Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 28, 2019

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Description of Business

Description of Business

CRA International, Inc. (“CRA” or the “Company”) is a worldwide leading consulting services firm that applies advanced analytic techniques and in-depth industry knowledge to complex engagements for a broad range of clients. CRA offers services in two broad areas: litigation, regulatory, and financial consulting and management consulting. CRA operates in one business segment. CRA operates its business under its registered trade name, Charles River Associates.

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of CRA and its wholly owned subsidiaries. In addition, for periods prior to December 30, 2018, the consolidated financial statements include CRA's interest in GNU123 Liquidating Corporation ("GNU", formerly known as NeuCo, Inc.). All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation.

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect the results of operations, financial position, cash flows, and shareholders’ equity as of and for the fiscal quarters and fiscal year-to-date periods ending September  28, 2019 and September 29, 2018, respectively. These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Accordingly, these financial statements do not include all the information and note disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for annual financial statements. In the opinion of management, these financial statements reflect all adjustments of a normal, recurring nature necessary for the fair statement of CRA’s results of operations, financial position, cash flows, and shareholders’ equity for the interim periods presented in conformity with GAAP. Results of operations for the interim periods presented herein are not necessarily indicative of results of operations for a full year. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2018 included in CRA’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 28, 2019 (the “2018 Form 10-K”).

GNU Interest

GNU Interest

Prior to liquidation of GNU on December 18, 2018, CRA's ownership interest in GNU was 55.89%. For periods prior to December 30, 2018, GNU's financial results have been consolidated with CRA, and the portion of GNU's results allocable to its other owners is shown as "noncontrolling interest." GNU did not contribute to CRA’s results of operations during the fiscal quarters or fiscal year-to-date periods ended September  28, 2019 or September 29, 2018.

Estimates

Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make significant estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, as well as the related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of consolidated revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Estimates in these condensed consolidated financial statements include, but are not limited to, allowances for accounts receivable and unbilled services, revenue recognition on fixed price contracts, variable consideration to be included in the transaction price of revenue contracts, depreciation of property and equipment, measurement of operating lease right-of-use assets and liabilities, share-based compensation, valuation of contingent consideration liabilities, valuation of acquired intangible assets, impairment of long lived assets and goodwill, accrued and deferred income taxes, valuation allowances on deferred tax assets, accrued incentive compensation, and certain other accrued expenses. These items are monitored and analyzed by CRA for changes in facts and circumstances, and material changes in these estimates could occur in the future. Changes in estimates are recorded in the period in which they become known. CRA bases its estimates on historical experience and various other assumptions that CRA believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from those estimates if CRA’s assumptions based on past experience or other assumptions do not turn out to be substantially accurate.

Recent Accounting Standards Adopted and Not Yet Adopted

Recent Accounting Standards Adopted

Leases (Topic 842)

CRA adopted Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which established Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 842 (“ASC 842”) and supersedes ASC Topic 840, Leases (“ASC 840”), on December 30, 2018 using the additional modified retrospective transition method provided by ASC 842.  The cumulative effect of the transition adjustments was recognized as of the date of adoption.

CRA elected the package of practical expedients provided by ASC 842, which allowed CRA to forgo reassessing the following upon adoption of the new standard: (1) whether contracts contain leases for any expired or existing contracts, (2) the lease classification for any expired or existing leases, and (3) initial direct costs for any existing or expired leases. In addition, CRA elected an accounting policy to exclude from the consolidated balance sheets the right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and lease liabilities related to short-term leases, which are those leases with an initial lease term of twelve months or less that do not include an option to purchase the underlying asset that CRA is reasonably certain to exercise. Refer to Note 10 for further discussion of CRA’s lease accounting policy.

The reported results for 2019 reflect the application of ASC 842 guidance, whereas comparative periods and their respective disclosures prior to the adoption of ASC 842 are presented using the legacy guidance of ASC 840.  As a result of adopting the new standard, CRA recognized ROU assets of $82.3 million and lease liabilities of $106.8 million. The difference between the amount of ROU assets and lease liabilities recognized was an adjustment to deferred rent.  There was no change to net deferred tax assets as a result of CRA’s adoption of ASC 842.  The adoption of ASC 842 did not have a material impact on CRA’s results of operations or cash flows, nor did it have an impact on any of CRA’s existing debt covenants.

Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting

CRA adopted ASU No. 2018-07, Compensation – Stock Compensation: Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting (Topic 718) (“ASU 2018-07”) on December 30, 2018. ASU 2018-07 expands the scope of Topic 718 to include share-based payment transactions for acquiring goods and services from nonemployees. The amendments in this update specify that Topic 718 applies to all share-based payment transactions in which a grantor acquires goods or services to be used or consumed in a grantor’s own operations by issuing share-based payment awards. The amendments also clarify that Topic 718 does not apply to share-based payments used effectively to provide financing to the issuer or awards granted in conjunction with selling goods or services to customers as part of a contract accounted for under Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The new guidance requires a remeasurement of nonemployee awards at fair value as of the adoption date. The adoption of ASU 2018-07 did not have a material impact on CRA’s financial position, results of operations, cash flows, or disclosures.

Recent Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

Financial Instruments — Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments

In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments — Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-13”). ASU 2016-13 replaces the methodology that recognizes impairment of financial instruments when losses have been incurred with a methodology that recognizes impairment of financial instruments when losses are expected. The amendment requires entities to use a forward-looking “expected loss” model for most financial instruments, including accounts receivable and loans, which is based on historical information, current information, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. For available-for-sale debt securities with unrealized losses, credit losses will be recognized as an allowance rather than as a reduction in the amortized cost of the debt securities. ASU 2016-13 is effective for CRA for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018.  Adoption of ASU 2016-13 will be applied as a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period after adoption.

In November 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-19, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments — Credit Losses (“ASU 2018-19”). ASU 2018-19 changes the required adoption date for nonpublic business entities and clarifies that receivables arising from operating leases are not within the scope of Topic 326.

CRA is in the process of determining the effects, if any, that the adoption of the amendments may have on its financial position, results of operations, cash flows, or disclosures.  CRA plans to adopt the amendments during the first quarter of 2020.

Fair Value Measurements (Topic 820)

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement (“ASU No.  2018-13”).  The ASU eliminates, adds and modifies certain disclosure requirements for fair value measurements from ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Topic 820). Entities will no longer be required to disclose the amount of and reasons for transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, but public companies will be required to disclose the range and weighted average used to develop significant unobservable inputs for Level 3 fair value measurement.  The new standard is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019.  Entities are permitted to early adopt either the entire standard or only the provisions that eliminate or modify the requirements. CRA has not yet determined the effects, if any, that the adoption of ASU 2018-13 may have on its financial position, results of operations, cash flows, or disclosures. CRA plans to adopt ASU 2018-13 during the first quarter of 2020.

Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15, Intangibles — Goodwill and Other — Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract (“ASU 2018-15”). ASU 2018-15 clarifies the accounting for implementation costs in a cloud computing arrangement that is a service contract and aligns the requirements for capitalizing those costs with the capitalization requirements for costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. The new standard is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019.  Early adoption is permitted. CRA is currently evaluating the effects, if any, the adoption of ASU 2018-15 may have on its financial position, results of operations, cash flows, or disclosures. CRA plans to adopt ASU 2018-15 during the first quarter of 2020.