At the intersection of two trending topics, AI and sustainability, there are a myriad of both costs and benefits to consider. Host Heather Horn is joined by Scott Likens, PwC Global Chief AI Engineer, to discuss the environmental impact of AI and the balance between AI's benefits and its environmental footprint.

In this episode, they discuss:

• 3:17 – How AI is impacting sustainability
• 8:54 – Why AI and sustainability aren’t necessarily opposing forces
• 17:28 – Practical examples of utilizing AI to optimize energy usage
• 28:22 – The broader benefits of using AI to impact sustainability
• 31:05 – Balancing AI’s benefits with its environmental footprint
•  38:32 – Advice for both companies and individuals leveraging AI

Looking for more on AI? Check out PwC’s Artificial Intelligence services as well as resources on responsible AI, including What is responsible AI and how can it help harness trusted generative AI?

Scott Likens is the Global and US Chief AI Engineer leading and overseeing the AI Engineering and Emerging Technology teams in the United States. With more than 30 years of emerging technology experience, he has helped clients transform their customer experience and enhance their digital operations across all aspects of their business.

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

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We continue our miniseries on loans and investments with a discussion of the current expected credit losses (CECL) impairment model, applicable to a broad range of financial assets. 

In this episode, we discuss:

• 3:42 – A refresher on the CECL model
• 8:02 – Impact of the current economic environment on credit losses
• 23:43 – Monitoring and governance of credit losses
• 26:46 – SEC comment letters and other activity related to CECL
• 30:49 – FASB developments related to CECL, including purchased financial assets

For more information, see chapter 7 of our Loans and investments guide. Also, check out our other episodes in this miniseries, Accounting for debt securities held by corporates and Accounting for loan receivables by corporates. Additionally, follow this podcast on your favorite podcast app for more episodes.

Catherine Espino is a partner in PwC’s National Office with 20 years of experience serving large financial institutions, broker-dealers, as well as smaller subsidiaries and private companies. Catherine focuses on advising companies within the financial services and non-financial services sectors on significant and complex accounting issues.

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

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The term “ESG” has been used for over two decades, including in this podcast miniseries title. Host Heather Horn sat down with guest Matt Sekol, Sustainability Global Blackbeltand author of ESG Mindset: Business Resilience and Sustainable Growth, to revisit the complexities of ESG and how companies can rethink the concept to not only build better resilience for the long term, but also find value in reporting.

In this episode, they discuss:

• 3:42 – The key messages of ESG Mindset and redefining “ESG”
• 9:44 – How sustainability reporting can contribute to change
• 12:26 – What leaders can do to leverage ESG in a material way
• 20:06 – How companies can strike a balance between ESG and the success of the business
• 35:19 – The interconnectedness of ESG and the macroeconomic environment
• 45:12 – Key takeaway for addressing systemic ESG issues

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 for the latest thought leadership on sustainability standards.

Matthew Sekol is a Sustainability Global Black Belt on Microsoft’s Cross-Industry team and a Senior Advisor for Enzo Advisors. In 2024, Matthew released a book called ESG Mindset, which is a guide for companies to think critically about ESG and take a holistic approach to the business. He serves on the LP Advisory Committee of Morgan Stanley’s Next Level Fund, which invests in diverse-led and founded startups. Matthew is considered a benevolent troublemaker who guides companies and partners to think through and address their most material issues on their path to impact.

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

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We continue our miniseries on loans and investments with a discussion of the accounting by corporate entities for loan receivables, which can include items such as trade receivables and other receivables with customers, suppliers, employees and more.

In this episode, we discuss:

• 1:43 – The definition of a loan and types of loan arrangements
• 3:18 – Recognition and measurement of loans
• 7:40 – Classification and accounting for loans held for sale or held for investment 
• 18:54 – Recording interest income on loans
• 23:29 – An overview of loan impairments

For more information, see chapter 4 of our Loans and investments guide. Also, check out our other episode in this miniseries, Accounting for debt securities held by corporates. Additionally, follow this podcast on your favorite podcast app for more episodes.

Chip Currie is a partner in PwC’s National Office with nearly 30 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.

Catherine Espino is a partner in PwC’s National Office with 20 years of experience serving large financial institutions, broker-dealers, as well as smaller subsidiaries and private companies. Catherine focuses on advising companies within the financial services and non-financial services sectors on significant and complex accounting issues.

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

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Impact accounting is the process of attributing monetary value to disparate pools of datapoints across sustainability topics with the intent of creating comparability to drive investment decisions. This week, host Heather Horn is joined by a special guest from the International Foundations of Valuing Impacts (IFVI), CEO and President, Rob Zochowski, to discuss the relatively new concept of impact accounting and how it can complement existing sustainability reporting for business decision-making. 

In this episode, they discuss:

• 3:24 – Background on impact accounting and IFVI
• 8:10 – The concept of impact valuation and its role in assigning monetary value to sustainability metrics
• 15:18– Getting global feedback on impact accounting
• 24:12– How impact accounting both measures and values corporate impacts to drive better decision-making
• 29:48 – Leveraging impact accounting for both reporting and decision-making
• 38:02 – Challenges in assigning monetary value to diverse impacts 

For more information on impacting accounting, see PwC’s Impact management for sustainable business strategy. Further, as referenced in the episode, more information on European Union regulations can be found in PwC’s publication, European Union regulations beyond CSRD.

And visit IFVI’s website on Tuesday, October 15 for the release of its impact accounting methodologies.

T. Robert Zochowski is the President and CEO of IFVI since its founding. Formerly, he was the Program Director Impact Investing and Sustainability Special Projects including the Impact Weighted Accounts Project. Rob was a Vice President at Goldman Sachs. Rob received his MBA from Columbia Business School in the Executive Program where he concentrated on Social Enterprise and Impact Investing, graduating Dean’s Honors with Distinction. He was featured in Poets and Quants annual 100 Best & Brightest Executive MBAs list and received the Carson Family Changemaker Award.

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

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We kick off our miniseries on loans and investments with an episode on accounting for debt securities for corporate entities. We discuss key considerations applicable to corporates and share insights on some of the more complex areas.

In this episode, we discuss:

• 5:31 – Identifying the applicable accounting guidance
• 13:24 – Instruments that qualify as cash equivalents  
• 22:07 – Classification of debt securities and the accounting implications
• 31:36 – Valuation of debt securities
• 36:33 – Financial statement presentation considerations

For more information, see chapter 3 of our Loans and investments guide. Additionally, follow this podcast on your favorite podcast app for more episodes.

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.

Christopher Gerdau is a partner in PwC’s National Office specializing in accounting for financial instruments and banking-related topics. Chris also conducts technical reviews of SEC filings and provides technical support to PwC’s practice offices. Chris’s client service expertise includes the banking, capital markets, and insurance industries.

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

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Host Heather Horn is joined by Mardi McBrien, Chief of Strategic Affairs & Capacity Building at the IFRS Foundation, and Katharina Bryan, Head of International Sustainability Reporting Policy at Amazon, to highlight the PwC and IFRS Foundation NYC Climate Week event: Sustainability disclosure in practice. Together they break down the event and share highlights, practical perspectives, and takeaways for preparers on their own sustainability reporting journeys.

In this episode, they discuss:

• 5:03 – What resonated most from the insightful discussions across multiple stakeholder perspectives
• 7:58 – Preparer perspective on approaching regulatory reporting deadlines
• 10:13 – Benefits of the collaboration between the IFRS Foundation and CDP
• 16:05 – How sustainability reporting can drive positive change
• 27:45 – Advice for companies overwhelmed by the abundance of sustainability reporting requirements
• 31:47 – Where to find resources for developing skills to address sustainability reporting challenges

Summary of the event

• Heather Horn interviewed Emmanuel Faber, chair of the International Sustainability Standards Board, on all that it has accomplished in the last year in making its standards a true global passport – and of course the work yet to be done. (See video of that interview.)
• Emmanuel and Heather were joined by Sherry Madera, CEO at CDP, to highlight the impact of their collaboration. 
• Diana Stoltzfus, PwC National office sustainability partner, moderated an investor discussion with Carine Smith Ihenacho, Chief Governance and Compliance Officer at Norges Bank Investment Management, and Richard Manley, Chief Sustainability Officer from CPP Investments, who both provided a unique perspective on what investors value in sustainability reporting as well as how it helps corporate directors. 
• Mardi McBrien spoke with Katharina Bryan and others to get their “boots on the ground” preparer perspective.  
• Mardi provided an update on capacity building, sharing the latest on the IFRS Foundation’s efforts to develop skills and resources to address sustainability reporting challenges.

Looking for more about the IFRS Foundation? Tune into the IFRS Foundation’s upcoming Webcast: Perspectives on sustainability disclosure, check out the recently released voluntary application guide, Voluntarily applying ISSB standards – a guide for preparers, or visit the IFRS Sustainability knowledge hub. Also, as referenced in the podcast, for more on capacity building, visit the Global Capacity Building Coalition’s recently launched website.

Mardi McBrien is the Chief of Strategic Affairs and Capacity Building at the IFRS Foundation responsible for sustainability reporting.

Katharina Bryan is Head of International Sustainability Reporting Policy at Amazon.

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With an unprecedented level of change in recent years, the PCAOB has become a standard setter to watch – not just for audit firms but for companies. The episode brings the latest in PCAOB standard setting developments, including what they mean for preparers. Our guest is Brian Croteau, PwC’s US Chief Auditor, who leads our team that follows all things PCAOB.

In this episode, we discuss:

• 3:35 – The current landscape at the PCAOB
• 10:07 – Overview of the PCAOB’s standard setting process
• 15:14 – Newly adopted PCAOB standards related to: 
  • 15:44 – Other auditors
  • 16:26 – Confirmations
  • 18:50 – General responsibilities of the auditor in conducting an audit (AS 1000)
  • 19:54 – Technology-assisted analysis of information in electronic form
  • 28:53 – Quality control
• 35:12 – Non-compliance with laws and regulations (NOCLAR)
• 39:17 – Other recent PCAOB proposals
• 45:49 – What's on the horizon for PCAOB standard setting 

For more information on these topics see our publications:
SEC approves PCAOB foundational and quality control standards
PCAOB advances rulemaking related to technology
PCAOB proposes additional reporting by auditors
PCAOB solicits additional feedback on its noncompliance proposal

Additionally, follow this podcast on your favorite podcast app.

Brian Croteau is the US Chief Auditor, Auditing Services Leader. He oversees the establishment and maintenance of PwC’s audit policies and practices, leads efforts to directly support PwC’s audit quality objectives, and plays a key role in the monitoring and assessment of audit quality. He also leads the firm’s efforts related to its relationship with the PCAOB, including supporting all aspects of the PCAOB’s inspection process. Brian currently serves as a member of the PCAOB’s Standards and Emerging Issues Advisory Group (SEIAG) and the SEIAG’s Emerging Issues in Auditing subcommittee. Prior to rejoining PwC in 2017, he served for over six years as the Deputy Chief Accountant of the Professional Practice Group within the Office of the Chief Accountant (OCA) at the SEC. In his work at the SEC, Brian played a key role in the SEC’s oversight of the activities of the PCAOB, managed the resolution of auditor independence issues and ethical matters, and monitored audit and independence standard setting internationally.

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

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In the second episode of our miniseries on the building blocks of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reporting, we discuss how to establish organizational boundaries. Host Heather Horn is joined again by Marcin Olewinski, an Assurance partner, and Kelsey Pizza, a senior manager in PwC’s National Office, who illustrate the importance of including the correct entities, assets, and operations through real world examples.

Different frameworks may prescribe different approaches while others provide some flexibility so it is key to understand your reporting requirements (as discussed in the first episode in this miniseries, Talking GHG: Reporting requirements for greenhouse gas emissions). We’ll highlight different approaches and the impacts (sometimes more significant than one would expect) that an organizational boundary can have on reporting.

This episode discusses:

• 2:48 – What it means to establish organizational boundaries 
• 4:33 – The three organizational boundary approaches outlined by the GHG Protocol 
• 13:48 – Practical examples of organizational boundary scenarios 
• 34:23 – Factors to consider when applying an organizational boundary approach 
• 37:23 – When to change organizational boundary approaches 
• 39:38 – Advice for companies in process of establishing organizational boundaries

For more information on GHG emissions reporting, including the five-step process outlined in today’s episode, check out Chapter 7: Greenhouse gas emissions reporting in PwC’s global Sustainability reporting guide.

Marcin Olewinski is a PwC Assurance practice partner, with over 20 years of experience bringing valued perspectives and insights to large clients in the energy sector. Additionally, he’s focused extensively within PwC’s National Office on greenhouse gas emissions and sustainability reporting and leads PwC’s global technical working group focused on GHG.

Kelsey Pizza is a senior manager in PwC’s National Office. She provides advice on technical accounting issues and monitors developments in financial reporting and standard setting. Kelsey helps develop PwC thought leadership, with a particular focus on sustainability reporting, clean and renewable energy accounting matters, and other topics affecting the utilities & sustainable energy sector.

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. 

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

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PwC provides a summary of the latest accounting, financial reporting, and regulatory updates to support your quarterly reporting.

The adoption of the new segment reporting guidance is just around the corner for many public companies. As we approach year end, we begin this edition of The quarter close by providing timely reminders for those preparing to adopt that guidance. We also take a closer look at annual goodwill impairment assessments, which companies often elect to perform this time of year.

In regulatory developments, we provide the latest updates on sustainability reporting and highlight new chapters in our global Sustainability reporting guide, a one-stop shop for finance and sustainability teams as they comply with the reporting frameworks expected to have the broadest impact globally. We also summarize recent SEC staff guidance on the SEC’s new cybersecurity incident reporting requirements.

Expect significant activity in FASB standard setting in the upcoming months with several proposals and new standards slated for issuance before the end of the year. We keep you up to date on the latest developments.

In this edition of The quarter close, we highlight these and other relevant accounting and reporting topics you should consider as you close out the third quarter of 2024.

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