Thu.Oct 12, 2023

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Making ERGs Work for Small Accounting Firms

Canopy Accounting

If you did a quick web search for “employee research group,” the results would give you the impression that their only purpose is to foster inclusivity and support diversity, but they offer so much more. It would also seem that they only make sense for larger organizations with groups of minorities or other shared dimensions of diversity. This emphasis on employee research groups (ERGs) as affinity groups for minorities might lead some to believe that small accounting firms may not benefit from

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Number of accounting grads plummets further

Accounting Today

The number of students earning accounting degrees keeps falling, according to the latest figures released by the American Institute of CPAs.

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California Adds New Excise Tax on Gun and Ammo Sales

CPA Practice

By Gail Cole. Retail sales of guns and ammunition will soon be subject to a new state excise tax in California. Under Assembly Bill 28, which Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law on September 26, 2023, an 11% tax will apply to gross receipts from retail sales of ammunition, firearms, and firearm precursor parts starting July 1, 2024. Revenue generated by the tax will be deposited in a new Gun Violence Prevention and School Safety Fund.

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Retirees will get 3.2% Social-Security boost next year, smallest gain since 2021

Accounting Today

Monthly checks for the more than 71 million people receiving retirement or disability benefits in the U.S. will get a 3.2% increase next year, the smallest gain since 2021, reflecting a significant cooling in the rate of inflation.

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New Software & You: Elevating Your Tech Stack

Speaker: Joe Wroblewski, Senior Sales Engineer

Is your tech stack working for you—or are you working for it ? 🤖 In today’s world of automation and AI, technology should simplify workflows—not add complexity. Seamless integration and interconnectivity are key to maximizing productivity, optimizing workflows, and improving collaboration. Join expert Joe Wroblewski for a practical and insightful session on how you can build a smarter, more connected tech stack that drives efficiency and long-term success!

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Shamed For Its Culture, PwC Australia Decides to Try Out Merit As a Reason to Promote Someone to Leadership

Going Concern

Confronted by multiple reports of a culture that puts profit over people and rewards partners who bring in business regardless of how toxic the partners are, PwC Australia’s new CEO Kevin Burrowes — who is in his position because the last CEO had to resign in shame — is taking a unique approach to promotions. Rather than recognizing those individuals who play the game best, the firm is pivoting toward using merit as the ultimate measure and has six new leaders to prove it.

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Audit deficiencies rising, despite quality reviews

Accounting Today

The PCAOB released a report that found 42% of auditing firms got at least one quality control criticism related to engagement quality reviews.

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More Trending

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F1 mogul Ecclestone pleads guilty to criminal tax fraud

Accounting Today

In a dramatic reversal, just weeks before the 92-year-old was due to stand trial, Bernie Ecclestone agreed to a £652 million tax settlement that covers an 18-year period.

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5 AI Strategies for Accountants to Unlock More Freedom and Productivity

CPA Practice

By Shane Westra. Artificial Intelligence, or AI as it is regularly referred to…is undoubtedly the business buzzword of the year. This is for good reason because this technology continues to make many common business functions far more efficient than ever before, including new solutions that can help accounting firms advance their productivity and unlock more freedom for firm owners and employees.

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IRS sees tax gap widen to $688B

Accounting Today

The service updated its tax-gap projections for tax years 2020 and 2021, predicting a big jump from prior estimates.

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Summary of Intuit's Investor Day 2023 Report

Insightful Accountant

Take a look at Intuit's bold goals, new strategy and five big bets for the company's future.

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The Human Side of Finance: The Intersectionality of People, Culture, Adaptability, and Resilience

Speaker: Melissa Hurrington

Finance isn’t just about the numbers. It’s about the people behind them. In a world of constant disruption, resilient finance teams aren’t just operationally efficient. They are adaptable, engaged, and deeply connected to a strong organizational culture. Success lies at the intersection of people, culture, adaptability, and resilience. Finance leaders who master this balance will build teams that thrive through uncertainty and drive long-term business impact.

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Tax Fraud Blotter: Closure

Accounting Today

No temporary solution; cooking some books; French connection; and other highlights of recent tax cases.

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Sales Tax Horror Stories: M&A

TaxConnex

The past two years have seen nearly 46,000 M&As in the United States. It's clear that nothing can boost a business like the right merger or acquisition. Yet many of these deals tank: as many as 70% to 90%, Harvard Business School has reported. And one thing that can pound a stake through the heart of a promising M&A is unearthing past tax liability during due diligence.

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Number of Accounting Grads Continues to Shrink

CPA Practice

The number of students earning U.S. post-secondary accounting degrees fell sharply in the 2021-22 academic year, according to a biennial American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) report on trends related to accounting graduation rates, the CPA Exam and hiring demand by accounting firms. Some 47,067 students earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting in the 2021-22 school year, down 7.8% from the previous year, according to 2023 Trends: A Report on Accounting Education, the CPA Exam and Public Accounting

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Qualified Small Business Stock for Tech Companies: Unlock Tax Benefits

Cherry Bekaert

For small and mid-sized technology companies, the path to success is often paved with groundbreaking ideas, relentless dedication and, increasingly, strategic financial planning. One such financial strategy that has gained prominence in recent years is the utilization of Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS). This specialized category of stock offers a unique set of tax benefits and incentives for both entrepreneurs and investors, as it allows for the exclusion of capital gains when the stock is

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Maximizing Profit and Productivity: The New Era of AI-Powered Accounting

Speaker: Yohan Lobo

In the accounting world, staying ahead means embracing the tools that allow you to work smarter, not harder. Outdated processes and disconnected systems can hold your organization back, but the right technologies can help you streamline operations, boost productivity, and improve client delivery. Dive into the strategies and innovations transforming accounting practices.

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The Technology Lab Podcast – Developments in Generative AI – Oct. 2023

CPA Practice

Technologists Randy Johnston and Brian Tankersley, CPA, discuss the latest trends in generative AI, and their impact on accounting firms. Use the podcast player below to listen. Transcript (Note: There may be typos due to automated transcription errors. Also, due to the intro to the podcast, add apx. 10 seconds to the time stamps below.) SPEAKERS Randy Johnston, Brian F.

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The Importance of Regular Inventory Checks for Your Business

AccountingDepartment

Inventory management is crucial for any business, regardless of its size or industry. But, as a business owner, you may wonder how often you should perform a thorough inventory check.

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As KPMG UK Gets Hit With a Record Fine, the Boss Admits the Auditing Was “Very Bad”

Going Concern

The saga of KPMG and collapsed client Carillion has finally come to a close with an announcement today that the Financial Reporting Council is hitting the firm with a £26.5 million fine, reduced by 30% to £18.5 million due to the firm’s cooperation with the FRC’s investigation. But that’s not all! KPMG Audit Plc was also hit with a fine — £3.5 million reduced by 30% to £2.5 million — as were the two audit partners in charge of the Carillion work for years 2013-2018.

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Finance Leaders Continue to Automate AP, Payment Processes to Drive Efficiency

Insightful Accountant

Digitization of accounts payable tops finance leaders’ priorities for third consecutive year in MineralTree’s annual 'State of AP Report.

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Smarter Card Solutions: Meeting the Challenges of Mid-Market Travel & Expense

Our 2025 Center Travel Survey is clear: as corporate travel increases, so does corporate credit cards distribution, and a rise in off-platform travel booking. This 61% rise causes various challenges: compliance, spend control, reporting problems, and a lack of visibility across organizations. To evolve with the ever-changing needs of travelers, decision-makers need a better solution.

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The Future is Client-Centric: Preparing Your Firm for Success

CPA Practice

By Melissa Hertell, CPA. Did you know that client-centric firms are 60% more profitable than non-client-centric competitors? If you want to build a firm that generates more profits, understands its clients better and builds loyalty simultaneously, you need to reprogram your firm. How? I’m going to show you the steps I’ve taken to create a client-centric firm that better meets the needs of its ideal clients.

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Contractor Business Systems Series: Part 9 – Navigating Review and Audit Findings

Cherry Bekaert

In this episode of Cherry Bekaert’s Government Contracting podcast, Brendan Halloran , a Director in Cherry Bekaert’s Government Contracting Industry practice ,and Jeff Annessa , a Senior Manager in the Firm’s GovCon practice continue our Contractor Business Systems series, discussing system reviews, audit findings, corrective actions, and ACO determinations.

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Four Strategies for Leftover 529 Plan Balances

CPA Practice

By Marguerita Chang, Kiplinger Consumer News Service (TNS) Higher education costs are still on the rise. Tuition inflation at public four-year colleges averaged 12% from 2010 to 2022, according to the Education Data Initiative. With this surge and the resuming of student loan payments this month, it’s no surprise families are looking closely at their 529 plans.

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Microsoft plans to contest IRS claim it owes $28.9B in back taxes

Accounting Today

The dispute centers on a 2012 IRS audit into transfer pricing, a method used by companies to shift profits to tax havens and avoid the U.S. corporate tax rate.

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Say ‘Goodbye’ to Clunky Spreadsheets and Say ‘Hello’ to Month-End Automation

Technology is rapidly changing the way accountants perform and manage month-end activities. Spreadsheets, emails, and shared drives no longer need to slow you down. In under four weeks, your team can start reaping the benefits of month-end close automation by vastly reducing spreadsheets, cut down on reconciliation work, speed up the month-end close, and better manage your remote team.

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Federal Government Working Capital Fund (WCF) Analytics Solution

Cherry Bekaert

The Federal government has used Working Capital Funds (WCFs) for over 100 years. They established the first revolving fund around 1878 for the Navy. The ultimate objective of WCFs is to eliminate duplication of services by leveraging economies of scale, streamlining and standardizing business processes, simplifying funding and consolidating acquisition strategies.

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How Much Should Mid-Market Companies Pay For Outsourced CFO Services?

GrowthForceBlog

7 min read As small and medium-sized businesses grow, business owners can quickly find themselves overwhelmed by the back office. While bookkeeping and accounting are important for tax and compliance purposes, they are also essential to the execution of your business plan, strategic planning, financial health, and growth.

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The 'proof of reserves' myth in crypto-accountancy

Accounting Today

Since crypto's meltdown in 2022 the digital asset industry has come to rely on "proof of reserves" as the go-to attestation, from an internal accounting and market reassurance perspective.

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Protecting Your Assets and Legacy: Estate & Trust Management in Sports and Entertainment

KROST

This is one of the articles in the KROST Industry Sports & Entertainment Issue, titled “Protecting Your Assets and Legacy: Estate & Trust Management in Sports and Entertainment” by Brad Pauley, CPA & Richard Umanoff, CPA, MBA For athletes, actors, and other high-earning professionals in the sports and entertainment industry, managing assets and planning for Read the full article.

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Outsourcing Vs. In-House: The Ultimate Battle For Better Collections

Speaker: Susan Richards

Your past-due accounts are growing, cash flow is tightening, and the pressure is on. The big question: Do you handle the collections internally or outsource to experts? Both strategies come with advantages and risks - but which one delivers the best impact for your business? In this session we’ll dive deep into the in-house vs. outsourcing debate, examining cost-effectiveness, efficiency, compliance risks, and overall recovery success rates.

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KPMG fined a record £21M over Carillion audit scandal

Accounting Today

"These findings are damning," Jon Holt, chief executive officer of KPMG in the U.K., said. "It is clear to me that our audit work on Carillion was very bad, over an extended period.

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Guide to taxes for U.S. citizens living abroad

ThomsonReuters

Jump to: Do U.S. expats pay taxes? Paying taxes on money earned abroad Avoiding double taxation Helping clients who live abroad with their taxes U.S. citizens living abroad, often referred to as expatriates or expats, are generally required to file U.S. income tax returns, just like individuals living in the United States. However, the tax obligations for expats can be different and more complex due to their international status.

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TCFD finds more companies making climate disclosures in final report

Accounting Today

The Task force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures is seeing more than half of companies issuing at least a handful of the disclosures it recommends.

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Dealer Vision: Volume XIII

Withum

The Fall issue of Dealer Vision revs up with essential insights for the dealership industry! Learn how dealerships can be proactive and prepare for inevitable economic challenges, re-examine your warranty reimbursement strategy and get up to speed on Form 8300 and the electronic filing process. Inside This Issue Form 8300 Process Changes — Electronic Filing and What to Know AB-179 Warranty Reimbursement: Now Is the Time To Revisit It’s Not If…But When: How Dealerships Can Be Proactive Now To Be

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AP Automation: The Competitive Advantage Your Business Needs

Speaker: Danny Gassaway and Wayne Richards

Finance leaders are prioritizing efficiency and digital transformation, yet many hesitate to automate due to uncertainty. Without a clear understanding of its impact, organizations risk falling behind competitors who are leveraging technology to drive productivity and cost savings. So, how do you make the case for automation within your organization?