In public accounting, engagement teams procure information from clients and create and complete workpapers based on that information. The team who initially does this gains an inherent understanding of the information because they performed the full procedures and created the workpapers. The next year and every year after, these workpapers often simply get rolled forward by updating the dates and names on them.
Over time, the team who initially completed the workpapers and gained that inherent understanding either goes to different clients or leaves the firm entirely and the new team members joining the team perform the procedures the same as previous years without actually inherently knowing why they're doing what they're doing. This inherent understanding rotting away over time due to rolling things forward year after year is called Rollforward Rot. It typically leads to long, frustrating engagements,low morale and high turnover.
Over time, the team who initially completed the workpapers and gained that inherent understanding either goes to different clients or leaves the firm entirely and the new team members joining the team perform the procedures the same as previous years without actually inherently knowing why they're doing what they're doing. This inherent understanding rotting away over time due to rolling things forward year after year is called Rollforward Rot. It typically leads to long, frustrating engagements,low morale and high turnover.
Associate: Hey, I really have no idea what I'm doing with this workpaper.
Senior: It's easy, just follow the procedures at top.
Associate: Ok, by why exactly are we doing these procedures, like what exactly is going on here and why?
Senior: I'm not really sure. I asked the managers the same thing and they weren't sure either, but the last year file was done this way so it should be good.
Associate: *thinking* Damn, the rollforward rot on this engagement is terrible. Nobody actually knows why we're doing any of this. I'm doing my 2-3 years and I'm out.
Senior: It's easy, just follow the procedures at top.
Associate: Ok, by why exactly are we doing these procedures, like what exactly is going on here and why?
Senior: I'm not really sure. I asked the managers the same thing and they weren't sure either, but the last year file was done this way so it should be good.
Associate: *thinking* Damn, the rollforward rot on this engagement is terrible. Nobody actually knows why we're doing any of this. I'm doing my 2-3 years and I'm out.
by NotDFDKMPG March 25, 2022
Get the Rollforward Rot mug.by dasher87 November 2, 2007
Get the rollbounce mug.Related Words
rollyo
• rollyourhands
• Rollover
• Rollo
• rollover minutes
• rolly polly
• rollbounce
• rolldog
• rollbot
• rollmop
by Ronny L, CI February 10, 2010
Get the Rollbot mug.Dude last jerk sesh, I had so much rollover jizz from my trip to tanzania, that I had to use a mop to clean up!
by Ralph Finkelstein August 17, 2011
Get the Rollover Jizz mug.by S Whitebread February 24, 2009
Get the Rick Rollologist mug.your pedophile gym teacher who grabs your ass and asks you to do extra stretches after school. He wants you to do extra bottom stretches too.
that mr.rollo
by MR.ROLLOS bRO(with out an"f") March 5, 2020
Get the MR.ROLLO mug.If your partner falls asleep during sex, punish them by taking a dump on either side of their pillow so that if they roll over while asleep, they wake up with their face covered in shit.
Sarah got mad when Ryan fell asleep during sex, so she unleashed the Cleveland rollover. He woke up startled when he rolled onto something hot and steamy.
by Catherine and Sarah October 23, 2007
Get the Cleveland rollover mug.