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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Huron Consulting Group Inc. and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly-owned. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts that are reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying disclosures. Actual results may differ from these estimates and assumptions.

Revenue Recognition

We generate substantially all of our revenues from providing professional services to our clients. We also generate revenues from software

licenses; software support and maintenance and subscriptions to our cloud-based analytic tools and solutions; speaking engagements;

conferences; and publications. A single contract could include one or multiple performance obligations. For those contracts that have multiple

performance obligations, we allocate the total transaction price to each performance obligation based on its relative standalone selling price,

which is determined based on our overall pricing objectives, taking into consideration market conditions and other factors.

Revenue is recognized when control of the goods and services provided are transferred to our customers and in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for those goods and services using the following steps: 1) identify the contract, 2) identify the performance obligations, 3) determine the transaction price, 4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract, and 5) recognize revenue as or when we satisfy the performance obligations.

We typically satisfy our performance obligations for professional services over time as the related services are provided. The performance obligations related to software support and maintenance and subscriptions to our cloud-based analytic tools and solutions are typically satisfied evenly over the course of the service period. Other performance obligations, such as certain software licenses, speaking engagements, conferences, and publications, are satisfied at a point in time.

We generate our revenues under four types of billing arrangements: fixed-fee (including software license revenue); time-and-expense; performance-based; and software support, maintenance and subscriptions.

In fixed-fee billing arrangements, we agree to a pre-established fee in exchange for a predetermined set of professional services. We set the fees based on our estimates of the costs and timing for completing the engagements. We generally recognize revenues under fixed-fee billing arrangements using a proportionate performance approach, which is based on work completed to-date versus our estimates of the total services to be provided under the engagement. Contracts within our Culture and Organizational Excellence solution include fixed-fee partner contracts with multiple performance obligations, which primarily consist of coaching services, as well as speaking engagements, conferences, publications and software products (“Partner Contracts”). Revenues for coaching services and software products are generally recognized on a straight-line basis over the length of the contract. All other revenues under Partner Contracts, including speaking engagements, conferences and publications, are recognized at the time the goods or services are provided. Estimates of total engagement revenues and cost of services are monitored regularly during the term of the engagement.

We also generate revenues from software licenses for our revenue cycle management software and research administration and compliance software. Licenses for our revenue cycle management software are sold only as a component of our consulting projects, and the services we provide are essential to the functionality of the software. Therefore, revenues from these software licenses are recognized over the term of the related consulting services contract. License revenue from our research administration and compliance software is generally recognized in the month in which the software is delivered.

Time-and-expense billing arrangements require the client to pay based on the number of hours worked by our revenue-generating professionals at agreed upon rates. Time-and-expense arrangements also include certain speaking engagements, conferences, and publications purchased by our clients outside of Partner Contracts within our Culture and Organizational Excellence solution and the portion of our Healthcare Managed Services contracts that are billed under time-and-expense arrangements. We recognize revenues under time-and-expense arrangements as the related services or publications are provided, using the right to invoice practical expedient which allows us to recognize revenue in the amount that we have a right to invoice based on the number of hours worked and the agreed upon hourly rates or the value of the speaking engagements, conferences or publications purchased by our clients.

In performance-based billing arrangements, fees are tied to the attainment of contractually defined objectives. We enter into performance-based engagements in essentially two forms. First, we generally earn fees that are directly related to the savings formally acknowledged by the client as a result of adopting our recommendations for improving operational and cost effectiveness in the areas we review. Second, we have performance-based engagements in which we earn a success fee when and if certain predefined outcomes occur. We recognize revenue under performance-based billing arrangements using the following steps: 1) estimate variable consideration using a probability-weighted assessment of the fees to be earned, 2) apply a constraint to the estimated variable consideration to limit the amount that could be reversed when the uncertainty is resolved (the “constraint”), and 3) recognize revenue of estimated variable consideration, net of the constraint, based on work completed to-date versus our estimates of the total services to be provided under the engagement.

Clients that have purchased one of our software licenses can pay an annual fee for software support and maintenance. We also generate subscription revenue from our cloud-based analytic tools and solutions. Software support, maintenance and subscription revenues are recognized ratably over the support or subscription period. These fees are generally billed in advance and included in deferred revenues until recognized.

Provisions are recorded for the estimated realization adjustments on all engagements, including engagements for which fees are subject to review by the bankruptcy courts.

Expense reimbursements that are billable to clients are included in total revenues and reimbursable expenses. Under fixed-fee billing arrangements, we estimate the total amount of reimbursable expenses to be incurred over the course of the engagement and recognize the estimated amount as revenue using a proportionate performance approach, which is based on work completed to-date versus our estimates of the total services to be provided under the engagement. Under time-and-expense billing arrangements we recognize reimbursable

expenses as revenue as the related services are provided, using the right to invoice practical expedient. Reimbursable expenses are recognized as expenses in the period in which the expense is incurred. Subcontractors that are billed to clients at cost are also included in reimbursable expenses. When billings do not specifically identify reimbursable expenses, we allocate the portion of the billings equivalent to these expenses to reimbursable expenses. The payment terms and conditions in our customer contracts vary. Differences between the timing of billings and the recognition of revenue are recognized as either unbilled services or deferred revenues in the consolidated balance sheets. Revenues recognized for services performed but not yet billed to clients are recorded as unbilled services. Revenues recognized, but for which we are not yet entitled to bill because certain events, such as the completion of the measurement period or client approval, must occur, are recorded as contract assets and included within unbilled services. Client prepayments and retainers are classified as deferred revenues and recognized over future periods as earned in accordance with the applicable engagement agreement.

Commissions Expense, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Capitalized Sales CommissionsSales commissions earned by our sales professionals are considered incremental and recoverable costs of obtaining a contract with a customer. Sales commissions with an expected amortization period greater than one year are deferred and amortized on a straight-line basis over the period of the associated contract. We elected to apply the practical expedient to expense sales commissions as incurred when the expected amortization period is one year or less. Amortization expense is recorded to direct costs.

Allowances for Doubtful Accounts and Unbilled Services

We maintain allowances for doubtful accounts and for services performed but not yet billed based on several factors, including the estimated cash realization from amounts due from clients, an assessment of a client’s ability to make required payments, and the historical percentages of fee adjustments and write-offs by age of receivables and unbilled services. The allowances are assessed by management on a regular basis. These estimates may differ from actual results. If the financial condition of a client deteriorates in the future, impacting the client’s ability to make payments, an increase to our allowance might be required or our allowance may not be sufficient to cover actual write-offs.

We record the provision for doubtful accounts and unbilled services as a reduction in revenue to the extent the provision relates to fee adjustments and other discretionary pricing adjustments. To the extent the provision relates to a client’s inability to make required payments on accounts receivables, we record the provision to selling, general and administrative expenses.

Direct Costs and Reimbursable Expenses

Direct costs and reimbursable expenses consist primarily of revenue-generating employee compensation and their related benefits and share-based compensation costs; as well as technology costs, commissions, the cost of outside consultants or subcontractors assigned to revenue-generating activities, other third-party costs directly attributable to our revenue-generating activities, and direct expenses to be reimbursed by clients. Direct costs and reimbursable expenses incurred on engagements are expensed in the period incurred.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

We consider all highly liquid investments, including overnight investments and commercial paper, with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

Concentrations of Credit Risk

To the extent receivables from clients become delinquent, collection activities commence. No single client balance is considered large enough to pose a material credit risk. The allowances for doubtful accounts and unbilled services are based upon the expected ability to collect accounts receivable and bill and collect unbilled services. Management does not anticipate incurring losses on accounts receivable in excess of established allowances. See Note 19 “Segment Information” for concentration of accounts receivable and unbilled services.

We hold our cash in accounts at multiple third-party financial institutions. These deposits, at times, may exceed federally insured limits. We review the credit ratings of these financial institutions, regularly monitor the cash balances in these accounts, and adjust the balances as appropriate. However, these cash balances could be impacted if the underlying financial institutions fail or are subject to other adverse conditions in the financial markets.

Investments

Long-term Investments

Our long-term investments consist of our convertible debt investment in Shorelight Holdings, LLC (“Shorelight”) and preferred stock investment in Medically Home Group, Inc. (“Medically Home”).

We classified the convertible debt investment in Shorelight as available-for-sale at the time of purchase and reevaluate such classification as of each balance sheet date. The investment is carried at fair value with unrealized holding gains and losses reported in other comprehensive income. If the investment is in an unrealized loss position due to significant credit deterioration of the investee, we recognize an allowance to decrease the carrying value of the investment to the fair value, which may be reversed in the event that the credit of an issuer improves. In the event there are realized gains and losses or credit allowances recognized, we will record the amount in earnings. We have not recognized any credit allowance on our convertible debt investment or realized gains or losses as of December 31, 2021. See Note 13 “Fair Value of Financial Instruments” for additional information on our convertible debt investment.

We classified the preferred stock investment in Medically Home as an equity security without a readily determinable value at the time of purchase and reevaluate such classification as of each balance sheet date. We elected to apply the measurement alternative at the time of purchase and will continue to do so until the investment does not qualify to be so measured. Under the measurement alternative, the investment is carried at cost minus impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for an identical or similar investment in Medically Home. Any unrealized holding gains and losses resulting from observable price changes are recorded in our consolidated statement of operations. Following our purchase, we have not identified any impairment of our investment.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are recorded at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation of property and equipment is computed on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Software, computers, and related equipment are depreciated over an estimated useful life of two to four years. Furniture and fixtures are depreciated over five years. Aircraft are depreciated over ten years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of the estimated useful life of the asset or the initial term of the lease.

Deferred Lease Incentives

Leases

We determine if an arrangement contains a lease and the classification of such lease at inception. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, all of our material leases are classified as operating leases; we have not entered into any material finance leases. For all operating leases with an initial term greater than 12 months, we recognize an operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) asset and operating lease liability. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet; we recognize lease expense for these leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

Operating lease ROU assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term, and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As our leases do not provide an implicit rate, we use our incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the lease commencement date and provided by the administrative agent for our senior secured credit facility in determining the present value of lease payments. Operating lease ROU assets exclude lease incentives. We elected the practical expedient to combine lease and nonlease components. Certain lease agreements contain variable lease payments that do not depend on an index or rate. These variable lease payments are not included in the calculation of the operating lease ROU asset and operating lease liability; instead, they are expensed as incurred. Our leases may contain options to extend or terminate the lease, and we include these terms in our calculation of the operating lease ROU asset and operating lease liability when it is reasonably certain that we will exercise the option.

Operating lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term and recorded within selling, general and administrative expenses on our consolidated statement of operations. In accordance with our accounting policy for impairment of long-lived assets, operating lease ROU assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset group to which the operating lease ROU asset is assigned may not be recoverable. We evaluate the recoverability of the asset group based on forecasted undiscounted cash flows.

Software Development Costs

We incur internal and external software development costs related to our cloud computing applications and software for internal use. We capitalize these software development costs incurred during the application development stage. Costs related to preliminary project activities and post implementation activities are expensed as incurred. Once the project is substantially complete and ready for its intended use, these costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the technology's estimated useful life. Acquired technology assets are initially recorded at fair value and amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life.

Development costs related to software products that will be sold, leased, or otherwise marketed are expensed until technological feasibility has been established. Thereafter, and until the software is available for general release to customers, these software development costs are capitalized and subsequently reported at the lower of unamortized cost or net realizable value. These capitalized development costs are amortized in proportion to current and future revenue for each product with an annual minimum equal to the straight-line amortization over the remaining estimated economic life of the product. We did not capitalize any development costs for this type of software during 2021 or 2020.

We classify capitalized software development costs, which primarily relate to cloud computing applications and software for internal use, as other non-current assets on our consolidated balance sheet. As of December 31, 2021, gross capitalized software development costs and related accumulated amortization was $33.6 million and $15.6 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2020, gross capitalized software development costs and related accumulated amortization was $28.5 million and $10.6 million, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, we amortized $5.2 million, $4.7 million, and $3.0 million, respectively, of capitalized software development costs.

Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement

We incur costs to implement cloud computing arrangements that are service contracts. We capitalize certain costs associated with the implementation of the cloud computing arrangements, including employee payroll and related benefits and third party consulting costs, incurred during the application development stage of a project. These costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the term of the hosting service contracts, including renewal periods we are reasonably certain to exercise, and recognized as a component of selling, general and administrative expenses on our consolidated statement of operations. As of December 31, 2021 gross capitalized implementation costs incurred in a cloud computing arrangement and related accumulated amortization were $6.5 million and $0.9 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2020, gross capitalized implementation costs incurred in a cloud computing arrangement were $5.4 million, which began amortizing in January 2021. Our capitalized implementation costs primarily relate to the implementation of a new enterprise resource planning (“ERP”) system during 2020 and 2021. In January 2021, we successfully went live with the new ERP system, and we continue to progress with additional functionality and integrations as scheduled. These capitalized costs are included as a component of prepaid expenses and other current assets and other non-current assets on our consolidated balance sheet.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Intangible Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Intangible Assets Other Than Goodwill

Identifiable intangible assets are amortized over their expected useful lives using a method that reflects the economic benefit expected to be derived from the assets or on a straight-line basis. We evaluate the recoverability of intangible assets periodically by considering events or circumstances that may warrant revised estimates of useful lives or that indicate the asset may be impaired.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Impairment of Long-Lived AssetsLong-lived assets, including property and equipment, right-of-use assets, and intangible assets, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Events relating to recoverability may include significant unfavorable changes in business conditions, recurring losses, or a significant decline in forecasted operating results over an extended period of time. We evaluate the recoverability of long-lived assets based on forecasted undiscounted cash flows.

Goodwill

For acquisitions accounted for as a business combination, goodwill represents the excess of the cost over the fair value of the net assets acquired. We are required to test goodwill for impairment, at the reporting unit level, annually and when events or circumstances indicate the fair value of a reporting unit may be below its carrying value. We perform our annual goodwill impairment test as of November 30 and monitor for interim triggering events on an ongoing basis. A reporting unit is an operating segment or one level below an operating segment (referred to as a component) to which goodwill is assigned when initially recorded. We assign goodwill to reporting units based on our integration plans and the expected synergies resulting from the acquisition. As of December 31, 2021, we have five reporting units: Healthcare, Education, Business Advisory, Enterprise Solutions and Analytics, and Strategy and Innovation. The Business Advisory, Enterprise Solutions and

Analytics, and Strategy and Innovation reporting units make up our Business Advisory operating segment. During the fourth quarter of 2021, we completed the divestiture of our Life Sciences business, which was a reporting unit within the Business Advisory segment.

We test goodwill for impairment annually and whenever events or circumstances make it more likely than not that an impairment may have

occurred. We perform our annual goodwill impairment test as of November 30 and monitor for interim triggering events on an ongoing basis.

Business Combinations

Business CombinationsWe use the acquisition method of accounting for business combinations. Each acquired company’s operating results are included in our consolidated financial statements starting on the date of acquisition. The purchase price is equivalent to the fair value of consideration transferred. Upon our adoption of Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2021-08, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers which we retrospectively applied to all acquisitions in 2021, contract assets and contract liabilities acquired are recorded at their carrying value under Topic 606: Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Prior to adoption of ASU 2021-08, contract assets and contract liabilities were recognized at their estimated fair values as of the acquisition date. All other assets tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recorded at fair value as of the acquisition date. Goodwill is recognized for the excess of purchase price over the net value of tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Contingent consideration, which is primarily based on the business achieving certain performance targets, is recognized at its fair value on the acquisition date, and changes in fair value are recognized in earnings until settled.

Income Taxes

Income TaxesCurrent tax liabilities and assets are recognized for the estimated taxes payable or refundable, respectively, on the tax returns for the current year. We have elected to recognize the tax expense related to Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income ("GILTI") as a current period expense when incurred. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. To the extent that deferred tax assets will not likely be recovered from future taxable income, a valuation allowance is established against such deferred tax assets.

Share-Based Compensation

Share-based compensation cost is measured based on the grant date fair value of the respective awards. We generally recognize share-based compensation ratably using the straight-line attribution method; however, for those awards with performance criteria and graded vesting features, we use the graded vesting attribution method. It is our policy to account for forfeitures as they occur.

Sponsorship and Advertising Costs

Sponsorship and Advertising CostsSponsorship and advertising costs are expensed as incurred.

Debt Issuance Costs

We amortize the costs we incur to obtain debt financing over the contractual life of the related debt using the effective interest method for non-revolving debt and the straight-line method for revolving debt. The amortization expense is included in interest expense, net of interest

income in our statement of operations. Unamortized debt issuance costs attributable to our revolving credit facility are included as a component of other non-current assets.

Foreign Currency

Assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries whose functional currency is not the United States Dollar (USD) are translated into USD using the exchange rates in effect at period end. Revenue and expense items are translated using the average exchange rates for the period. Foreign currency translation adjustments are included in accumulated other comprehensive income, which is a component of stockholders’ equity.

Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are included in other income, net on the consolidated statement of operations.

Segment Reporting

Segments are defined as components of a company that engage in business activities from which they may earn revenues and incur expenses, and for which separate financial information is available and is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker, or decision-making group, in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. As of December 31, 2021, our chief operating decision maker manages the business under three operating segments, which are our reportable segments: Healthcare, Business Advisory, and Education. See Note 19 "Segment Information" for additional information on the segment reorganization effective in the first quarter of 2022.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued ASU 2020-01, Investments - Equity Securities (Topic 321) - Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323), and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815) - Clarifying the Interactions between Topic 321, Topic 323, and Topic 815. ASU 2020-01 clarifies that an entity should consider observable transactions that require it to either apply or discontinue the equity method of accounting for the purpose of applying the measurement alternative in accordance with Topic 321. We elected to early adopt ASU 2020-10 effective January 1, 2021, which did not have any impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In October 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-10, Codification Improvements. ASU 2020-10 situates all disclosure guidance within the appropriate disclosure section of the Codification and makes other improvements and technical corrections to the Codification. We adopted ASU 2020-10 effective January 1, 2021, which did not have any impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In October 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-08, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers. The amendments of this ASU require entities to apply Topic 606 to recognize and measure contract assets and contract liabilities in a business combination. The amendments improve comparability after the business combination by providing consistent recognition and measurement guidance for revenue contracts with customers acquired in a business combination and revenue contracts with customers not acquired in a business combination. We elected to early adopt ASU 2021-08 in the fourth quarter of 2021 on a retrospective basis for all 2021 acquisitions, which had no impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Not Yet Adopted

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. In January 2021, the FASB clarified the scope of that guidance with the issuance of ASU 2021-01, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Scope. Together, these ASUs provide optional expedients and exceptions for a limited period of time to ease the potential burden in accounting for, or recognizing the effects of, reference rate reform on financial reporting under GAAP. This standard is optional and may be applied by entities after March 12, 2020, but no later than December 31, 2022. We have certain debt instruments and related interest rate swaps that are indexed to LIBOR; as such, we are currently evaluating the potential impact this guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements.

Derivatives, Policy [Policy Text Block]

We recognize all derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities at fair value on the balance sheet. We have designated these derivative instruments as cash flow hedges. Therefore, changes in the fair value of the derivative instruments are recorded to other comprehensive income (“OCI”) to the extent effective and reclassified into interest expense upon settlement. As of December 31, 2021, it was anticipated that $1.1 million of the losses, net of tax, currently recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income will be reclassified into earnings within the next 12 months.

The table below sets forth additional information relating to our interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedging instruments as of December 31, 2021 and 2020.


	Fair Value (Derivative Asset and Liability) As of December 31,
Balance Sheet Location	2021		2020

Other non-current assets	$	1,210	$	—
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	$	1,604	$	2,100
Deferred compensation and other liabilities	$	149	$	3,297

All of our derivative instruments are transacted under the International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) master agreements. These agreements permit the net settlement of amounts owed in the event of default and certain other termination events. Although netting is permitted, it is our policy to record all derivative assets and liabilities on a gross basis on our consolidated balance sheet.

We do not use derivative instruments for trading or other speculative purposes.