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Revenue Recognition | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 29, 2018
Revenue Recognition |
Revenue Recognition | 14. Revenue Recognition CRA offers consulting services in two broad lines: (1) litigation, regulatory, and financial consulting; and (2) management consulting. Together, these two service lines comprised all of CRA's consolidated revenues during the fiscal quarter ended September 29, 2018. CRA recognizes all project revenue on a gross basis based on consideration of the criteria set forth in ASC Topic 606-10-55, Principal versus Agent Considerations. Revenue recognized during the fiscal quarter and fiscal year-to-date periods ended September 29, 2018 under ASC 606 are not materially different from the revenues that would have been recognized under ASC 605. CRA evaluates its revenue contracts with customers based on the five-step model under ASC 606: (1) Identify the contract with the customer; (2) Identify the performance obligations in the contract; (3) Determine the transaction price; (4) Allocate the transaction price to separate performance obligations; and (5) Recognize revenue when (or as) each performance obligation is satisfied. CRA evaluates its contracts for legal enforceability at contract inception and subsequently throughout CRA’s relationship with its customers. If legal enforceability with regards to the rights and obligations exist for both CRA and the customer, then CRA has an enforceable contract and revenue recognition is permitted subject to the satisfaction of the other criteria. If, at the outset of an arrangement, CRA determines that a contract with enforceable rights and obligations does not exist, revenues are deferred until all criteria for an enforceable contract are met. Revenue is recognized when, or as, obligations under the terms of a contract are satisfied, which occurs when control of the promised consulting services are transferred to customers. Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration CRA expects to receive in exchange for transferring consulting services to a customer (“transaction price”). To the extent the transaction price includes variable consideration, CRA estimates the amount of variable consideration that should be included in the transaction price utilizing the most likely amount to which it expects to be entitled. Variable consideration is included in the transaction price if, in CRA’s judgment, it is probable that a significant future reversal of cumulative revenue under the contract will not occur. Estimates of variable consideration and determination of whether to include estimated amounts in the transaction price are based largely on an assessment of CRA’s anticipated performance and all information (historical, current and forecasted) that is reasonably available. Sales, value add, and other taxes collected on behalf of third parties are excluded from revenue. When determining the transaction price of a contract, an adjustment is made if payment from a customer occurs either significantly before or significantly after performance, resulting in a significant financing component. Applying the practical expedient in ASC 606, CRA does not assess whether a significant financing component exists if the period between when it performs its obligations under the contract and when the customer pays is one year or less. None of the CRA’s contracts contained a significant financing component as of September 29, 2018. If the contract contains a single performance obligation, the entire transaction price is allocated to the single performance obligation. Contracts that contain multiple performance obligations require an allocation of the transaction price based on the estimated relative standalone selling prices of the promised consulting services underlying each performance obligation. CRA determines standalone selling prices based on the price at which the performance obligation is sold separately. If the standalone selling price is not observable through past transactions, CRA estimates the standalone selling price considering all available information such as market conditions and internally approved pricing guidelines related to the performance obligations. Contracts are often modified to account for changes in project scope. Contract modifications exist when the modification either creates new, or changes existing, enforceable rights and obligations. Generally, contract modifications for consulting services are not distinct from the existing contract as the modification expands CRA’s consulting services, contemplated by the existing contract and thus are accounted for as if they were part of that existing contract. The effect of a contract modification on the transaction price and measure of progress for the performance obligation to which it relates is recognized as an adjustment to revenue on a cumulative catch-up basis. Consulting services revenue is generally recognized over time as the services are delivered to the customer based on the extent of progress towards completion of the performance obligation. The selection of the method to measure progress towards completion requires judgment and is based on the nature of the consulting services to be provided. Depending on which better depicts the transfer of value to the customer, CRA generally measures its progress on time and materials projects based on the hours incurred and the stated rates outlined in our retention letters with our customers. For fixed price projects progress is measured on a cost-to-cost basis. CRA uses the right-to-invoice measure of progress when it has a right to invoice the customer for an amount that corresponds directly with the value to the customer of its performance to date. Under the right-to-invoice measure of progress, revenues are recorded equal to the amount CRA could invoice the customer. CRA uses the cost-to-cost measure of progress when it best depicts the transfer of value to the customer which occurs as it incurs costs on its contract. Under the cost-to-cost measure of progress, the extent of progress towards completion is measured based on the ratio of costs incurred to date to the total estimated costs at completion of the performance obligation. Revenues are recorded proportionally as costs are incurred. Consulting Services Revenues The contracts CRA enters into and operates under specify whether the engagements are billed on a time-and-materials or a fixed-price basis. Most of CRA's revenue is derived from time-and-materials service contracts. Revenues from time-and-materials service contracts are recognized as services are provided based upon hours worked and contractually agreed-upon hourly rates, as well as indirect fees based upon hours worked. Revenues from a majority of CRA's fixed-price engagements are recognized on a proportional performance method based on the ratio of costs incurred (input method), substantially all of which are labor-related, to the total estimated project costs. In general, project costs are classified in costs of services and are based on the direct salary of CRA’s employee consultants on the engagement plus all direct expenses incurred to complete the engagement, including any amounts billed to CRA by its non-employee experts. Disaggregation of Revenue The following table disaggregates CRA’s revenue by major business line and timing of transfer of its consulting services. Refer to Note 12 to CRA’s consolidated financial statements included in the annual report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2017, which was filed with the SEC on March 12, 2018, for further detail on revenues by geographical location (in thousands).
|  | Fiscal Quarter |  | Fiscal Year-to-Date
|  | Ended |  | Period Ended
|  | September 29, |  | September 30, |  | September 29, |  | September 30,
Type of Contract |  | 2018 |  | 2017 (1) |  | 2018 |  | 2017 (1)
Consulting services revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fixed Price |  | $ | 25,047 |  | $ | 23,330 |  | $ | 66,440 |  | $ | 70,235
Time-and-materials |  |  | 78,824 |  |  | 67,995 |  |  | 242,445 |  |  | 202,824
Total |  | $ | 103,871 |  | $ | 91,325 |  | $ | 308,885 |  | $ | 273,059
|  | Fiscal Quarter |  | Fiscal Year-to-Date
|  | Ended |  | Period Ended
|  | September 29, |  | September 30, |  | September 29, |  | September 30,
Geographic Breakdown |  | 2018 |  | 2017 (1) |  | 2018 |  | 2017 (1)
Consulting services revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
United States |  | $ | 80,721 |  | $ | 70,910 |  | $ | 244,878 |  | $ | 217,609
United Kingdom |  |  | 17,253 |  |  | 13,572 |  |  | 47,317 |  |  | 40,444
Other |  |  | 5,897 |  |  | 6,843 |  |  | 16,690 |  |  | 15,006
Total |  | $ | 103,871 |  | $ | 91,325 |  | $ | 308,885 |  | $ | 273,059
| (1) |  | As noted above, prior period amounts have not been adjusted under the modified retrospective method.
Reserves for Variable Consideration and Credit Risk Revenues from CRA’s consulting services are recorded at the net transaction price, which includes estimates of variable consideration for which reserves are established. These variable consideration reserves, which are based on actual price concessions and those expected to be extended to CRA customers, are classified as reductions of accounts receivable and unbilled services. These calculated estimates take into consideration CRA’s historical experiences of prior period revenues that were subsequently reversed due to these price concessions. Overall, these reserves reflect CRA’s best estimates of the amount of consideration to which it is entitled based on the terms of its contracts with its customers. The amount of variable consideration that is included in the transaction price may be constrained, and is included in the net transaction price only to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of the cumulative revenue recognized will not occur in a future period. Actual amounts of consideration ultimately received may differ from CRA’s estimates. If actual results in the future vary from its estimates, CRA adjusts these estimates, which would affect net revenue and earnings in the period such variances become known. CRA's accounts receivable and unbilled services consist of receivables from a broad range of clients in a variety of industries located throughout the U.S. and in other countries. CRA performs a credit evaluation of its clients to minimize its collectability risk. Periodically, CRA will require advance payment from certain clients. However, CRA does not require collateral or other security. CRA maintains accounts receivable allowances for estimated losses and disputed amounts resulting from clients' failures to make required payments. These allowances are determined for specific customer accounts and are based on the financial condition of CRA's customer and related facts and circumstances. During the fiscal quarter and fiscal year-to-date period ended September 29, 2018, $0.7 million and $1.1 million, respectively were recorded as a bad debt expense and reported as a component of selling, general and administrative expenses related to credit-related losses. Revenues also include reimbursable expenses, which include travel and other out‑of‑pocket expenses, outside consultants, and other reimbursable expenses. Reimbursable expenses are as follows (in thousands):
|  | Fiscal Quarter |  | Fiscal Year-to-Date
|  | Ended |  | Period Ended
|  | September 29, |  | September 30, |  | September 29, |  | September 30,
|  | 2018 |  | 2017 |  | 2018 |  | 2017
Reimbursable expenses |  | $ | 11,422 |  | $ | 9,675 |  | $ | 34,737 |  | $ | 29,463
Transaction Price Allocated to Future Performance Obligations ASC 606 requires that CRA disclose the aggregate amount of transaction price that is allocated to performance obligations that have not yet been satisfied as of September 29, 2018. The guidance provides certain practical expedients that limit this requirement for (1) contracts with an original expected length of one year or less and (2) contracts for which revenue is recognized at the amount to which CRA has the right to invoice for consulting services performed. Given the nature of its business, CRA does not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations as the practical expedients apply to its unsatisfied performance obligations as of September 29, 2018. Contract Balances from Contracts with Customers CRA defines contract assets as assets for which it has recorded revenue because it determines that it is probable that it will earn a performance based or contingent fee, but is not yet entitled to receive a fee, because certain events, such as completion of the measurement period or client approval, must occur. These contract assets are included in accounts receivable, net and unbilled services within the consolidated balance sheets. The contract assets balance was immaterial as of September 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017. CRA defines contract liabilities as advance payments from or billings to its clients for services that have not yet been performed or earned and retainers. These liabilities are recorded within deferred revenues and are recognized as services are provided. When consideration is received, or such consideration is unconditionally due from a customer prior to transferring consulting services to the customer under the terms of a contract, a contract liability is recorded. Contract liabilities are recognized as revenue after control of the consulting services are transferred to the customer and all revenue recognition criteria have been met. During the fiscal quarter and fiscal year-to-date period ended September 29, 2018, CRA recognized the following revenue as a result of changes in the contract liability balance (in thousands):
|  |  |  | Fiscal
|  | Fiscal Quarter |  | Year-to-Date
|  | Ended |  | Period Ended
Revenue recognized in the period from: |  | September 29, 2018 |  | September 29, 2018
Amounts included in contract liabilities at the beginning of the period |  | $ | 1,505 |  | $ | 6,022
Performance obligations satisfied in previous periods |  | $ | 3,442 |  | $ | 8,834
The timing of revenue recognition, billings and cash collections results in billed receivables, unbilled services and contract liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. Costs to Obtain or Fulfill a Customer Contract Prior to the adoption of ASC 606, CRA expensed bonuses paid to its employees. Under ASC 606, bonuses are not linked or paid based on specific contract billings or revenues and therefore do not represent incremental costs of obtaining a contract with a customer. Furthermore, even if the bonuses paid were incremental, the practical expedient in ASC 340 would apply, allowing for incremental costs of obtaining contracts to be expensed as incurred if the amortization period of the assets that it otherwise would have recognized is one year or less. As such, these costs are included in both cost of services and selling, general, and administrative expenses.

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