v3.20.4

ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (Tables) | 3 Months Ended
--- | ---
Nov. 30, 2020
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract] |
Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss | The following table summarizes the changes in the accumulated balances for each component of accumulated other comprehensive loss attributable to Accenture plc:
| Three Months Ended
| November 30, 2020 |  | November 30, 2019
Foreign currency translation |  |  |
Beginning balance | $ | (1,010,279) |  |  | $ | (1,207,975) |
Foreign currency translation | 67,443 |  |  | 40,145 |
Income tax benefit (expense) | 1,313 |  |  | (1,264) |
Portion attributable to noncontrolling interests | (1,444) |  |  | (1,151) |
Foreign currency translation, net of tax | 67,312 |  |  | 37,730 |
Ending balance | (942,967) |  |  | (1,170,245) |
Defined benefit plans |  |  |
Beginning balance | (615,223) |  |  | (672,323) |
Reclassifications into net periodic pension and post-retirement expense (1) | 13,595 |  |  | 12,784 |
Income tax benefit (expense) | (2,702) |  |  | (4,021) |
Portion attributable to noncontrolling interests | (12) |  |  | (11) |
Defined benefit plans, net of tax | 10,881 |  |  | 8,752 |
Ending balance | (604,342) |  |  | (663,571) |
Cash flow hedges |  |  |
Beginning balance | 63,714 |  |  | 38,993 |
Unrealized gain (loss) | 25,364 |  |  | 38,408 |
Reclassification adjustments into Cost of services | (20,895) |  |  | (20,019) |
Income tax benefit (expense) | (71) |  |  | (4,244) |
Portion attributable to noncontrolling interests | (5) |  |  | (18) |
Cash flow hedges, net of tax | 4,393 |  |  | 14,127 |
Ending balance (2) | 68,107 |  |  | 53,120 |
Investments |  |  |
Beginning balance | (49) |  |  | 728 |
Unrealized gain (loss) | 49 |  |  | — |
Income tax benefit (expense) | — |  |  | — |
Portion attributable to noncontrolling interests | — |  |  | — |
Investments, net of tax | 49 |  |  | — |
Ending balance | — |  |  | 728 |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | $ | (1,479,202) |  |  | $ | (1,779,968) |
(1)Reclassifications into net periodic pension and post-retirement expense are recognized in Cost of services, Sales and marketing, General and administrative costs and non-operating expenses. (2)As of November 30, 2020, $66,522 of net unrealized gains related to derivatives designated as cash flow hedges is expected to be reclassified into Cost of services in the next twelve months.

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Tabular disclosure of the components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 830 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450520&loc=d3e32583-110901 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 14A -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121641772&loc=SL7669686-108580 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 830 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 20 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118261656&loc=d3e32211-110900 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration