“SAERS”

School of Accounting
Electronic Research System
Tutorial

Fall 2011

SCHOOL OF ACCOUNTING ELECTRONIC RESEARCH SYSTEM
(SAERS)

Welcome to the world of electronic accounting and auditing research. The use of electronic media to research an accounting and/or auditing issue can reduce the research time significantly and thus can make the accountant/auditor more efficient in today's business environment. Efficient and effective accounting or auditing research is often necessary in order to determine the proper recording, classification, and disclosure of economic events; to determine the authoritative pronouncements relating to an issue; or to determine the preferability of alternative accounting principles. By utilizing electronic research tools, the researcher can execute a more comprehensive search in a very timely fashion This retrieval system (SAERS) that you are about to use is a computerized system designed to retrieve from a vast library or collection of data (databases) those authoritative pronouncements which will aid you in the development of a solution to a current practical issue.

The purpose of this tutorial on the usage of the School of Accounting's Electronic Research System (SAERS) is to acquaint you with the electronic media that you will utilize throughout your accounting program here at CMU. Many of these electronic tools are also utilized by various accounting organizations that you will be accepting employment with in the future. The procedures that follow will only provide you with the steps to access the databases. Complete knowledge of the databases will require you to read selected chapters in the text; entitled Accounting and Auditing Research: Tools and Strategies.

OBJECTIVES OF TUTORIAL
The objectives of this tutorial are as follows:
1) To provide an understanding of the need for accounting and auditing research,
2) To acquaint you with the various databases (infobases) for conducting research,
3) To present the steps in searching through the infobases, and
4) To demonstrate the procedures to print the results of your research operations.

This information that you will be searching through can be found in hardcopy in many libraries, but the sheer volume of data available makes searching for an answer a formidable task. A computerized database research system makes the process simpler, more efficient, and more comprehensive.

DATABASES
The following databases are available either in a CMU Computer Lab, or directly from your personal computer:

1) Lexis-Nexis 2) Thomson Research 3) AICPA Professional Standards 4) FASB Codification

and the

5) SEC Website

ACCESS STEPS

1) For Lexis/Nexis, Thomson Research and the AICPA Standards—these databases are accessed through CMU’s library website at : www.lib.cmich.edu.

Under Research Tools at the library’s website, click on Research Guides, then click on Business & Economics, followed by clicking on Accounting.

Under Regulations & Standards locate Lexis/Nexis and RIA Checkpoint (for the AICPA Professional Standards) Under Securities Reports locate Thomson Research and EDGAR (SEC website)

2) For FASB Codification Log into the following website: http://aaahq.org/ascLogin.cfm

Enter the following student access information: User ID: AAA51292 Password: Sr88IL1

3) For U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission website Open the SEC website at www.sec.gov

LEXIS-NEXIS ACADEMIC UNIVERSE
Lexis-Nexis is a Web-based search engine that allows one to search over 5,000 sources on the system.

To begin using Lexis-Nexis, follow these instructions and Figure 1: 1) Select CMU Libraries, Research Guides, Business and Economics, and Accounting.

2) Under Regulations & Standards, click on Accounting to get the following opening screen:

Figure 1

[pic]

Exercise One
Using "inventory costs" as your key search word and AICPA Accounting and Auditing Publications as your source, identify the first three Pronouncements that you have found when utilizing "Lexis-Nexis."

THOMSON RESEARCH
This database contains information on publicly held companies. It also provides access to the SEC's EDGAR system, as well as online access to complete SEC filings—current and historical. You have immediate online access to comprehensive business and financial records for more than 50,000 U .S. and international companies.

To begin using Thomson Research, follow these instructions: 1) At the CMU’s library website select Research Guides, Business & Economics, and Accounting. 2) Under Securities Reports, click on Thomson Research to obtain the following opening screen-Figure 2:

Figure 2

[pic]

3) Type in the company name in the “Quick Company Search” box, or in the “Company” box. 4) Select the appropriate company to open the following screen; example: Google — Figure 3:

Figure 3

[pic]

5) Search for information requested.

Exercise Two
You are required to identify the Chairman of the Board, President and CEO, and VP and CFO of General Motors Corporation.
FASB Codification The FASB Codification system was developed by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to enable fast, comprehensive research on accounting problems by identifying the accounting literature pertaining to the issue in question.

To access the Codification log into the following website: http://aaahq.org/ascLogin.cfm Student access: User ID: AAA51292 Password: Sr88IL1

By clicking on the FASB Accounting Standards Codification link, you should open the following screen-Figure 4:

Figure 4

[pic]

Exercise Three
Identify where each of the following topics are located in the Codification. Use the following list for your answers:

General Principles--- 100 series
Presentation--- 200 series
Assets----- 300 series
Liabilities--- 400 series
Equity--- 500 series
Revenue--- 600 series
Expenses--- 700 series
Broad Transactions-- 800 series
Industry--- 900 series

Where are the following topics located in the Codification: Topic Codification Location
1) Contingencies ??________
2) Inventory ??________
3) Segment Reporting ??________
4) Income Taxes ??________
5) Treasury Stock ??________
6) Earnings per Share ??________
7) Not-for-Profit Entities ??________
8) Leases ??________
9) Pensions ??________
10) Error Correction ??________

AICPA Professional Standards

The AICPA Professional Standards database is a comprehensive reference to current effective pronouncements on professional standards as issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).

To access the AICPA database follow the instructions on page 3. The Professional Standards are locate in the RIA Checkpoint database.

Figure 5

[pic]

The Table of Contents is displayed on the following screen-Figure 6:

Figure 6

[pic]

Exercise Four
What are the requirements for retention of membership by a Certified Public Accountant within the AICPA? (Hint: Utilize the AICPA Bylaws)