Research & insights

PwC's Investor view series aims to provide preparers of corporate reports with insights and observations gleaned from our ongoing dialogue with the investment community.

Reputation is far more than image or public perception. It’s a major component of value – how one creates and renews the trust that underpins the ability to attract and retain customers, transact business and compete in global markets. And it’s increasingly vulnerable.

This PwC survey analyses aspects of government accounting & financial reporting; making the transition to accrual accounting; the future of the government finance function.

When conducting cross border deals, it is important to Identify potential financial reporting differences to maximize deal value and for understanding how financial reporting and regulatory requirements interact. Embedding GAAP changes and managing multi-GAAP reporting post-acquisition requires planning.

This PwC brochure summarises the different London markets, the listing standards for each market, the process and the timeline for going public in London and an overview of the wider regulatory environment.

This PwC publication focuses on how co-creation methods can provide outlets for OEMs to engage customers, dealers, employees and suppliers.

These PwC video interviews look at the integrated reporting framework now out for comment and why it’s important that all of us get involved now.

Annual reports providing analysis and trends of IPOs across the globe.

Despite 2011’s recovery constraints and challenges, in the macroeconomic environment, there are still signs of growth in the automotive industry. Automotive mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity in the first half of 2012 has given way to the macroeconomic pressures, resulting in a passive M&A activity for 2012 overall.

PwC’s Regulatory Briefing summarises key regulatory actions, initiatives and draft legislation that impact audit, financial reporting and corporate governance.

With the risk landscape drastically expanded, Internal Audit needs to deliver more value, or fall further behind, according to PwC’s 2013 global survey of the profession.

This study was developed to provide a check-up on some of the major determining factors for the success of EVs in the near-mid-and long-term. The survey focuses on four key areas: infrastructure, pricing, geography and outlook.

Business is developing real social values - passing trend, protective instinct or what? The emergence of social values in business is no passing trend. It is a response to the current growth pattern that is putting people and ethics back at the heart of business.

Listing requirements for the London markets

Energy sector company audit committee members can use this PwC document to benchmark selected accounting policies with industry practices, identify trends for significant accounting estimates, and facilitate discussion on certain aspects of energy industry practice.

This PwC publications looks at the key transfer pricing considerations under Solvency II for pan-European insurance groups with branch structures.

This issue of PwC's R&C Worlds Express sheds light on Chinese consumers' online shopping habits, based on the responses of 900 Chinese shoppers to a recent PwC survey.

PwC keeps you up to date with the latest developments from the IASB with our series 'Straight away'. This two-page guidance, issued shortly after the release of a draft or final standard/interpretation, explains the key points and answers the questions:

• What is the issue?
• Am I affected?
• What do I need to do?

We surveyed organisations around the world to assess their SEPA readiness and found that many have an incomplete understanding of, and underestimate, what being 'SEPA-ready' entails.

This PwC corporate reporting article examine the ways in which social media – such as Twitter, LinkedIn, StockTwits – is prompting significant changes in the ways that companies are building their communication their strategies.

This guide looks at how to communicate to the market the effects of adopting IFRS 11, as additional communications with stakeholders might be needed. This was produced by PwC in Brazil but the key messages apply to entities globally.

PwC's 'Practical guides to IFRS' series updates you on the guidance in recently released discussion papers, exposure drafts and final standards from the IASB.

PwC's 'Manual of accounting' is a comprehensive global guide to IFRS. It features explanations of how to prepare financial statements in accordance with IFRS; practical worked examples and extracts from company reports; model IFRS financial statements, which help to illustrate the explanations; and insights from over 100 members of our Global Accounting Consulting Services authoring team.

There is growing recognition of the importance of transparency and common business languages to communicate business information to investors and other stakeholders. This is particularly important in the current business environment. Our regular newsletter, World Watch, contains opinion articles, case studies and worldwide news on the many initiatives to improve corporate reporting.

This series gives PwC's insight on current economic issues, our perspective regarding the impact on business and actions we have seen companies taking to address those issues.

Treasury Health Check-up 2012 examines the trends, issues and challenges facing treasury functions across leading companies in India.

IFRS quarterly updates' outline the IFRS reporting requirements for a particular year-end. They highlight the topical issues to consider (including new issues added since previous versions); the standards that apply at this date; and the standards are published but effective at later dates and so need to be disclosed.

IFRS news highlights the latest developments at the IASB. We provide practical guidance on how new standards/interpretations or changes to existing requirements will affect your company. Typical content includes:

• News: New standards, interpretations, amendments and exposure drafts
• Features: Business implications of applying IFRS
• Questions and answers: Putting the theory into practice
• Industry-specific issues
• Summary updates of IASB projects

The cross-border IPO is here to stay. This in-depth report from PwC and Baker & McKenzie, supported with data and interviews with capital markets players, explores how we got here, what’s driving the growth, and where this important trend is leading.

This PwC article take critical look at the way the UK's British Land – the UK's largest listed retail landlord with a portfolio which includes retail park properties, superstores, shopping centres and department stores – uses innovative reporting to better understand how their broader socio economic impact enhances their business strategy.

What does a resilient business look like? One that faces, and finds opportunity in, today’s economic, environmental, geopolitical, societal and technological risks.

This issue looks at various risks including the green agenda, public protests and especially the Eurozone crisis. These risks underscore why companies must be risk resilient to effectively respond to the rapidly arising change all around.

This PwC article explains how a well-constructed request for proposal (RFP) can be an effective tool for the process of acquiring new products and services, and how a well-designed RFP can assist an organisation in selecting the best at a reasonable price – as well as ensuring long-term mutually rewarding relationships with providers.

This article explains why, despite the fact that assessing bank and counterparty strength can be a headache for corporate treasurers, there are, in fact, a number of sources of data that treasurers can use to create bespoke benchmarks and establish appropriate tolerance thresholds.

While insurance share prices will continue to be heavily influenced by 'macro' factors, there is a lot more that management teams could be doing to help focus investors back on the economic fundamentals of the business.

Keep up with insurance regulation. Solvency II and IFRS overlap so save money and time by doing things once, and improve your market reporting.

PwC has a number of publications comparing local GAAP with IFRS. See the list of titles in our 'similarities and differences' series.

PwC publishes IFRS brochures with an industry-specific focus. We have brought together a selection.

PwC provides the following sets of illustrative IFRS financial statements:

• Illustrative corporate consolidated financial statements for 2011 year ends, including an appendix (appendix VIII) for first-time adopters.
• Banking
• Insurance
• Investment funds
• Investment property
• Private equity
• Illustrative interim condensed financial information 2011, including disclosure checklist an overview of IAS 34, ‘Interim financial reporting’, and an appendix with example disclosures for first-time adopters
• IFRS for SMEs - Illustrative consolidated financial statements 2010

PwC's 12 reporting tips provides guidance on best practices, with a quote from an investor/analyst for each, explaining what they want from company reporting.

Download this PwC briefing and position paper on a wide range of regulatory actions, initiatives and draft legislation that could affect your audit, financial reporting and corporate governance for many years to come.

PwCs 'IFRS pocket guide 2012' provides a summary of the recognition and measurement requirements of International Financial Reporting Standards published up to August 2012.

This short, animated film illustrates why business information has to change and the direction that we expect reporting and assurance to take.

Corporate governance - towards best-practice reporting was published in association with the London Stock Exchange in September 2012 as part of its guide to good governance

This PwC study explains why organisations that succeed in today’s environment are future-focused, innovative, and make bold and practical business decisions that keep their assets safe and secure.

These PwC video interviews look at why integrated reporting is important, the benefits and how we can expect to see it evolve.

Survey of 100 investment professionals globally about today’s audits, giving their views of how to boost the value gained from audit and assurance.

In these videos, from the 'Investor view' series on its Corporate Reporting website, global investors share their views on disclosure improvements that companies could make today.

This PwC journal examines the strategy and risk management issues for businesses in today’s uncertain world .

The aim of this paper is to help insurers cut through the detail by looking at the underlying trends that are shaping the latest regulatory developments, the thinking behind them and the implications for their strategy and operations.

Independence is about objectivity, scepticism and integrity. It is the hallmark of the audit profession, at the heart of our culture, and fundamental to everything we do. PwC’s mandate to audit public companies is founded on our independence and professional competence.

The European Commission believes that the dominance of the Big Four is a barrier to competition and have set out proposals they suggest will address these issues – including mandatory firm rotation, bans on non-audit services, and the formation of ‘audit only’ firms. We believe healthy competition is good for the marketplace, but should not be achieved through artificial intervention.

Making it mandatory for audit firms to rotate is one of the measures regulators are considering as a way to improve the independence and objectivity of auditors. While we agree, we also believe that mandatory audit firm rotation is likely to reduce – not improve – the quality of audits and the reliability of financial reporting.

Some argue that allowing auditors to carry out any non-audit services for their audit clients weakens their independence, objectivity and professional scepticism. We disagree. Taking away or limiting a company’s ability to choose its best provide would not enhance objectivity, scepticism, or the public interest.

Audit committees matter. As the representatives of shareholders, they are critical to the integrity and the quality of the audit. In those countries where audit committees have the authority and responsibility to oversee final preparation of the financial statements and the audit, quality has improved measurably.

Case study: Clarity on strategy delivers value for investors

This PwC paper discusses the possible impact for companies if were mandatory for audit firms to rotate.

South Africa’s top companies may be putting quantity ahead of quality in their information disclosure under King III, which requires more integrated reporting

This PwC briefing examines the regulatory response to the recent economic downturn at the global, EU and national levels and takes a look at current and future European regulatory challenges for banks and securities firms, asset managers and insurers.

As a leading global network of auditing firms, PwC aims to play a constructive role in the debates shaping the future of auditing, financial reporting, regulation and corporate governance. We hope you will find these short point-of-view publications as stimulating as they are informative.

A number of European stock exchanges have become major centres for listing debt securities. The London, Irish and Luxembourg stock exchanges are among those with the most significant activity. This guide provides a high-level summary of the admission requirements and continuing obligations for listing debt securities on each of these three exchanges. This was produced by PwC in Russia but the key messages apply to relevant entities globally.

PwC examines the implications and future impact of proposed major changes to the UK law on executive pay would give shareholders an annual binding vote on future remuneration policy, including proposed directors’ remuneration.

In this article PwC corporate reporting directors Mark O’Sullivan and Alison Thomas ask, and answer such crucial investor questions as: Is a company performing as expected and what are the risks and opportunities for management?

This PwC publication examines the growing technology options being developed for Solvency y II and assesses the IT systems architecture and solutions now available.

A PwC survey of integrated reporting practices of Spain’s top listed companies (IBEX35) shows they trail their UK FTSE 350 peers in key areas.

This monthly PwC newsletter provides updates on effective corporate reporting.

This PwC video explains how companies are using integrated reporting for competitive advantage and how corporate reporting is likely to look in the future.

In 2011, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (Board) issued a concept release with the objective of enhancing auditor independence, objectivity, and professional skepticism. The concept release considers whether mandatory audit firm rotation, essentially term limits for auditors, is the way to achieve this. A public meeting on this topic was also held by the Board in March 2012.

An up-to-date overview of different financial markets and how they serve the oil and gas

This PwC paper discusses the key issues facing companies contemplating an Initial Public Offering (IPO), including regulatory concerns, access to capital, mergers and acquisitions, talent management and building company brand.

This PwC IPO Centre publication provides an overview of regulatory listing requirements on London, New York and Hong Kong stock exchanges.

This PwC IPO Centre publication provides an overview of different financial markets and how they serve the mining sector.

This PwC report explains why integrating finance and risk reporting is an imperative for many organizations. Authors Paul Morton and Symon Dawson argue that focusing on data and not technology is the key to fast results.

Commodity price volatility has reached unprecedented levels. Learn why commodity risk is a significant issue for organisations and factors to consider.

This publication explores the emerging changes in risk management practices and what this means for internal auditors.

This article, by William Beer, director in PwC's UK Cyber practice, explains why operating securely in the cyber environment is among the most urgent issues for business and government leaders.

Companies everywhere are rethinking risk management in the light of new market realities, according to PwC’s 2011 global risk survey, which also breaks down results by region.

This PwC case study discusses Puma’s ground-breaking approach to costing its use of all kinds of capital could be a catalyst for radically different reporting by companies. Alan McGill shares his insights.

The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) has pushed tax to the forefront of the regulatory change agenda and under that agenda the spotlight remains firmly on the customer.

How can treasuries focus on ensuring that their contingency plans are up-to-date and that they have considered the potential combination of risk consequences associated with an event such as the break-up of the Eurozone?

This PwC webcast focuses on business reporting in today's turbulent economic environment. PwC specialists discuss what companies should action now and consider for the year ahead.

This PwC guide looks at how the annual report can be streamlined, yet still answer such questions as: Who is using it? What information do they need? How that information should be provided:

This article, from Issue 3, 2011, of PwC's World Watch magazine , discusses the fact that many organisations today are finding it increasingly difficult to manage and control risks. The article looks at why the dynamics of risk are changing

In these PwC videos global investors talk about how management can improve cash, debt and net debt reconciliation disclosures.

This PwC government and public sector analysis of the 2011 Global Economic Crime Survey examines the current fraud landscape, and looks at who is committing economic crime, what new types of fraud are emerging, and how they can be addressed.

Black swans turn grey is a thought provoking paper looking at how the landscape of risk is changing from a past environment where boards believed their organisations could manage and control risks to the present where established risk approaches and thinking are being repeatedly outpaced.

From the SEC’s new rules on whistle blowing and supply chain disclosures, to the move from US GAAP to IFRS, is your company prepared for the changes? In this report, each issue is looked at in depth, offering you the insights and perspectives that will help you develop the strategy your company needs.

With a growing population, increasing GDP levels and improving lifestyles, renewable and non-renewable resources—energy, water, land, minerals—are in ever higher demand. In this report, we found that the supply of many minerals and metals is struggling to keep up with rapid increases in consumption, resulting in price hikes and delivery delays. For a manufacturing organisation with a global supply chain, this could spell trouble. Explore how this scarcity will impact seven key manufacturing industries around the world.

Is the focus of capital markets finance moving eastward? Will emerging market exchanges have the sophistication and infrastructure to challenge incumbent exchanges in the West? What are the drivers behind the change in capital market dynamics? These are some of the questions we asked in our survey of senior managers from companies across the globe. Their responses paint a very clear picture of the challenges facing incumbent markets in the coming two decades. Download out report to find out more.

This new corporate governance report ― from PwC, CIMA and Radley Yeldar ―offers practical proposals for better reporting.

This paper looks at why business information and reporting is under fire from companies, investors, government and regulators alike ― and why it's falling short, what’s driving change, where insight is missing and how companies can take action.

'China: transforming value for growth' is a China-focused analysis of PwC's Annual Global CEO Survey, now in its 15th year. The report draws views and insights from 160 top management executives in China and Hong Kong, and seeks to inform and engage the business community about the key concerns and goals of CEOs in this part of the world.

One of the biggest challenges of any reporting standard is how best to implement it in an industry context. In general, IFRS is short on industry guidance. This report looks at the issues faced by utilities companies and how they can apply IFRS effectively.

This report by PwC, Tomorrow's Company and CIMA is intended as a catalyst for a debate about the future of corporate reporting systems and how change can meet the needs of business and society in the twenty-first century.

A PwC-sponsored YouGovStone survey that explores attitudes among Audit Committee Chairs and Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) to audit quality and potential reforms.

This section asks, and answers, some of the most common reporting-related questions regarding such areas as transparency, Key Performance Indicators, investor expectations, non-GAAP information, primary statements, executive remuneration, cash flow statements, and regulatory documents.

This PwC web page explains how the term ‘corporate reporting’ refers to the presentation and disclosure aspects ― as distinct from accounting/measurement ― of financial reporting, corporate governance, executive remuneration, corporate responsibility and narrative reporting.

This PwC publication shows how corporate reports are more likely to gain the attention of capital markets if they demonstrate a link between strategy and areas such as employees, the environment and corporate performance.

This section outlines four information categories that all companies share: external drivers, strategy, resources and relationships, and performance, all underpinned by relevant performance measures.

PwC's Reporting survey 2010 shows how companies can communicate better about governance and risk management effectiveness. key performance indicators and executive pay and key relationships

PwC's Presentation of income under IFRS examines the use of non-GAAP measures in 2,800 financial statements submitted by European companies.

PwC shows you how to identify the key areas where better reporting can deliver most value and competitive advantage to meet the need of your business, the board and external stakeholders.

A PwC survey of finance executives that examines view of the quality of the management information they produce, collect and distribute, and how well their organisations use management information to aid decision-making.

This PwC report explains why corporate responsibility has been overwhelmingly driven by external pressures, especially sustainability considerations.

A PwC report that explains why sound environmental strategies are needed if businesses are to stay on top of today's challenges

PwC's Corporate Reporting Users' Forum (CRUF) is a discussion forum whose participants include individuals from both buy and sell-side institutions, and from both equity and fixed income markets with global or regional responsibilities.

"A PwC international survey of investors’ and analysts’ views on the

A PwC paper that explains why clear disclosure and compliance information is vital to effective shareholder communication.

Corporate reporting is at a 'tipping point', this PwC study argues. It is time, says author Peter Holgate, to take action and make sure that our reporting system does not fail.

PwC explains why greater transparency and improved share price performance is difficult because of external influences in the market place and, industry trends.

This PwC report offers important insights into the adequacy of corporate communication with the capital market, with suggestions about where better reporting could increase investor's confidence

This PwC report looks at how the UK Climate Change Act 2008 may affect the large number of UK companies execute their emissions reporting.

PwC's ‘Typico’ carbon emissions reporting model provides a template for climate change and greenhouse gas emissions reporting.

A PwC guide to making sustainability reporting more accessible and effective.

PwC interviewed more than 50 professional investors around the world about their use of the balance sheet in their analysis of companies’ performance

PwC's investor view provides timely anaysis of corporate reporting issues such as disclosures relating to cash flow, mergers and acquisitions, pensions, and income tax; investors and the investment community; financial statements and narrative reporting; accounting policies, corporate and annual reports, and IFRS transition; IASB, annual reports: non-GAAP measures: business funding and capital sourcing; and debt reconciliation, etc.

Good corporate reporting isn't determined solely by outside regulation. It must be driven by your strategy and what’s material to the success of your business. Let us show you how.

PwC's Guide to forward looking information explains why ‘forward-looking orientation’ is a real reporting challenge for many companies.

PwC's Corporate reporting guides provide information on such key issues as performance indicators, narrative reporting, executive remuneration, online reporting, business models, and asset management.

PwC's Good practices in corporate reporting contains a complete collection of practical examples, covering companies and industries world wide, based on annual reports sustainability reports, websites and investor/analyst presentations.

PwC's Frequently asked questions provides answers to the most common enquiries regarding corporate reporting, including: Non-GAAP, strategy reporting, market information, underlying performance, cash flow, risk and remuneration.

PwC’s Governance reporting offers good practice examples to help companies achieve effective reporting, with extracts from FTSE 350 companies' annual reports and topics discussed during the Walker and Financial Reporting Council reviews.

PwC's Sustainability reporting guides explains the relationship between corporate reporting and climate change, carbon disclosure, emissions, and global sustainability strategies.

PwC's The reporting model looks at why market turmoil and ongoing sustainability challenges are forcing policy makers to adopt a more collaborative approach to corporate reporting.

Changing legislation and increasing investor awareness are creating a pull for more – and better – online reporting. We’ve looked at what investors (both private and institutional) want from online reporting and how that can be put into practice. See the online version of the Generico annual report.

PwC's Guide to key performance indicators looks at why key performance indicators (KPIs)—both financial and non-financial -- are needed to explain a company’s progress towards its stated goals.

This PwC compendium provides good practice examples to help companies achieve effective reporting.

PwC's Investors' views examines current investor expectations and how changes in financial and non-financial reporting is changing the way market players are judged.

This PwC study examines the ways in which strategic business aims are reflected in executive rewards

This is getting relevant, quality, internal information across the whole business that can be reported to management and the board to enable informed decision making.

Why are companies starting to take a more integrated approach to internal and external financial/non-financial performance? For one, because the economic crisis was a sharp reminder that financial measurement alone isn’t a sufficient indicator of performance. Our corporate reporting publications offer an integrated look at the issues.

PwC's Narrative reporting offers a mechanism to create a more commercially attractive view of your business which may lead to better investor understanding and improved stakeholder relationships.

PwC's Remuneration, people and tax reporting provides guidance on such issues as executive remuneration, tax reporting, and managing stakeholder demands vis a vis remuneration and people strategies.

These Report Leadership guides provide you with a series of ideas for improving the form and content of corporate reporting. They reflect input and feedback from a range of investors and focus is on: effective communication, modelling the future and rethinking the financials.

PwC has a number of tools to help with the application of the IFRS for SMEs standard, including illustrative financial statements, comparison with ‘full’ IFRS, pocket guide and checklists.

PwC surveyed a geographically diverse sample of investors and analysts to gain a better understanding of their perspectives on accounting and reporting for financial instruments. The findings offer insight into the use of financial instrument information in their analytical processes.

PwC's Corporate reporting site provides publications that provide insights into integrated reporting, governance, narrative reporting, managing and board reporting, as well as sustainability reporting and remuneration and tax reporting.