New books

A number of new books have arrived this week. Firstly, "The Impact of Financial Incentives on Decision Making: Further Evidence" which is published by ICAS. This looks at whether financial incentives improve decision making and motivate performance and furthers work undertaken by the authors for ICAS in 2006 and takes a laboratory experiment approach.

"VAT Issues and Solutions" published by Tottel publishing is a comprehensive title consisting of an updated compilation of VAT digests. Outlining the basic issues essential for understanding VAT it takes into account the schemes and accounting methods which make administering VAT simpler.

Details on the other books will be provided later this week. Please contact us if you would like to borrow either of the above - or search our library catalogue for more information on what's available to borrow.

New journals received

New journals which have come into the Information Service today include the March issue of Company Reporting. This picks up a number of issues in recently published annual reports such as accounting for acquisition; goodwill; material revaluations; REIT; and, indemnity payments to company directors. The April issue of Tax Adviser has articles on the recent UK budget including its impact on business and tax advisers. It also has an article on HMRCs progress on implementing the Carter Review recommendations. The March issue of The Journal, published by the Law Society of Scotland, has also arrived, as has Insider. Insider has a feature on the 'rising stars' of Scottish business for 2008.

FSA/Northern Rock

The FSA's report into its supervision of Northern Rock is now completed. Selected sections are available on the FSA website, including the executive summary and recommendations sections. The full report will be available before the end of April once commercial and confidential material has been removed.

New journals received

At the end of last week a couple of new journals came in which might be of interest. The new issue of Company Reporting arrived which aims at 'improving standards in financial reporting practice'. Issues looked at by examining companies annual reports are the distinctions between debt and equity; giving a distribution to shareholders which is not a dividend; classification of listed investments; directors remuneration; pension scheme changes; and, financial disclosure on environmental issues. The new issue of Recovery, prodeuced by R3, the Association of Business Recovery Professionals, also arrived. It has articles relating to administration and insolvency in the leisure industry. It also has a supplement on careers and professional development.

There is an op-ed article by Sir David Tweedie, Chairman of the International Accounting Standards Board in today's FT called "Solutions now sought to add transparency". In it he talks about the new IASB discussion paper "Reducing Complexity in Reporting Financial Instruments" which was published yesterday on the IASB website. It is open for comments for 6 months and the website gives details on how to comment.

New journals received

There haven't been many new journals received by the Information Service this week. The Economist has a 10 page special feature on the current crisis on Wall Street and Bear Stearns. Times Higher Education has a piece on research funding increasing in Scottish universities and People Management has a number of interesting articles including one one on the Internet being used to criticise companies; one on new employment legislation; and, one on workplace coaching.
Please contact us to find out more about any of the journals or the other stock we hold.

FRC and annual reports

There is an interesting letter in today's Financial Times (13 March) from Paul Boyle, Chief Executive of the Financial Reporting Standards. About the complexity and relevance of annual reports and the FRC's forthcoming review of opportunities to address these concerns.