Publications

July 2015
Article

Executives' 'Off-the-Job' Behaviors and Financial Reporting Risk

By: Robert Davidson, Aiyesha Dey and Abbie Smith

We examine how executives' behavior outside the workplace, as measured by their ownership of luxury goods (low “frugality”) and prior legal infractions, is related to financial reporting risk. We predict and find that chief executive officers (CEOs) and chief financial... View Details

Keywords: Management Teams; Behavior; Personal Characteristics; Crime and Corruption; Governance Compliance; Financial Reporting; Organizational Culture

2011
Working Paper

Top Executive Background and Financial Reporting Choice

By: Francois Brochet and Kyle Travis Welch

We study the role of executive functional background in explaining management discretion in financial reporting. Taking goodwill impairment as our reporting setting, we focus on top executives (CEOs and CFOs) whose employment history includes experience in investment... View Details

Keywords: Financial Reporting; Goodwill Accounting; Experience and Expertise; Decision Choices and Conditions; Managerial Roles; Agency Theory

February 2004 (Revised April 2004)
Case

Financial Reporting in the Catholic Church

The Catholic Church is a large and complex international organization with several layers of management spread across a diverse range of services and geographical areas. Creating a coherent and manageable communication strategy for is a challenging task that requires... View Details

Keywords: Corporate Disclosure; Religion; Financial Reporting; Organizational Culture; Communication Strategy

Web

Financials | Annual Report 2024

Financials From the Chief Financial Officer Harvard Business School’s economic model performed well in fiscal 2024, delivering a healthy operating surplus on investments in our core programs, strategic... View Details

01 Jun 2003
News

HBS Releases First-Ever Financial Report

it is important they understand how their contributions are being used. The report explains the School’s strategic and flexible rolling five-year plan, which is responsive to changes in the operating environment. “During a year of... View Details

Keywords: Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools; Educational Services

Article

Models of Best Practice in Integrated Reporting 2015

By: Robert G. Eccles, Michael P. Krzus and Sydney Ribot

In March of 2015, the authors reviewed the integrated reports of 25 multinational companies that participated in the International Integrated Reporting Council's (IIRC's) Pilot Programme Business Network. Because it was not until December 2013 that companies had any... View Details

Keywords: Integrated Reporting; Integrated Corporate Reporting

01 Dec 2003
News

HBS Releases 2003 Financial Report

achieving our strategic objectives for the year,” said Richard P. Melnick (MBA 1992), the School’s chief financial officer. The Harvard Business School 2003 Financial Report, scheduled for release this... View Details

Keywords: Business Schools & Computer & Management Training; Educational Services

Research Summary

Sustainability and Integrated Reporting

A sustainable strategy for a company is one that enables it to create value for shareholders over the long term while contributing to a sustainable society. In doing so, it must balance the needs of different types of providers of financial capital (e.g.,... View Details

Keywords: Sustainability; Sustainability Reporting

August 1994 (Revised July 1995)
Background Note

Financial Reporting and Control, Course Overview

By: Robert L. Simons and Antonio Davila

Keywords: Financial Reporting

September 2010 (Revised July 2012)
Case

Citigroup 2007: Financial Reporting and Regulatory Capital

By: Suraj Srinivasan, Edward J. Riedl and Sharon Katz

This case introduces 1) financial statements for banks, 2) basic regulatory capital calculations, and 3) actions Citigroup must consider under a scenario of continued losses/fair value declines in 2008 (leading to potential violation of regulatory capital). View Details

Keywords: Fair Value Accounting; Financial Reporting; Financial Statements; Financial Crisis; Capital; Financial Strategy; Governing Rules, Regulations, and Reforms; Banking Industry; United States

Educators

January 2010
Teaching Note

The Future of Financial Reporting (TN)

By: Karthik Ramanna

Teaching Note for [110701]. View Details

2009
Working Paper

Why Do Countries Adopt International Financial Reporting Standards?

By: Karthik Ramanna and Ewa Sletten

In a sample of 102 non-European Union countries, we study variations in the decision to adopt International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). There is evidence that more powerful countries are less likely to adopt IFRS, consistent with more powerful countries being... View Details

Keywords: Financial Reporting; International Accounting; Globalized Economies and Regions; Network Effects; Standards; Adoption

SSRN

25 Jun 2009
Working Paper Summaries

Why Do Countries Adopt International Financial Reporting Standards?

Keywords: by Karthik Ramanna & Ewa Sletten; Accounting

October 1990 (Revised June 1993)
Case

Taxing Situations: Two Cases on Income Taxes and Financial Reporting

By: William J. Bruns Jr.

Two whimsical situations are described to provide illustrations of situations where income taxes paid differ from the income tax expense that might be included in financial reports. In addition to illustrating that financial reported income may differ from taxable... View Details

Keywords: Taxation; Accounting Audits; Financial Statements; Financial Reporting; Decisions; Financial Services Industry; Financial Services Industry

Educators

December 2006
Supplement

Financial Reporting Problems at Molex, Inc. (B)

By: Paul M. Healy

Keywords: Financial Reporting; Problems and Challenges; Technology Industry

September – October 2011
Article

The Rise and Consequences of Corporate Sustainability Reporting

By: Ioannis Ioannou and George Serafeim

For many decades the cornerstone of corporate reporting has been financial information that is presented in a company's annual, semi-annual, and quarterly reports. These comprehensive financial reports—required by law for public companies in most countries... View Details

Keywords: Sustainability; ESG Reporting; Governing Rules, Regulations, and Reforms; Annual Reports; Operations; Strategy; Business and Shareholder Relations; Business and Stakeholder Relations; Performance; Business Model; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Corporate Disclosure

05 Mar 2010
News

Take Five: Integrating Financial and Non-Financial Reports

July 1983 (Revised June 1985)
Background Note

Note on the Analysis of Financial Reports

June 2005 (Revised July 2009)
Case

Financial Reporting Problems at Molex, Inc. (A)

By: Paul M. Healy

Following an accounting problem at Molex, the firm's auditors request changes in management. The board of directors has to decide whether the auditors' concerns have merit or whether, as management argues, the accounting issue is immaterial. View Details

Keywords: Managerial Roles; Governing and Advisory Boards; Financial Reporting; Relationships; Resignation and Termination; Accounting Audits

Educators