Accounting policy documentation

A useful policy gives two people enough information to handle the same situation consistently and know when to ask for help.

Start with the interview ↘

Hear it in practice.

Where did that accounting decision go?

Listen to a browser-narrated example or read the transcript. The speakers are fictional.

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Host Two team members handle the same kind of purchase differently. What should a policy do for us?

Guest Write down the approved treatment and when it applies. Describe which purchases are in scope and show one example the team recognizes.

Host What happens when a new purchase does not fit the example?

Guest Give the team an escalation route. The owner of the policy can route unusual cases to the right reviewer and document the decision.

Host How do we keep the policy current?

Guest Record the approver and effective date, give the team a single current copy, and set a review date. When the policy changes, make it clear which version applies.

Practice what you heard ↘

Write a decision people can repeat.

A useful policy gives two people enough information to handle the same situation consistently and know when to ask for help.

Draft a usable accounting policy

Step 1 of 3

Write a decision people can repeat

Scope State which transactions and teams the policy covers.
Treatment Record the approved rule and show how it applies in an example.
Ownership Name the approver, effective date, review date, and escalation route.

This demo records sample completion in this session. It carries no CPA continuing education credit.

Take it to the meeting.

Capture scope, the approved treatment, examples, effective dates, and the exception route.

Accounting policy starter

Capture scope, the approved treatment, examples, effective dates, and the exception route.

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