Impact of the technology revolution has barely begun

(Cross-post from my other blog, Outrun Change.)

That we haven’t seen the full impact of IT is a comment I heard the first time a few years ago. That sort of made sense but didn’t really register. This blog is focused on sorting out that change. The idea that the technology revolution has barely begun finally clicked for me with a column by Matthew Yglesias – Why I’m Optimistic About Growth and Innovation.

A few industries have seen huge impact from technology. Think of book publishing, journalism, and music. Those industries have been turned upside down. I read a lot and listen to a bit of music so am quite attuned to those areas. The way everyone consumes news has been transformed. I regularly read dozens of blogs a day. They just appear on my computer screen with a mouse click or two. I’ve always been a news junkie, and my consumption has soared in the last few years.

However, as big as those industries are, they are a small part of the total economy.

(more…)

Jim Ulvog

World Help reduces 2011 revenue by 92.8%

World Help has released their 2012 audited financial statements which you can find on their website at this link.

The total revenue initially reported in the audited financial statements for the 2011 fiscal year was $239.3M (audit opinion dated 3/12/12). In the most recent financial statements, the total revenue for 2011 is $17.3M (audit opinion dated 4/10/13).

That is a reduction of $222.0M, or 92.8% of the amount initially reported.

Contributions of GIK were initially reported at $223.66M for 2011 (3/12/12) and currently reported at $1.62M (audit report date 4/10/13). That is a decline of $222.04M, or 99.3% of the initial amount.

(more…)

Jim Ulvog

What is your price?

(Cross-post from my other blog, Attestation Update.)

We know the price Mr. Scott London, former partner of KPMG,  is accused of setting for his integrity, honor, and reputation. The entrance price tag was several thousand dollars and added up to under $100,000.

Cumulative amount is allegedly $50,000 cash plus a watch with claimed value of $12,000 plus some concert tickets for his family, with asserted total around $70,000 or $90,000.

That total allegation isn’t the real measure of his price. The starting point was a few thousand dollars in the first deal. If the story outlined in the criminal indictment is correct, that is the point his integrity was sold.

An old joke about your price

There is an old joke with many variations that goes something like this:

Man to woman in a social setting: “would you sleep with me for a million dollars?”

She indicated she would be willing to do so.

Him: “How about for $20?”

With great indignation, she said “Of course not! What kind of woman do you think I am?”

(more…)

Jim Ulvog

Insider trading fiasco in audit world

In a major embarrassment for one particular CPA firm and all CPAs in general, last week a partner from one of the Big 4 firms was indicted for conspiracy to commit insider trading.

Mr. Scott London, formerly a partner with KPMG, was indicted by the US government and charged with insider trading by the SEC in the context of allegedly passing information about his clients to a buddy who allegedly traded on the info.  He obtained that information as a part of his role as a senior level audit partner.

Several posts at my other blog, Attestation Update, talk about the story as it developed during the week. Here’s the posts in chronological order: (more…)

Jim Ulvog

2 businesses opting of health insurance as illustration for impact on NPOs

Previous post discussed the specifics of two businesses that are thinking about dropping their health insurance in 2014 and paying the penalties under ACA.

Now to get a feel for the impact on NPOs, I’ll revise that analysis by adjusting the data we see there to an NPO.

First scenario – currently providing health insurance to some staff

(more…)

Jim Ulvog

2 live examples of opting out of ACA

Two businesses talked to the Wall Street Journal about the possibility they may drop health coverage for their employees next year. Let’s look at their numbers.

I’ve been wanting to write about the implications of dropping out of the mandatory health care coverage. Obviously, I can’t use as an illustration any of the organizations I’m familiar with.

So when the WSJ had a discussion today, I found some public numbers we can work with. The article is Some Small Businesses Opt for the Health-Care Penalty.

The data

I’ll quote just enough of the article to get the basic data on the table: (more…)

Jim Ulvog

Internal control, 1860s edition

Two posts at my other blog illustrate how Wells Fargo stagecoaches used internal controls in the 1860s.

You will see the concepts discussed by your auditor today have been around for over 150 years.

Posts have some fun photos from the Wells Fargo Museum in San Diego. Well, okay, they are fun if you are an accountant or banker or like history of the Old West.

Jim Ulvog

This is what religious freedom looks like

(cross-posted from my other blog, Freedom is Moral.)

Yesterday one-third of the people on the planet celebrated the most holy day of their faith – Easter.

Yesterday was just another Sunday for two-thirds of the people on the planet.

As I understand it, tomorrow marks the last day of Passover, a high point of the Jewish faith.  Passover celebrates the exodus from slavery as Moses led the people of Israel toward the promised land. For those reading this blog who are Jews, I sincerely hope you have a wonderful and blessed time of celebration.

For everyone else, I sincerely hope you had a relaxing weekend, maybe got to sleep in late. I’m quite serious. I hope you had a nice, fun, refreshing weekend.

Here’s what religious freedom looks like:

(more…)

Jim Ulvog

Tragedy of fraud – another case study

Fraud devastates an organization. The damage to the fraudster and loved ones is also severe.

A series of posts on my other blog, Attestation Update, explores the ripple effects of one specific fraud.

Mrs. Amy Wilson embezzled from her employer. After completing her prison term, she started rebuilding her shattered life. She is sharing her story.

Here are my posts in this series: (more…)

Jim Ulvog