Final answer:
The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issues accounting standards in the United States, while the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) oversees securities industry regulation and can set financial reporting standards. GAAP refers to accounting principles, IASB to international standards, making FASB the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The organization that issues accounting standards for firms operating in the United States is the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). The FASB is responsible for establishing and improving standards of financial accounting and reporting for nongovernmental entities. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is a federal agency that oversees the securities industry, including enforcing federal securities laws and regulating securities firms, but it does not directly issue accounting standards, though it has the statutory authority to set financial reporting standards. The acronym GAAP refers to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, which is a framework of accounting standards, principles, and procedures, not an organization. International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) is the independent standard-setting body that issues international financial reporting standards (IFRS), relevant for international use. Therefore, the correct answer is d. FASB.