The FASB's latest proposal on going concern uncertainties introduces a new layer of accounting guidance that adds to the existing requirements set by auditing standards and SEC regulations. The proposed new guidance responds to a wave of unwelcome surprises, as scores of companies faced unexpected liquidity problems during an economic downturn that adversely affected businesses while the FASB's previous (2008) proposal was sidetracked by other priorities. The added guidance may not eliminate these kinds of surprises altogether, but it provides a more systematic approach that is designed to promote more consistency in the nature and timing of disclosures about an entity's ability to continue as a going concern.
