How to Do Business in China, Even if You’re Not One of the Big Four

And emerge as one of the market leaders.

One of the busiest U.S.-owned auditors in China is not one of the Big Four. In fact, it’s Houston-based MaloneBailey, an otherwise local firm of seven partners.

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Busy Season Runs Smooth and Fast into March

Majority of practitioners reporting improved results.

Complete findings are published in The CPA Trendlines Practitioner’s Tax Season Performance Review and Outlook Report. (Learn more here)

by Rick Telberg

The CPA Trendlines busy-season mood-barometer is showing significantly higher satisfaction and confidence ratings as the profession grinds through one of its best performances in years.
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Ten Steps to a Better Tax Season

Tools for balancing work and life in the most special time of year.

By Ira Rosenbloom

Three nights a week and Saturdays. For many accountants, this describes the extra effort that is made to properly service clients during tax season. The quality of life for accountants and their families typically takes a turn for the worse during this special time of year. Most will tolerate the change because it brings cash flow and profits.

But are accountants truly making the most of this extra effort? What if it were possible not only to improve tax season but also to enhance profitability and improve quality of life, as well?  Here are ten steps that will give you a better shot at achieving those goals. READ MORE →

Sage Execs Explain, Defend Re-Branding

Sage Group plc, a leader worldwide but long struggling in the U.S., has embarked on a huge re-branding effort that will eliminate well-known names like Peachtree.

The strategy has met with decidedly mixed reviews. “Rebranding as proposed adds no value,” according to Stephen Blythe, CEO of Blytheco LLC, a Sage Partner of the Year, “and adds significant rebranding costs and significant risk in future sales.”

At CPA Practice Advisor’s Thought Leader Symposium, Sage execs had the chance to explain the strategy.

Dennis Frahmann, Executive Vice President, Corporate Marketing:

Connie Certusi, Executive Vice President/General Manager, Small Business Accounting Solutions: READ MORE →

IRS Sees Crooked Tax Practitioners as Major Problem

And 11 more things for taxpayers to worry about, from the IRS.

The IRS is warning tax payers this year to watch out for a wide range of schemes ranging from identity theft to return preparer fraud.

The following is the Dirty Dozen tax scams for 2012:

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Leading Ensemble Firms Go Digital for Growth

The secret strategies of high-performing 11-50-person firms. by Rick Telberg While increasing revenue and profitability are important to CPA firms sized at 11-50 persons, the paramount concern for the best, highest-achieving “ensemble” firms is gaining new and replacing lost clients. … Continued