Dates and location
Pricing
Hours
Dates and location
Pricing
Hours
Description
This seminar provides an in-depth review of Section 3856, Financial Instruments for both private enterprises and not-for-profit organizations. Coverage includes the purpose and scope of the standard, defined terms, recognition, measurement, presentation, disclosure, derecognition and first-time adoption.
This seminar provides participants with an in-depth review of Section 3856, Financial Instruments for both private enterprises using ASPE and not-for-profit organizations using ASNFPO. The entire standard will be covered including the guidance for recognition, measurement, presentation, derecognition, hedge accounting and disclosure. The starting point will be overview including background on the standard, scope, different types of financial instruments and key definitions. Next a discussion of recognition, measurement, and impairment of financial instruments for arms-length transactions. Next a discussion of accounting for derivatives and the basic concepts of hedge accounting. This is followed by a discussion of complex issues for financial instruments with related parties, shares in a tax planning arrangement and transfer of receivables. Then presentation of financial instruments as debt, equity or hybrid instruments. Then disclosure requirements. Next transitional requirements. Finally a discussion of useful resources.
Participants will have the opportunity to review a number of illustrative examples and exercises. After attending this seminar, participants will have reviewed in-depth the accounting for financial instruments for both private enterprises and not-for-profit organizations.
Topics Include:
- Introduction and overview
- Purpose and scope
- Examples of financial instruments
- Definitions
- Recognition
- Initial measurement
- Arms-length transactions
- Finance fees and transaction costs
- Subsequent measurement
- Amortized cost
- Fair value
- How to determine fair value
- Cost
- Impairment
- Derecognition
- Derivatives and hedge accounting
- Complex Issues
- Related party transactions
- Shares issued in a tax planning arrangement
- Transfer of receivables
- Presentation
- Investments
- Substance over form
- Debt, equity or hybrid financial instrument
- Compound financial instruments
- Offsetting
- Disclosure
- First-time adoption
- Resources (with links)
NOTE: This course description has been revised and reflects updates for 2025. If you have any questions, please contact pdevents@cpaontario.ca.
Schedule
- November 4, 2025, 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- November 5, 2025, 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Key Takeaways
By the end of this course, participants should be able to explain:
- The requirements of Section 3856, Financial Instruments for both private enterprises and not-for-profit organizations including recognition, measurement, presentation, derecognition and disclosure.
- The alternative measurement methods for financial instruments and implications on the financial statements.
- The accounting for impairment of financial instruments.
- The initial measurement and presentation for related party transactions.
- The initial measurement, subsequent measurement and presentation for shares issued in a tax planning arrangement.
- The basic concepts of hedge accounting.
- List relevant resources.
Who Will Benefit
Professionals responsible for the accounting, presentation and disclosure of financial instruments using Section 3856 for private enterprises and not-for-profit organizations. In addition, CPAs wanted to understand more about accounting for financial instruments in ASPE.
Prerequisite(s)
Participants would benefit from pre-reading Section 3856, Financial Instruments contained in the CPA Handbook – Accounting Part II.
How to Access the Course
This course is a live webinar. You must attend the live course to receive verifiable CPD hours. We recommend you join five minutes prior to the scheduled starting time. To get the full experience of this interactive course, use a computer that has video and microphone capabilities.
Electronic material can be accessed one week prior to the course and should be downloaded in advance.
Registration, cancellation, withdrawal and all other CPA Ontario PD policies can be found here.
Speaker(s)
Glenn Ventrcek, CPA, CA is a Partner at BDO Canada LLP and has over 25 years of experience in public accounting providing auditing, accounting and taxation services to a broad client base including a variety of not-for-profit sector clients, pension plans, municipalities and owner-managed businesses. Glenn has instructed courses at Ryerson University and is an active Board member of a national charity. He has also been a speaker at various NFP and IFRS sessions for CPA Ontario.