Recent accounting pronouncements |
6 Months Ended |
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Mar. 31, 2018 | |
| New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Abstract] | |
| Recent accounting pronouncements |
Recent accounting pronouncements
We are evaluating the effects of guidance issued in three significant areas of financial reporting.
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the FASB) issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. In addition, the FASB has issued additional updates covering technical items and changing the date of adoption. This new standard will change the manner in which we evaluate revenue recognition for all contracts with customers, although the effect of the changes on revenue recognition will vary from contract to contract. We will adopt this standard at the beginning of our 2019 fiscal year. The standard is required to be applied either retrospectively to each prior period presented (the full retrospective approach) or retrospectively with the cumulative effect of the initial application recognized at the date of initial application (the modified retrospective approach). While we previously disclosed that we anticipated using the full retrospective approach, we have further evaluated both approaches and have concluded that we will adopt the standard using the modified retrospective approach.
We have established a cross-functional steering committee which includes representatives from across all our business and support segments. The steering committee is responsible for evaluating the impact of the standard on our operations including accounting, taxation, internal audit and financial systems. Our approach to analyzing these impacts includes reviewing our current accounting policies and practices to identify potential differences that will result from applying the requirements of the new standard to our existing contracts. We are in the process of evaluating the changes needed to our business processes, systems and controls in order to support revenue recognition and the related disclosures under the new standard. While we are still evaluating the changes that the new standard will have, we expect the standard will affect the timing of revenue recognition for certain of our variable fee contracts.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases. The new standard requires that assets and liabilities arising under leases be recognized on the balance sheet. The standard also requires additional quantitative and qualitative disclosures that provide the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows relating to lease arrangements. This standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, using a modified retrospective approach. The modified retrospective approach requires retrospective application to the earliest period presented in the respective financial statements. This approach also provides practical expedients related to leases that commenced prior to the effective date and allows the use of hindsight when evaluating lease options. We will adopt this standard at the beginning of our 2020 fiscal year. We are currently evaluating the likely effects on our business.
In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. This standard will not change the manner in which we would identify a goodwill impairment but would change the manner of the calculation of any resulting impairment. Under existing guidance, we would calculate goodwill for each of our reporting units by calculating the fair value of all existing assets and liabilities within that reporting unit and comparing this to the fair value of the reporting unit; to the extent that this difference is less than our existing goodwill balance related to that reporting unit, we would record an impairment. The new standard will require us to calculate goodwill based upon the difference between the fair value and reported value of a reporting unit. This standard would be effective for our 2021 fiscal year, although early adoption is permitted. The impact of the new standard will depend on the outcomes of future goodwill impairment tests.
With the exception of the new accounting standards discussed above, there have been no new accounting pronouncements that have significance, or potential significance, to the Company's consolidated financial statements.
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