Business Research Guide
ACCOUNTING, AUDIT, AND TAXATION
Logging In to Databases
If you are off campus, please login through Blackboard and click through to the Libraries of the USF System homepage. If you have any questions, please call the Nelson Poynter Library Reference Desk at 727-873-4124.
Journal ArticlesFor a listing of databases for finding journal articles in accounting, see the General Business Sources guide. |
BooksUse the USF Library Catalog to find related books in all USF Libraries. You can limit to USF St. Petersburg from you results screen.
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STANDARDS AND GUIDANCE
Accounting Research Manager (CCH) includes FASB standards, Miller interpretations, SEC regulations, AICPA standards and more.
CCH Tax Research Network includes primary and secondary sources such as the IRS code; tax legislation; CCH analysis and tax guides; and the Tax Tracker News.
RIA Checkpoint includes WG&L journals such as Journal of taxation and Journal of corporate taxation; U.S. tax reporter; RIA Federal taxes Weekly Alert Newsletter and RIA Tax Watch. Also includes tools such as loan and mortgage calculators and interest tables.
Company Financials
EDGAR (Securites & Exchange Commission) allows you to retrieve filings of public companies, including 10-k's, 10-q's, and proxy statements.
Mergent Online provides access to company financials and government filings for U.S. public companies.
LexisNexis Academic sources include Hoover’s directories, Disclosure (financials), and Investext.
Financial Ratios
Industry norms & key business ratios (D&B) presents statistics on over 800 lines of business by SIC code. Data, derived from financial statements, includes “typical” balance sheet and income statement items, as well as fourteen key performance indicators. Also available in the Library reference section at (REF HF5681.R25 I52) .
Almanac of business and industrial financial ratios (Troy) (REF HF5681.R25 T68 2007) presents business and financial ratios on businesses by NAICS code and asset size. Data is based on corporate tax returns from the IRS.
RMA annual statement studies - Financial ratio benchmarks (REF HF5681.B2 R6) “contains composite financial data on manufacturing, wholesaling, retailing, service, and contracting lines of business”.
Business ratios and formulas: a comprehensive guide, 2nd ed., by Steven M. Bragg. (REF HF5691.B73 2007) presents the ratios and formulas that are useful tools for measuring corporate performance. “Each formula includes a complete description, explanation of the calculation, an example, and cautions regarding its use.”
Taxation
Florida tax handbook is an annual publication by the Florida Senate-Finance, Tax and Claims Committee. The current edition is also available in the first floor reference area (REF HJ2400 .F654a); older editions are in the circulating collection on the 2nd floor.
Tax Information for Tax Professionals is a special page from the Internal Revenue Services with information for tax preparers, CPA's, attorneys, etc.
Forms and Publications is a one-stop page for IRS forms and publications, some going back to 1980.
Tax Stats provides links to data about the tax system.
Dictionaries & Encyclopedias
A Dictionary of Accounting (Oxford University Press)
Accounting dictionary: English-Spanish Spanish-English Spanish-Spanish (2003)
Handbooks and Manuals
Accountants' handbook (2003) (2 vols.) Volume 1 covers basic accounting concepts, standards, and regulations. Volume 2 covers special topics such as consulting, pension plans, not-for-profit, and more.
International finance and accounting handbook 3rd Ed. (2003).
International Financial Reporting Standards: A Practical Guide (2009). Also available in the Library at HF5611.G74 2009 (2nd floor).
Selected Web sites
There are many business and management-related Web sites. A few selected sites are noted below:
Accountants and Auditors provides career information from the Occupational Outlook Hanbook published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
AICPA The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants is the national, professional organization for all Certified Public Accountants. Its mission is to provide members with the resources, information, and leadership that enable them to provide valuable services in the highest professional manner to benefit the public as well as employers and clients.
American Accounting Association “...promotes worldwide excellence in accounting education, research and practice. Founded in 1916 as the American Association of University Instructors in Accounting, its present name was adopted in 1936. The Association is a voluntary organization of persons interested in accounting education and research.”
FASB Financial and Accounting Standards Board "Serves the investing public through transparent information resulting from high-quality financial reporting standards, developed in an independent, private-sector, open due process."
GASB Governmental Accounting Standards Board “...establish and improve standards of state and local governmental accounting and financial reporting that will result in useful information for users of financial reports and guide and educate the public, including issuers, auditors, and users of those financial reports.”
TaxSites.com: Tax and Accounting Sites Directory is a “comprehensive index of web-based tax and accounting resources. The directory is designed to be a starting point for people who are searching for tax and accounting information, products, and services. ”
Remember, you may contact a Reference Librarian in person, by phone (727/873-4124), or via chat from Ask a Librarian link on the Libraries of the USF System web site).
Updated by: Gary L. Austin
Email: gary.austin@nelson.usf.edu