Assignment Description
Assume you are a staff accountant in financial
reporting at Dine Brands Global. Dine
Brands, headquartered in Pasadena, CA, is one of the largest full service
restaurant companies in the world, with flagship brands including Applebee’s
and IHOP. On January
22, 2024, Applebee’s sold a “Date Night Pass” for a $200 nonrefundable fee
which granted purchasers up to $30 in food and nonalcoholic beverages on 52
visits over the course of a one-year period. Dine Brands has never done anything like this
at any of their brands before. Your task is to
perform research in the FASB’s Accounting Standards Codification and write an Executive
Summary to be explain when Dine Brands should recognize revenue for
the sale of the Date Night Pass.
Your Executive Summary should answer this question by referencing
appropriate ASC guidance and applying the specific facts of this transaction.
Executive Summary Format:
· Length: Your write-up should be no more than 1 page in length.
· Spacing: Single-spaced
· Font size and Style: 12 point Times New Roman
· Margins: One-inch on all sides
· Cover Sheet: A cover sheet is NOT necessary.
· You
should only use the Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) and the resources
that I suggest to you for this assignment. No other “research” is necessary or
encouraged.
o
Your textbook is not an appropriate
source to cite in this assignment. You can use it to get comfortable with the
topic before doing research, but your decisions and references should be based
on the Accounting Standards Codification.
· An
appropriate in-text reference to the
ASC is generally in the following format: XXX-XX-XX-XX. The first time you
reference a topic and subtopic (XXX-XX) in your memorandum, it is helpful to
use words to describe the topic and subtopic. For example, “ASC 605–45 (Revenue
Recognition—Principal Agent Considerations)”.
This is also a good reasonableness
check for you. If the topic and subtopic do not match the issue at hand, you
probably have the wrong research!
· In
an executive summary it is usually appropriate to reference the guidance you
used, but we would generally NOT
include the guidance itself in our write-up.
Remember the executive summary should be condensed and focused on
analysis.
How Should I Approach Accounting Research
and Writing?[1]
1.
Understand
the facts/background of the transaction.
2.
Define
the problem. That is, identify the “researchable question”.
3.
Stop
and think: Based on what you know from class (and your general intuition from
the Conceptual Framework), what accounting treatment will likely be
appropriate?
4.
Search
potentially relevant sources of guidance, copying any relevant guidance into a
Word document.
5.
Analyze
any alternatives you have identified, considering the applicability of each
one.
6.
Determine
which accounting treatment is most appropriate and document your conclusion.
7.
Justify
and explain your conclusion.
8.
Review
your memorandum for appropriate content and writing
Step 1:
Understand the facts/background of the transaction(s).
The below resources provide appropriate background
information to get you started with your research process. Where appropriate,
use these resources to understand the company and the background for the issue
at hand. (Tip: You might want to glance through Step 2 before reading so that
you know what the issue is.)
Resources for
understanding the facts/background:
· 10-K – Go
to www.sec.gov Filings Company filings
search
in the “Company and Person Lookup” box search for Dine Brands Global (ticker DIN)
o
Obtain
the most recent 10-K (Annual Report) for the year ended December
31, 2022 and review the following
information (you may consider
reviewing more information than the following, but this is a start):
§ BUSINESS SUMMARY
– (beginning on page 4) – provides
useful information to understand the background of the company
§ FOOTNOTE 2 – Basis of Presentation
and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
– (beginning on page 62) – provides useful discussion of the company’s accounting
policies (pay particularly close attention to the policies on revenue
recognition)
§ FINANCIAL STATEMENTS –
(beginning on page 58)
· Press Release and other news releases
about the “Date Night Pass” – Read the company’s press release
regarding the transaction (and other news releases) to develop an understanding
of the transaction. Here are some, but
you are welcome to find others.
o
Press Release: https://www.applebees.com/en/news/2024/applebees-launches-exclusive-date-night-pass-for-one-year-of-dates
o
Applebee’s website: https://www.applebees.com/en/specials/date-night-pass
o
Fox Business Article: https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/applebees-customers-complain-date-night-pass-sells-immediately
· Perform additional research on the
transaction as needed.
o Think
critically! While you can’t rely on
information from Google, effectively using Google searches can be a great way
to better understand a topic to facilitate your research.
Note: It is not acceptable to
copy language from the above sources. Use your own language.
Step 2: Define the problem. That is,
identify the “researchable question”.
As
you are still relatively new to accounting research, I will give you the
questions to research, but in more advanced classes (and the real world) you likely
will not be provided with specific questions.
Even though I am giving you the question, you do need to make sure you
spend time on Step 1. You cannot appropriately answer the questions without
understanding the company’s business or the fact pattern. In other words, do
not skip over steps. Following the steps really does help! In this assignment, you
have been instructed to examine the following issue:
· Issue 1:
Document and support with research WHEN
Dine Brands Global should recognize revenue related to the sale of the Date
Night Pass promotion.
Step 3: Stop and think: Based on what you
know from class (and your general intuition from the conceptual framework),
what accounting treatment will likely be appropriate?
You
do not need to include this step explicitly in your write-up, but it helps with
the next step. Often, the item you are researching might be familiar to you,
but you are uncertain about the precise answer. Using what you know to focus
your search can be incredibly helpful. Your textbook can be helpful to you, but
keep in mind that it cannot be used to support your conclusions.
Step 4: Search potentially relevant
sources of guidance, copying any relevant guidance into a Word document
For
this class, you will use the Accounting Standards Codification for research.
The ASC is available at https://asc.fasb.org/Home. You might not use
all research that you find, but copying any possible relevant guidance into a
Word document will help you to keep track of what you do find. Make sure you
include the location of the guidance in your working document. It will help
with writing your final document. Here are some considerations for your search:
· Browse
the topic in the codification that you feel will be most relevant
· Follow
all leads that appear relevant. For example, if the codification uses a term
you do not know, make sure you dig in by following any references to other
parts of the ASC or going to the ASC glossary to understand the definition of
the term and whether it applies to your setting.
· Once
you have found what you believe to be the relevant guidance, continue reading
the subsequent paragraphs to identify any modifications or caveats to your
guidance.
· Review
the guidance you have collected and weed out sources that appear less relevant
Please
keep in mind that your textbook is not a citable source for a research
assignment. You may use them to help you with Step 3, but you cannot use them or
resources not mentioned in this document to support your conclusions. Your textbook, Google and Artificial
Intelligence programs are not authoritative accounting guidance and therefore
cannot be relied upon for your answer.
However, they may be helpful in getting you started and on the right
track with your research.
Step 5: Analyze any alternatives you have
identified, considering the applicability of each one.
This
step may not be explicitly in your write-up. However, try to keep track of your
thought process as you are weighing your alternatives. You will use that
thought process in the next step.
Step 6: Determine which accounting
treatment is most appropriate and document your conclusion
After
completing the first five steps, ensure that you clearly identify and document
your conclusion for all relevant issues.
Conclusions should be clear, concise, and supported by your analysis.
Step 7: Justify and explain your
conclusion
Step
7 focuses on writing. A tip is to break
down the writing of the document into separate parts – but in an executive
summary these do not need to be presented under separate sections.
You
do not need to repeat information. If it is mentioned once, you may assume that
the reader remembers it. Assume that the reader does not have time to review
the background information for Tesla and our issue, so you need to explain the
fact pattern in your write-up.
Background and Facts: Provide
pertinent details as background so that readers understand the specific issue.
Act as if the reader knows nothing about the situation. Remember that your
accounting is based on the facts of the situation/transaction. Any key facts
pertinent to your ultimate conclusion need to be provided by you. This is your foundation, but it should be
brief – the focus needs to be on the analysis.
Conclusion: Present a clear conclusion. What is the appropriate accounting
treatment? What should the company
do? This should NOT be stated as
an opinion. This should be a statement
of fact based on your research and analysis.
Research and Analysis: This
is the most challenging portion to write, but also the most important. Consider the following:
· Reference
relevant guidance when necessary to support your conclusion. The guidance should not be the focus, rather
a tool to support your analysis.
· While
it is appropriate to cite guidance used for your conclusion, you generally will
not paste guidance into an executive summary. Executive summaries are intended to be
concise and focus on your analysis because that is where you can add value as
an accounting professional.
· Explain
and document the key factors at the Company that you considered when making
your conclusion. Make sure you link these factors back to specific research
that you used.
· Most
of all, make sure someone unfamiliar with the process can understand why/how
you arrived at your conclusion.
Please
keep in mind that this is not a homework problem where you are evaluated on
copying and pasting the “right” research into your submission. Instead, this is a research and writing
assignment where you are evaluated on your ability to identify appropriate
research, interpret the research for the reader, and link that research back to
your specific company situation to arrive at your conclusions.
Step 8: Review your written document for appropriate
content and writing
Items to Consider
as You Self-Review Your Content
Your document should be written in a manner that
enables a person who is not involved with the issue to understand the issue,
relevant research, and your interpretation of the research.
· Would someone
unfamiliar with the issue be able to understand the issue at hand?
· Do your research,
your analysis, and your conclusion answer the question(s) being asked?
· Would someone
unfamiliar with the research you are citing be able to understand what you
found in the codification?
· Would someone
unfamiliar with the research you are citing be able to understand how you
arrived at your conclusions? In other words, does your analysis (i.e., your
discussion) illustrate how your research applies to the specific company facts?
Tip: Do not make the reader “work”
or require the reader to re-interpret the research. Interpret how the research
applies to the specific circumstances for the reader.
· Are your
conclusions clearly stated?
· Does the research
that you cited clearly lead to the conclusions that you provided?
Items to Consider
as You Self-Review Your Writing
Your write-up should be clear, concise, complete, free
of spelling and grammatical errors, and professional looking. Make
sure to utilize spelling and grammar check.
· Is your document
professional looking? For example, do you use the same font type and size
throughout? Have you removed the “Appendix 1” heading from the memo template? Etc…
· Do your tone and
word choice fit your audience and the purpose of the memo (e.g., no
contractions, no casual phrases, avoid use of “I” or “we”, avoid use of strong
or inflammatory words)?
· Be certain in your
writing. Avoid phrases like “I think” or
“we believe”.
· Is your writing
grammatically correct?
ü Do you refer to a company as an “it” (correct) as
opposed to a “they” (incorrect)?
ü Do you use “its” and other possessive words correctly?
ü Do you use “their”/“there” and other words that are
often confused correctly?
ü Do you avoid sentence fragments?
ü Do you avoid run on sentences?
ü Do you use commas appropriately and where needed?
· Is your writing
concise and easy to read? (Business writing does not require forced large words
or complex phrases.)
· Do you avoid
passive writing?
Expectations for Writing and Research Assignment:
Acceptable
Resources
·
You
may only use the resources mentioned above in this assignment. You do not need
to cite the 10-K or sources mentioned above, but you do need to cite the
Accounting Standards Codification in the text when referenced (e.g., ASC
XXX-XX-XX-XX).
·
You
must complete the assignment individually or with one classmate. You may
not share your write-up or your answers with other students. Using resources
other than your textbook and those resources mentioned in this assignment (e.g.,
classmates, parents, CPA friends, other students’ prior course memos,
assignments or resources that you find online) is a violation of the Honor
Code. See the syllabus and Honor Code to understand implications of completing
the assignment using unauthorized assistance.
Academic
Honesty:
Here is some advice to help you avoid plagiarizing:
It is best to express the ideas you use in your own
words. In the case of both individual and group work, words or ideas that come
from someplace or someone else must be cited: “A good rule of thumb is this: Whenever you consciously borrow any
important element from someone else, any sentence, any colorful phrase or
original term, any plan or idea—say so, either in a footnote, bibliography, or
parenthesis” (from “Academic Honesty in the Writing of Essays and Other
Papers,” Carleton College, 1990).
[1] Steps are primarily from Guide to Intermediate Accounting Research
by Shelby Collins.
