consolidation accounting? See PwC’s Consolidation guide. Additionally, follow this podcast on your favorite podcast app and subscribe to our weekly newsletter to stay in the loop.

About our guests

Matt Sabatini is a deputy chief accountant in PwC's National Office who helps clients and engagement teams navigate the accounting and financial reporting for complex transactions. He specializes in the accounting for M&A, consolidations, corporate reorganizations, recapitalizations, joint ventures, and other investments.

Alexander Martin is a partner in PwC's Deals practice with over a decade of deals experience, helping clients solve complex accounting, financial reporting, and other business issues that arise from transaction-driven events such as mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, and capital raises. 

About our host

Heather Horn is the PwC National Office Sustainability & Thought Leader, responsible for developing our communications strategy and conveying firm positions on accounting, financial reporting, and sustainability matters. In addition, she is part of PwC’s global sustainability leadership team, developing interpretive guidance and consulting with companies as they transition from voluntary to mandatory sustainability reporting. She is also the engaging host of PwC’s accounting and reporting weekly podcast and quarterly webcast series.

Transcripts available upon request for individuals who may need a disability-related accommodation. Please send requests to [email protected]. 

Did you enjoy this episode? Text us your thoughts and be sure to include the episode name.

Get a refresher on consolidation accounting with a deeper look at how to determine whether an entity is a variable interest entity (VIE). We cover key considerations, including understanding the entity’s purpose and design, identifying variable interests and equity at risk, and evaluating the characteristics used to determine whether an entity is a VIE.

This episode is part of our new Back to basics series, where throughout the year, we’ll revisit core accounting topics. It is the second of four episodes on consolidation. In our first episode, Back to basics: Consolidation—Getting started, we laid the foundation for consolidation accounting. Stay tuned for upcoming episodes covering how to determine which party, if any, should consolidate a VIE, followed by an episode on presentation and disclosure considerations.

Looking for more guidance on consolidation accounting? See PwC’s Consolidation guide. Additionally, follow this podcast on your favorite podcast app and subscribe to our weekly newsletter to stay in the loop.

About our guests

Matt Sabatini is a deputy chief accountant in PwC's National Office who helps clients and engagement teams navigate the accounting and financial reporting for complex transactions. He specializes in the accounting for M&A, consolidations, corporate reorganizations, recapitalizations, joint ventures, and other investments.

Alexander Martin is a partner in PwC's Deals practice with over a decade of deals experience, helping clients solve complex accounting, financial reporting, and other business issues that arise from transaction-driven events such as mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, and capital raises. 

About our host

Heather Horn is the PwC National Office Sustainability & Thought Leader, responsible for developing our communications strategy and conveying firm positions on accounting, financial reporting, and sustainability matters. In addition, she is part of PwC’s global sustainability leadership team, developing interpretive guidance and consulting with companies as they transition from voluntary to mandatory sustainability reporting. She is also the engaging host of PwC’s accounting and reporting weekly podcast and quarterly webcast series. 

Transcripts available upon request for individuals who may need a disability-related accommodation. Please send requests to [email protected]. 

Did you enjoy this episode? Text us your thoughts and be sure to include the episode name.

Get a refresher on consolidation accounting, including an overview of the consolidation framework, the variable interest entity (VIE) and voting interest entity (VOE) models, and key scope considerations. This episode is part of our new Back to Basics series that revisits core accounting topics.

This episode lays the foundation for our next three Back to basics episodes on consolidation. We’ll take a deeper look at identifying a VIE, determining which party, if any, should consolidate it, and consolidation presentation and disclosure. Stay tuned as the remaining episodes are released over the next two weeks.

Looking for more guidance on consolidation accounting? See PwC’s Consolidation guide. Additionally, follow this podcast on your favorite podcast app and subscribe to our weekly newsletter to stay in the loop.

About our guests

Matt Sabatini is a deputy chief accountant in PwC's National Office who helps clients and engagement teams navigate the accounting and financial reporting for complex transactions. He specializes in the accounting for M&A, consolidations, corporate reorganizations, recapitalizations, joint ventures, and other investments.

Alexander Martin is a partner in PwC's Deals practice with over a decade of deals experience, helping clients solve complex accounting, financial reporting, and other business issues that arise from transaction-driven events such as mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, and capital raises.

About our host

Heather Horn is the PwC National Office Sustainability & Thought Leader, responsible for developing our communications strategy and conveying firm positions on accounting, financial reporting, and sustainability matters. In addition, she is part of PwC’s global sustainability leadership team, developing interpretive guidance and consulting with companies as they transition from voluntary to mandatory sustainability reporting. She is also the engaging host of PwC’s accounting and reporting weekly podcast and quarterly webcast series.

Transcripts available upon request for individuals who may need a disability-related accommodation. Please send requests to [email protected].

Did you enjoy this episode? Text us your thoughts and be sure to include the episode name.