CPA SCENE: St. Louis Hosts MAP 33

Legendary Conference on Management of an Accounting Practice Opens with Flourish

ST. LOUIS - The Missouri MAP meeting opened it’s two-day run here on Monday with presentations from Shannon Vincent of the ReNew Group and Mike Platt, of the Leadership Coalition. And it ended with a state of the profession report from AICPA CEO Barry Melancon. The second day was highlighted by Jeff Pawlow of The Growth Partnership and roundtable problem-solving sessions among the attendees. The 33-year-old conference is considered the orginator of the practice-management movement in the profession.

AICPA chief Barry Melancon (left) chats with Missouri society CEO Jim O’Hallaron.

Read more

Posted on September 27, 2005
Filed Under BSG BUSINESS BUILDER | Leave a Comment

Read more

Posted on September 26, 2005
Filed Under BSG [CPA TRENDLINES] | Leave a Comment

Read more

Posted on September 26, 2005
Filed Under BSG [CPA TRENDLINES] | Leave a Comment

Read more

Posted on September 26, 2005
Filed Under BSG [CPA TRENDLINES] | Leave a Comment

Read more

Posted on September 26, 2005
Filed Under BSG [CPA TRENDLINES] | Leave a Comment

Read more

Posted on September 26, 2005
Filed Under BSG [CPA TRENDLINES] | Leave a Comment

Are CPAs Fretting Too Much?

Years after Enron and WorldCom, CPAs worry about the profession’s image. But fresh studies show recovery.

by Rick Telberg
[for the AICPA Insider]

New studies suggest that the accounting profession is recovering from the tarnish left by Enron and WorldCom, and yet a significant slice of public practice and industry CPAs still seem to feel the scars. “Public perception and overall regulation will be the major factors impacting our profession,” worries Ralph L. DePanfilis, head of a four-CPA firm in Norwalk, Conn. However, fresh surveys of the profession’s reputation among the public at large should give worried CPAs cause for comfort. Read more

Posted on September 26, 2005
Filed Under BSG [CPA TRENDLINES] | 2 Comments

STUDY PREVIEW: CPAs Brace for Tougher Busy Season

Early results from our latest survey in the field suggest trouble ahead.

Soundings from CPAs in both tax and audit suggest a bumpy ride through April 15, 2006.

Most accountants don’t have a good feeling going into this year’s busy season. Only a striking minority see any improvements.

The survey is still open. Make your voice heard here. Read more

Posted on September 23, 2005
Filed Under BSG BUSINESS BUILDER | Leave a Comment

How’s YOUR Busy Season Look from Here?

Most accountants don’t have a good feeling going into this year’s busy season. Only a striking minority see any improvements.

Read more

Posted on September 23, 2005
Filed Under BSG BUSINESS BUILDER | 1 Comment

CPAs Mull Work/Life Balance on Eve of Busy Season

How do you cope with your busy season?

By Rick Telberg
On Management for AICPA Career Insider

It’s no secret that CPAs from all walks of the profession struggle with work/life balance. But you don’t need to take my word for it. Just ask Helen Lam of Holmdel, N.J.

Lam says she left a job as an audit manager to go to private industry because “I don’t see how firms can better manage year-end reporting workload without asking their employees to work 80-hour weeks for two straight months.”

Work/life balance rates as a top concern for fully 90 percent of accountants. And with busy season looming for accountants from private industry to public, the topic is particularly acute today. Read more

Posted on September 22, 2005
Filed Under BSG FINANCE PROFESSIONAL | 9 Comments

What’s It Take to ‘Make It’ Today?

‘Ability to relate’ to people and ‘integrity’ may be the most important ingredients in a successful career as a CPA.

What’s the best career advice you could offer? Read more

Posted on September 20, 2005
Filed Under BSG FINANCE PROFESSIONAL | Leave a Comment

Are YOU Ready for Tax Season 2006?

What have practitioners learned from last year?

by Rick Telberg
From the AICPA Insider

As they say, fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. Tax practitioners may fall into the twice-shamed category since they appear to be experiencing the same recurring, historical tax preparation problems. Perhaps, using the words of George Santayana, accountants who “cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

Nevertheless, before you start sending us e-mails suggesting that we have denigrated a noble profession, please read on.

What was the No. 1 tax preparation problem of 2005? And how will some tax practitioners deal with the problem in 2006? The study is collecting input. Join the study and get the answers.
Read more

Posted on September 19, 2005
Filed Under BSG BUSINESS BUILDER | 1 Comment

Can You Boost Business Performance by 22%?

Employee growth and development proves to be key

Employee management practices have a proven impact on the top and bottom line ? resulting in returns of up to 66% in sales and 13% in equity, according to a study by the University of California Center for Effective Organizations.

In another recent study, conducted by Cornell University?s Center for Advanced Human Resource Studies, small companies that use practices such as training to promote long-term growth and development, and hiring people who want to grow and develop within the business were able to increase the customer orientation of their staff by 29%.

Businesses with 5 to 39 employees improved their overall performance by 15%, while those with 40 to 125 employees improved by 22%. Read more

Posted on September 14, 2005
Filed Under BSG [CPA TRENDLINES] | 1 Comment

keep looking »