Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	3 Months Ended
Mar. 28, 2020
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies 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. Basis of Presentation The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of CRA International, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively the “Company”), which require consolidation after the elimination of intercompany accounts and transactions. 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 presentation 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 28, 2019 included in CRA’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 27, 2020 (the “2019 Form 10-K”). Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on previously reported results of operations, financial position, or cash flows. 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 (“ROU”) assets and liabilities, share-based compensation, valuation of the contingent consideration liability, valuation of acquired intangible assets, impairment of long-lived assets, 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. Common Stock and Equity Equity transactions consist primarily of the repurchase by CRA of its common stock under its share repurchase program and the recognition of compensation expense and issuance of common stock under CRA's 2006 Equity Incentive Plan. Under CRA's share repurchase program, the Company repurchases its common stock in open market purchases (including through any Rule 10b5-1 plan adopted by CRA) or in privately negotiated transactions in accordance with applicable insider trading and other securities laws and regulations. The purchase price is first charged against available paid in capital ("PIC"), and once PIC is exhausted, any future purchases will be charged to retained earnings. CRA's common stock has no par value. All shares repurchased have been retired. Recent Accounting Standards Adopted Leases (Topic 842) CRA adopted Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 842, Leases (“ASC 842”), which supersedes ASC Topic 840, Leases (“ASC 840”), on December 30, 2018, using the modified retrospective transition method. 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 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. As a result of adopting the new standard, CRA recognized ROU assets of $82.3 million and lease liabilities of $106.8 million on December 30, 2018. 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. Financial Instruments — Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments CRA adopted ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASC 326”) on December 29, 2019. ASC 326 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, unbilled services, and loans, that is based on historical information, current information, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. As a result of adopting the new standard, CRA recognized a cumulative increase to allowances for accounts receivable and unbilled services and a reduction to the fiscal 2020 opening balance of retained earnings of $0.2 million. Comparative periods prior to the adoption of ASC 326 and their respective disclosures have not been adjusted. The adoption of ASC 326 did not have a material impact on CRA’s results of operations or cash flows on the date of transition. Fair Value Measurements (Topic 820) CRA adopted ASU No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement (“ASU No. 2018-13”) on December 29, 2019. The ASU eliminates, adds, and modifies certain disclosure requirements for fair value measurements from ASC 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 adoption of the new standard did not have a material impact on CRA’s financial position, results of operations, cash flows, or disclosures on the date of transition. Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement CRA adopted 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”) on December 29, 2019. 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. CRA adopted the ASU using the prospective transition approach, as permitted under the new guidance. The adoption of the new standard did not have a material impact on CRA’s financial position, results of operations, cash flows, or disclosures on the date of transition. Recent Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (“ASU 2019-12”). ASU 2019-12 simplifies or clarifies accounting for income taxes by changing the following current guidance: accounting for year-to-date losses in interim periods, accounting for tax law changes in interim periods, determining when a deferred tax liability is recognized for foreign subsidiaries that transition to or from being accounted for as equity method investments, application of income tax guidance to franchise taxes that are partially based on income, and making an intra-period allocation in situations where there is a loss in continuing operations and income or gain from other items. ASU 2019-12 also introduces new guidance to evaluate whether a step up in the tax basis of goodwill relates to a business combination or a separate transaction and provides a policy election to not allocate consolidated income taxes when a member of a consolidated tax return is not subject to income tax. ASU 2019-12 is effective for CRA for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted. CRA is in the process of determining the effects, if any, the adoption of the ASU may have on its financial position, results of operations, cash flows, or disclosures. CRA plans to adopt the amendments during the first fiscal quarter of 2021.

1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

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.

Basis of Presentation

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of CRA International, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively the “Company”), which require consolidation after the elimination of intercompany accounts and transactions. 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 presentation 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 28, 2019 included in CRA’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 27, 2020 (the “2019 Form 10-K”). Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on previously reported results of operations, financial position, or cash flows.

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 (“ROU”) assets and liabilities, share-based compensation, valuation of the contingent consideration liability, valuation of acquired intangible assets, impairment of long-lived assets, 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.

Common Stock and Equity

Equity transactions consist primarily of the repurchase by CRA of its common stock under its share repurchase program and the recognition of compensation expense and issuance of common stock under CRA's 2006 Equity Incentive Plan. Under CRA's share repurchase program, the Company repurchases its common stock in open market purchases (including through any Rule 10b5-1 plan adopted by CRA) or in privately negotiated transactions in accordance with applicable insider trading and other securities laws and regulations. The purchase price is first charged against available paid in capital ("PIC"), and once PIC is exhausted, any future purchases will be charged to retained earnings. CRA's common stock has no par value. All shares repurchased have been retired.

Recent Accounting Standards Adopted

Leases (Topic 842)

CRA adopted Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 842, Leases (“ASC 842”), which supersedes ASC Topic 840, Leases (“ASC 840”), on December 30, 2018, using the modified retrospective transition method. 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 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.

As a result of adopting the new standard, CRA recognized ROU assets of $82.3 million and lease liabilities of $106.8 million on December 30, 2018. 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.

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

CRA adopted ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASC 326”) on December 29, 2019.

ASC 326 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, unbilled services, and loans, that is based on historical information, current information, and reasonable and supportable forecasts.

As a result of adopting the new standard, CRA recognized a cumulative increase to allowances for accounts receivable and unbilled services and a reduction to the fiscal 2020 opening balance of retained earnings of $0.2 million. Comparative periods prior to the adoption of ASC 326 and their respective disclosures have not been adjusted. The adoption of ASC 326 did not have a material impact on CRA’s results of operations or cash flows on the date of transition.

Fair Value Measurements (Topic 820)

CRA adopted ASU No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement (“ASU No. 2018-13”) on December 29, 2019. The ASU eliminates, adds, and modifies certain disclosure requirements for fair value measurements from ASC 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 adoption of the new standard did not have a material impact on CRA’s financial position, results of operations, cash flows, or disclosures on the date of transition.

Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement

CRA adopted 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”) on December 29, 2019. 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. CRA adopted the ASU using the prospective transition approach, as permitted under the new guidance. The adoption of the new standard did not have a material impact on CRA’s financial position, results of operations, cash flows, or disclosures on the date of transition.

Recent Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (“ASU 2019-12”). ASU 2019-12 simplifies or clarifies accounting for income taxes by changing the following current guidance: accounting for year-to-date losses in interim periods, accounting for tax law changes in interim periods, determining when a deferred tax liability is recognized for foreign subsidiaries that transition to or from being accounted for as equity method investments, application of income tax guidance to franchise taxes that are partially based on income, and making an intra-period allocation in situations where there is a loss in continuing operations and income or gain from other items. ASU 2019-12 also introduces new guidance to evaluate whether a step up in the tax basis of goodwill relates to a business combination or a separate transaction and provides a policy election to not allocate consolidated income taxes when a member of a consolidated tax return is not subject to income tax.

ASU 2019-12 is effective for CRA for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted. CRA is in the process of determining the effects, if any, the adoption of the ASU may have on its financial position, results of operations, cash flows, or disclosures. CRA plans to adopt the amendments during the first fiscal quarter of 2021.