Top Issues Identified by Expert Roundtable Participants.

• Position: Brief Article

In June 2001, the AICPA held Expert Roundtables in the High Technology and Biotechnology/Pharmaceutical industries. The objectives of the roundtables were to identify business, strategic, and competitive trends, issues and opportunities and to suggest ways in which CPAs in industry and public practice could assist companies in these industries to maximize opportunities and minimize threats.

Each roundtable consisted of a cross-section of industry experts, including CFOs and industry-leading partners of CPA firms. The AICPA is currently evaluating both the issues identified at the roundtables and possible action plans to address those issues.

Here are the top issues identified (in order of priority) by participants:

High Technology

1. Industry voice in financial reporting standard-setting structure and process.

2. Improving the relevance of externally reported business/financial information.

3. Improving the quality and quantity of the labor force.

4. Industry-specific education and training.

   Bio/Pharmaceutical

1. Industry voice in financial reporting standard-setting structure and process.

2. ...