Wed.May 22, 2024

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The wisdom of being a lazy CPA

Accounting Today

Once you see how much more value you and your managers can deliver to the firm when you're freed up from doing routine client work, you'll never want to go back to the old way of doing business.

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The Future of AI: How Finance Leaders Will Guide its Adoption

CPA Practice

By Eli Gill. We’re in the midst of a revolution in the AI space. Splashy public models like OpenAI and ChatGPT are in the spotlight, bringing AI into focus where it has previously been considered a non-essential function. The move from classical AI models to advanced generative AI promises a rapid and continuing evolution that has profound implications for businesses.

Finance 128
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CAQ asks PCAOB to delay standards

Accounting Today

The Center for Audit Quality wants the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board to postpone sending two of its newly approved standards, on quality control and auditor responsibilities, to the SEC for final approval.

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Barry Melancon to Retire from AICPA

CPA Practice

Barry Melancon, CPA, CGMA, has announced that he will to retire on December 31, 2024, from his role as president and CEO of the American Institute of CPAs and CEO of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants. Combined, the two organizations comprise the world’s largest membership of public and management accountants. Melancon has served in this role for 30 years.

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5 Steps to Shield Your Business: The Ultimate Guide to Avoiding Payment Fraud

As scams grow more sophisticated, it's crucial to stay proactive in defending against these threats. This guide equips CFOs, accountants, and business leaders with five essential steps—from fundamental safeguards to advanced security measures to strengthen your financial defenses. From enhancing data security to implementing fraud detection tools and safeguarding financial transactions, this guide provides expert advice that could save your company millions.

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Did the Anti-150 Hour Crowd Finally Beat the AICPA Into Submission? Looks That Way

Going Concern

Stephen Foley at Financial Times wrote something today that may be of interest to high school freshmen bound for the CPA track one day, an article that suggests the AICPA is giving up the fight to save 150 hours. The leaders of the US accounting profession have signaled they could cut the education requirements for becoming an accountant, amid growing alarm about a shortage of new recruits.

Education 120
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Tax Considerations When Disposing of Qualified Opportunity Zone Business Property

Cherry Bekaert

Contributor: Michael Wallach, Senior Manager, Tax Services Established by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the Opportunity Zone program has been a focal point for investors seeking tax incentives while simultaneously revitalizing economically distressed communities. One crucial aspect of managing investments in Qualified Opportunity Funds (QOFs) is understanding the tax impact stemming from the disposition of Qualified Opportunity Zone Business Property (QOZBP).

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More Trending

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Essential Change Management Strategies for Accountants

Canopy Accounting

The off-season is when you can examine how your tax season went and reflect on changes you can make for the next season. Sometimes, those changes are significant — new tech stack, hiring new employees, or increasing/decreasing your client list. Sometimes, those changes are minor and (hopefully) take less effort. If you've been keeping a pulse on the evolution of the accounting industry, you've realized that change is not just a necessity; it's imperative.

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Melancon to retire at year's end

Accounting Today

The long-time head of the AICPA — and one of the foremost leaders of the profession — will step down on Dec.

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Intern Hiring Is Stable For 2024, Report Says

CPA Practice

As new stars are about to be born through summer internships at public accounting firms across the nation, a new report found that employers across all professions are likely to bring on as many interns this summer as they did last summer. Overall, eight out of 10 employers taking part in the National Association of Colleges and Employers’ (NACE) 2024 Internship & Co-op survey expect to maintain (47.2%) or increase (32.2%) the number of interns they bring in, even though they anticipate th

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HSAs come with pitfalls — here's how to avoid them

Accounting Today

They have oft-cited tax advantages, but the available research raises alarms about fees, interest rates and investing in assets other than cash.

Tax 83
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How to Navigate Revenue and Expense Management: Competitive Insights for Financial Success

Speaker: Hilary Akhaabi, PhD - Founder, Chief Financial & Operations Officer at Go Africa Global

In the fast-paced world of corporate finance, staying ahead of the curve is crucial for sustainable growth and profitability. This exclusive webinar with leading expert Hilary Akhaabi, PhD, will teach you practical ways to navigate complex financial landscapes and enhance your company's revenue management capabilities. Whether you're aiming to refine your financial strategies or seeking innovative solutions to drive performance, this new session is for you!

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Just Shy of His 30th Anniversary, Barry Melancon is Retiring as AICPA CEO

Going Concern

AICPA President, CEO, and chihuahua juggling fan Barry Melancon is retiring at the end of this year. Reports Journal of Accountancy : Barry Melancon, CPA, CGMA, who guided the accounting profession in the United States into the digital age and led the transformation of the AICPA and CIMA into the world’s largest accounting membership body, announced Wednesday that he is retiring at the end of this year.

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S&P 500 companies boost profit by stripping more items from earnings

Accounting Today

Large companies are bolstering their adjusted earnings per share by excluding items such as litigation expenses and amortization of intangible assets from their net income.

Account 66
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AICPA Honors Robert J. Kueppers with the Gold Medal of Distinction

CPA Practice

The American Institute of CPAs has selected Robert J. (Bob) Kueppers, CPA, as the recipient of the 2024 AICPA Gold Medal Award of Distinction. The Gold Medal is the highest honor granted by the AICPA. Since 1944, it has been bestowed upon CPAs whose influence on the accounting profession has been especially notable. Tracey Golden, Past Chair, AICPA and the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, presented Kueppers with the award at the spring meeting of the AICPA gover

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Hedge fund founder on trial for £1.4B tax scam treated himself to Ferrari

Accounting Today

Testifying at a London court from a Danish prison via a video call, Sanjay Shah insisted that his controversial so-called Cum-Ex trades were lawful and that any rumors circulated in the industry were merely due to jealousy.

Tax 61
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3 Must-Have Reports to Help Financial and Accounting Firms Become More Profitable

Bizinta highlights three crucial reports for financial and accounting consultancies to enhance profitability: Utilization Reporting maximizes billable hours Profitability by Consultant identifies top performers Contribution by Client prioritizes high-value clients These reports provide accurate insights, replacing guesswork with data-driven decisions.

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CAQ Asks PCAOB to Extend Comment Period on a Pair of Proposed Standards

CPA Practice

The Center for Audit Quality has asked the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board for a 60-day extension on the comment period due date for two proposed standards the board released last month. The PCAOB issued a pair of proposals on April 9, one of which would require audit firms to publicly disclose a set of 11 metrics—including the involvement of partners and managers on an audit, auditor workload, and auditor turnover—on a new Form FM that would be accessible to investors.

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Massachusetts risks $1B in lost tax revenue as rich flee

Accounting Today

If the current trend continues, more than 96,000 residents making a combined $19.2 billion in adjusted gross income are set to leave the state annually by 2030.

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Sage’s Net-Zero Target Receives SBTi Validation

CPA Practice

Business accounting technology provider Sage says its net-zero targets have been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Sage’s net-zero targets span all three emission scopes, aiming to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the value chain by 2040. As of the issuing of this press release, there were just over 3100 companies globally with an approved net-zero target, making Sage an early responder in business’ fight against climate change.

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Have you received an HMRC nudge letter about filing ATED returns?

Menzies

Menzies LLP - A leading chartered accountancy firm. HMRC have an ongoing campaign to tackle non-compliance connected with offshore corporate entities owning UK property, and we are seeing an increase in this activity in 2024. What is ATED? The Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings (ATED) is an annual tax due where corporate entities – whether UK resident or not – own UK residential properties.

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How To Streamline Finance Operations Through Automation

Speaker: Claire Grosjean

In today’s fast-paced business environment, finance professionals are under increasing pressure to optimize operations and drive strategic value. As a result, automation has become a core part of business strategy, offering unprecedented opportunities to streamline operations and drive efficiency. Join esteemed global finance and operations executive, Claire Grosjean, for a comprehensive guide on how to harness automation’s power through strategic collaboration with functional leaders.

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Lightyear launches ‘Vaults’: Highest available rate in the UK of all flexible interest-earning products with no strings attached

Accounting Insight

Today, wealth platform Lightyear announces the launch of its high interest Vaults. These will pay UK savers 5.19% AER – the highest rate currently available out of all flexible interest-earning products with no strings attached in the UK 1. The Bank of England held the base rate at 5.25% on the 9th May; meanwhile data released on the 30th April shows that 65% of UK deposits – £1.16tn – is sitting in easy-access savings account with an average rate of 2.12% 2.

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Do you have tax to disclose on let property in Dubai?

Menzies

Menzies LLP - A leading chartered accountancy firm. The Times has recently reported on leaked data which shows approximately 17,000 British citizens owned approximately 22,000 properties in Dubai as of spring 2022, and yet only 1,900 UK tax residents reported let property income from a Dubai property in the 2021/22 tax year. It is expected that most of these property owners will have let their property rather than retaining them solely for their personal use, meaning very few will have had no ta

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Xero Announces Strong and Profitable FY24 Results

Insightful Accountant

Xero has announced its strong and profitable FY24 results and Rule 40 outcome and solidifies their status as a leading global SaaS provider empowering 4.2 million users across 180 countries.

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Litigation and Settlement Strategy (‘LSS’)

Menzies

Menzies LLP - A leading chartered accountancy firm. What is the LSS? The LSS provides HMRC with a framework to resolve tax disputes and applies to all disputes resolved through civil procedures, although it does not apply to criminal prosecution cases. HMRC must act in accordance with the principles outlined in the LSS and by doing so they avoid the risk of being accused of making so-called “sweetheart deals” with more powerful individuals or groups of taxpayers, an allegation that has been leve

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How to Elevate Your CPA Services and Grow Your Business

As a CPA, your expertise is invaluable to your clients. By partnering with Fincent, you can enhance your service offerings and streamline financial management for your clients. Our platform provides real-time financial reports, cash flow tracking, automated posting of banking transactions to reduce errors, and powerful search capabilities. With Fincent, you can focus on high-value services while we handle the day-to-day bookkeeping tasks.

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Making Cybersecurity a Priority in 2024

Ryan Lazanis

Implementing cybersecurity measures to safeguard your firm should be a priority. Discover in this episode why it's very important. The post Making Cybersecurity a Priority in 2024 appeared first on Future Firm.

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Innovation strategies to meet the challenges of indirect tax

ThomsonReuters

People who purchase software rarely get to talk to the product’s developers about the development process or the features and updates users can expect in future iterations of the product. But that’s precisely what happens at the Thomson Reuters annual Synergy conference , where product developers, software engineers, and other representatives from the company gather with users to share knowledge, discuss industry trends, listen to feedback, and peer into the future.

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Strategic fleet management: Navigating depreciation with a data-driven approach

Menzies

Menzies LLP - A leading chartered accountancy firm. In the evolving and increasingly competitive landscape of the transport industry, fleet management is important. Some businesses may adopt a policy of running fleets into the ground, replacing vehicles only when they break down, become unusable, or when it seems like an opportune moment for a replacement.

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Challenges and opportunities for accounting firm partners transitioning to the cloud

ThomsonReuters

From allowing for a remote work environment to eliminating the need for on-site data centers, cloud-based solutions have fundamentally changed how businesses operate, approach staffing, and serve clients. Is your firm among them? In today’s dynamic and competitive business environment, owners and partners of accounting and audit firms should, at least, be considering cloud-based technology as part of their broader strategies.

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Top 3 Secrets to Staying Relevant with Gen Z

Speaker: Brian Muse-McKenney, Chief Revenue Officer & Matt Simester, Cards and Payments Expert

In today’s world of social media, dating apps, and remote work, businesses risk becoming irrelevant or getting "ghosted" if they fail to meet the evolving needs of Gen Z consumers. In this new webinar, Brian Muse-McKenney of Episode Six and Matt Simester of Payments Consultancy Limited will reveal key considerations banks should factor into their efforts to develop target products for the next generation of bank customers.

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IRS Extends Free File Program Through 2029

CPA Practice

The Free File program , a partnership between the IRS and tax preparation companies that make their online filing software available to eligible taxpayers for free, has been extended through 2029, the tax agency said on May 22. The five-year extension agreement between the IRS and Free File Inc. will continue the program through October 2029. This year, Free File saw an increase of about 200,000 tax returns filed through the program, reaching 2.9 million returns as of May 11, according to the IR

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Roth for Kids and Young Adults

Dent Moses

Setting up a Roth IRA for your child can be a smart financial move with long-term benefits. It can also help them get started saving for retirement or other life events early. For 2024, the maximum contribution is $7,000 for those under age 50. Time is a powerful ally when it comes to investing. Even modest contributions made now could snowball into a substantial nest egg by the time they reach retirement age.

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May 2024 Summit VCFO Employee Spotlight: Max Freeman

Summit CPA

As a hybrid firm , not only do we serve our clients remotely, but our team members are often distributed as well. We understand the accounting, bookkeeping, cash flow management, and tax nuances of running a distributed company. We pride ourselves on our ability to provide the highest quality Virtual CFO services while being hybrid, and we couldn't do any of it without our amazing team.

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Enhancing Growth: The Crucial Role Outsourced Accounting Services Play for Growth-Minded Construction Companies

Cherry Bekaert

In the competitive landscape of the construction industry, growth-minded companies are continuously seeking ways to streamline operations, optimize financial processes and focus on their core competencies. Outsourced accounting services emerge as a strategic solution, offering construction companies the tools to drive their growth while maintaining financial stability.

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Simplify Your Business Finances with Dedicated Bookkeeping Services

Managing bookkeeping and tax can be challenging for businesses of all sizes. Fincent’s services offer a comprehensive solution to streamline your financial operations. With personalized, dedicated bookkeepers and controllers, our platform ensures accurate monthly books and financial statements delivered by the 10th business day of each month. Open monthly communication and an easy-to-use online chat with your bookkeeper provide consistent support and seamless management.