The End of Accounting

Financial reporting has long been viewed as the main form of communication with investors. Emerging new technologies, new business models, and new industries have brought into question the relevance of accounting and financial reporting in their current form.

This session will provide an overview on why financial statements have lost their relevance and what must be done to restore the relevance and viability of accounting and financial reporting in a modern economy. The presenter will share insights, gained from writing his recent book "The End of Accounting and the Path Forward for Investors and Managers" and his thoughts on the reaction to the book.

Feng Gu is an associate professor of accounting in the UB School of Management. He earned his doctorate and master degrees in business administration from Washington University. His current research interests focus on the relevance of corporate financial reporting and the reporting and management of intangible assets. He has published research articles on these topics in leading academic journals. He is the author of a recent book titled "The End of Accounting and The Path Forward for Investors and Managers" (Wiley, 2016).