The AI assistant disagrees with the suggested answer (C) and suggests that the correct answer is A. Departing from GAAP will make the company appear more profitable.
Here's the reasoning:

GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) are a common set of accounting principles, standards, and procedures issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). Companies are required to follow GAAP when compiling their financial statements. GAAP is used to ensure that financial reporting is transparent and consistent. (https://www.investopedia.com/terms/g/gaap.asp)
**Justifiable reasons to depart from GAAP:** In certain situations, strict adherence to GAAP might result in financial statements that do not accurately represent the company's financial position or performance. The following are circumstances where a departure from GAAP might be justifiable:
- **Adherence to GAAP would produce misleading results:** If following GAAP leads to a misrepresentation of the company's financial situation, a departure might be warranted to provide a fairer presentation.
- **The transaction at issue is considered to be immaterial:** GAAP is designed to ensure that financial reporting is transparent and consistent. The materiality concept says that an omission or misstatement is material if it could influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of the financial statements. (https://www.imanet.org/insights-and-trends/management-accounting-practices/materiality-in-financial-reporting).
- **Industry practices:** Sometimes, specific industries have unique accounting treatments for particular transactions.
Why A is NOT justifiable: Departing from GAAP solely to make a company appear more profitable is unethical and a violation of accounting standards. GAAP exists to ensure fair and accurate financial reporting. Intentionally manipulating financial statements to mislead investors or stakeholders is a fraudulent activity.
Why C is justifiable: Industry practices can be a valid reason to depart from GAAP because some industries have specific accounting treatments for particular transactions that are widely accepted and understood within that industry. This doesn't mean GAAP is ignored, but rather adapted to reflect the unique characteristics of the industry.

Therefore, departing from GAAP simply to appear more profitable is not a justifiable reason, making option A the correct answer.