AIPCA Merges Management of Enhanced Business Reporting and XBRL Initiatives
NEW YORK (June 13, 2006) – The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants has announced a strategic merger of the management of two principal initiatives: Enhanced Business Reporting and XBRL. Both will be covered by the AICPA’s Business Reporting, Assurance and Advisory Services team. Amy Pawlicki, the Institute’s liaison to the Enhanced Business Reporting Consortium, will supervise the combined effort as Director – Business Reporting, Assurance and Advisory Services & XBRL. She will report to Susan Coffey, Senior Vice President – Member Quality and State Regulation, and Arleen Thomas, Senior Vice President – Member Competency and Development.
In this role, Pawlicki will coordinate the Institute’s activities with the Enhanced Business Reporting and XBRL consortia. She additionally will serve as staff liaison to the AICPA Assurance Services Executive Committee. The Committee is planning to establish a special task force that would address the ability to provide assurance on information reported in XBRL format for the United States; the task force would also collaborate with the XBRL International Assurance working group. “Both Enhanced Business Reporting and XBRL have as their fundamental goals improved quality and transparency of business information used for decision making,” said Coffey. “Enhanced Business Reporting concerns the content of what is being reported, while XBRL deals with the format in which information is reported.
“Amy’s considerable experience with the Enhanced Business Reporting project and her deep understanding of the issues surrounding transparency will be of considerable value as she assumes her new post.” The link between Enhanced Business Reporting and XBRL was spotlighted by Barry Melancon, AICPA President and CEO, in March testimony to Congress on the need for a new financial reporting model. “As a founding member of the Enhanced Business Reporting and XBRL consortia, the AICPA is committed to the success of both projects and improved financial reporting overall,” Thomas said. “Historically based information doesn’t fully serve investors’ needs in today’s economy. Enhanced Business Reporting and XBRL are the instruments through which investors can obtain quality information faster.” |