Read the deal correctly
Distinguish customer contracts from collaborations and keep the analysis current as territories, options and obligations change.
New book by Michelle Olufeso-Nwokobia
Accounting for Innovation
Revenue Recognition in the Age of Biotech Breakthroughs
A practical field guide for the people translating complex science, evolving deal terms and uncertain milestones into financial reporting that holds up.
For finance, business development, legal and governance teams working in life sciences.
11Focused chapters
200Pages of guidance
IFRS 15Applied to real deal structures
ASC 606Cross-border comparison
The case for this book
Innovation changes the science. It also changes the accounting.
“Revenue in life sciences is rarely ‘just the invoice.’”
From the forewordLicensing arrangements now blend intellectual property, R&D services, manufacturing commitments, regulatory support and milestone-heavy economics. This book gives practitioners a disciplined way to identify what has been promised, value uncertainty and recognise revenue in line with the substance of the deal.
Make judgement defensible
Work through distinct promises, variable consideration, royalties and stand-alone selling prices with clarity.
Connect finance to strategy
Bring accounting insight into the room early enough to shape stronger agreements—not simply report them afterwards.
Inside the book
A working guide, not shelfware.
The eleven chapters follow the logic of IFRS 15 from contract identification through disclosure, then extend the analysis to AI-driven deals and dual reporting.
Start with the relationship
Contracts, collaborators and changing obligations
Clarify scope, distinguish a customer from a collaborator, and handle contract changes, renewals, terminations and costs.
Define and value the promise
Performance obligations, milestones and allocation
Assess licences, R&D, manufacturing and distribution commitments; then estimate and allocate uncertain consideration.
Recognise what has transferred
Measurement, case studies and disclosure
Choose over-time or point-in-time recognition, measure progress and communicate the economics behind complex arrangements.
Prepare for what comes next
AI-driven structures and IFRS 15 vs. ASC 606
Explore platform licences, digital therapeutics, data-driven deal terms and the practical nuances of dual reporting.
From the closing chapter
“The goal is not just compliance.”
It is to provide meaningful information that helps investors, partners and stakeholders understand the value and potential inside complex collaborations.
Practitioner, then author
Written from inside the deals.
Michelle writes from more than two decades across pharmaceuticals, financial services, telecommunications and oil & gas—including twelve years at Roche and the co-development of IFRS 15 through the IASB and FASB standard-setting process.
Her perspective is technically grounded, commercially aware and built for the moments when the science is moving, the deadline is short and the accounting conclusion still has to stand.
Meet the authorWho it is for
Built for the people around the deal table.
Use it as a desk reference, a cross-functional conversation starter or a structured route through a live arrangement.
Finance leaders & controllers
Translate commercial terms into supportable recognition, measurement and disclosure.
Business development & deal teams
See the reporting consequences of structure before a term sheet becomes a signed contract.
Legal, governance & audit
Understand the judgements, documentation and controls behind high-stakes conclusions.
Bring clarity to the next complex deal
Put Accounting for Innovation on your deal team’s desk.
Purchase your copy directly from Michelle’s official book page.
Buy the book