2024

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Choosing the Right Accounting Software

SMBAccountant

Beyond the mere transition in dates, New Year's marks a universal opportunity for change. It can serve as a catalyst for reflection, inspiring individuals to set resolutions, for themselves and their businesses. The beginning of a new year also means a fresh start for your Income Statement; which is why now is the perfect time to review your accounting software needs.

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How to Turn a Shortage of Accountants Into an Opportunity for Businesses

CPA Practice

By Mike Varney, Vice President, Finance and Operations at Extend. The alarm bells in accounting have been ringing for years: fewer people want to join – or stay – in the profession. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) said in its “2023 Trends” report that the percentage of accounting graduates fell 7.8% between 2021 and 2022, after steady decreases of 1-3% since 2015-16.

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4 questions to ask yourself before choosing a sales tax calculation engine

TaxConnex

Getting the right sales tax on your invoice is a pivotal step in managing your sales and use tax obligation. Sales and use tax is a tax imposed on the use or consumption of a product or service and meant to be paid by the end consumer. In certain situations (when you have sales tax nexus), it is your obligation to collect and remit it. Unfortunately, this is easier said than done.

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AI in FP&A: The Future of Financial Decision-Making

Acterys

If the term “AI” catches your eye, it’s highly likely that ChatGPT comes to mind. And you would be absolutely correct in making that association. The launch of ChatGPT has taken the world by storm. Its success has kickstarted an AI race that has compelled almost every company to embed artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms into their software architecture to mirror the same level of agility and productivity.

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Protect What Matters: Rethinking Finance Ops In A Digital World

Speaker: Cheryl J. Muldrew-McMurtry

Distributed finance teams are rewriting how the back-office runs, and attackers are taking notes. Disconnected workflows, process blind spots, and rising cyber threats are more than just growing pains—they’re liabilities. The challenge isn’t just going remote. It’s building resilient systems that protect accuracy, control, and speed across every transaction and touchpoint.

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Are Your Job Candidates Honest? A Look at Resumé Fraud

RogerRossmeisl

Job applicants must work hard to stand out in a crowded marketplace. For some, that means bending the truth or outright lying about their experience, skills and education. According to a survey performed by resum-writing service StandOut CV, a staggering 64.2% of Americans have lied on their resum at least once. Bad hires can generate direct and indirect costs, including lost productivity, customer dissatisfaction and wasted training time.

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Accounting Software Vulnerabilities: A Wake-up Call for Construction Companies

Withum

A recent alert from Maryland-based cybersecurity firm Huntress highlights a concerning vulnerability for construction companies using on-premise accounting and project management software with default login credentials. According to their report last month, a brute-force attack targeted users of a major construction accounting software vendor, exposing sensitive data due to default usernames and passwords being left unchanged.

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The Current State of Managing Sales Tax Obligations

TaxConnex

To help financial leaders better understand what their peers are doing when it comes to sales and use tax in 2024, TaxConnex® conducted its fourth annual sales tax survey in November of 2023. More than 100 financial leaders from different industries and from a wide range of sizes responded. Their responses are included in the following blog. For the vast majority of organizations, managing the minutia of sales tax obligations can be described as clunky, cumbersome, and risky, with each state hav

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How Forensic Accountants Use a Lifestyle Analysis to Find Hidden Assets

RogerRossmeisl

Sometimes divorcing spouses or sparring former business partners illegally hide assets to prevent their fair division. And fraud perpetrators almost always try to hide their ill-gotten gains. In such cases, sociological information — gathered as part of a lifestyle analysis — can be almost as revealing as financial data. Here’s what forensic accountants examine when they’re on the hunt for hidden assets.

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Demystifying Government Contract Requirements: A Guide for New Businesses.

SMBAccountant

Understanding the basics of government contracts is essential when engaging in contractual agreements with government entities. When reviewing such contracts, key considerations include a thorough examination of the scope of work, payment terms, performance metrics, and compliance with regulations. Utilizing tools like Suppl-O contract briefs can significantly aid in the efficient review process by highlighting changes, facilitating quick reference, and ensuring transparency.

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S Corporations: Tax Preparation, Tax Planning, and the Benefits of Professional Tax Help

MyIRSRelief

S Corporations: Tax Preparation, Tax Planning, and the Benefits of Professional Tax Help S Corporations , often referred to as S Corps, are a popular business structure in the United States, particularly among small to medium-sized businesses. They offer a unique blend of benefits, including pass-through taxation and limited liability protection. However, navigating the tax landscape for S Corps can be complex.

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How to Set Better OKRs and Drive Results

Before you can achieve success, you have to define it. Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) give you the framework to do just that. Paycor’s free guide includes a step-by-step process leaders can use to work toward – and achieve – their loftiest business goals.

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Layoff Watch ’24: KPMG Shrinks Audit By a Few Hundred People

Going Concern

You’ve likely heard of people in audit getting disappeared from KPMG in recent days, we certainly have. Anyone who tried to cope with a “they must have been low performers” might want to season their hat before they eat it. WSJ reports today that KPMG is laying off a few hundred people in audit “as it works to make up for lower levels of voluntary turnover.” Meaning attrition is still too low.

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Nominations Open for 2025 “Most Powerful Women in Accounting” Awards

CPA Practice

CPA Practice Advisor has opened the nomination period for one of its most prestigious awards. The Most Powerful Women in Accounting Awards , now in their 12th year, were created by CPA Practice Advisor to promote and support the success of women leaders as part of its broader mission of sustaining the profession. There are no costs associated with nominations or award recognition.

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How GenAI is transforming ESG reporting and compliance

ThomsonReuters

Highlights: Growing importance and data demands of ESG : The increasing significance of ESG compliance is overwhelming teams with expanding data demands and regulatory scrutiny. GenAI’s role in ESG management : GenAI is revolutionizing ESG management by automating tasks, accelerating data collection, and providing advanced data analysis. Use cases and benefits of GenAI in ESG : Real-world examples show GenAI’s essential role in meeting ESG obligations, ensuring long-term resilience

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FP&A Software: An Introduction to Essential Features and Benefits

Acterys

Excel is a powerful, flexible tool, but for growing companies, it’s no substitute for robust FFP&A software. The drawbacks of spreadsheets are numerous and can lead to tremendous financial losses for an organization. Take, for example, the Excel-related Value-at-Risk (VaR) model error that caused JP Morgan to lose $2 billion. The model couldn’t help the bank accurately predict potential losses, masking the true risk exposure of their synthetic credit portfolio.

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Automation, Evolved: Your New Playbook For Smarter Knowledge Work

Speaker: Frank Taliano

Document-heavy workflows slow down productivity, bury institutional knowledge, and drain resources. But with the right AI implementation, these inefficiencies become opportunities for transformation. So how do you identify where to start and how to succeed? Learn how to develop a clear, practical roadmap for leveraging AI to streamline processes, automate knowledge work, and unlock real operational gains.

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Capital Expenditure vs. Operational Expenditure: Key Differences for CEOs

GrowthForceBlog

7 min read October 15th, 2024 All business expenses represent money out the door, but the way you categorize these expenses has greater implications than reduced net income. Key Takeaways How to Calculate and Identify a Capital Expenditure: CapEx = (Prior Period PP&E - Current Period PP&E) + Current Period Depreciation. The Key Differences Between CapEx and OpEx: For most businesses, both capital expenditures and operational expenditures are necessary for success, and finding the right b

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Understanding Cash vs. Accrual Accounting

Withum

When it comes to accounting methods, businesses primarily choose between two approaches: cash basis accounting and accrual basis accounting. Understanding the key differences between cash vs. accrual accounting is essential as this decision impacts financial reporting, cash flow management and long-term planning. What Is Cash Basis Accounting? Cash basis accounting is a straightforward method in which revenue and expenses are recorded only when cash is exchanged.

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Budgeting for Startups: Investor-Ready Financial Planning

inDinero Tax Tips

Founders usually know how much runway they have, but may not be budgeting for their startup with an explicit system. While this can work for a time, investors want to see clear, data-backed strategies for how their money will be or is being used to deliver returns. This guide will walk you through the essential steps to develop a budget that supports growth and helps make a strong business case for prospective investors.

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TaxConnex Announces Two New Product Lines Along with a Redesigned Website and New Messaging

TaxConnex

TaxConnex is paving the way for a new category of sales tax management services UPSOURCING. Building on our strong foundation of sales tax advisory services and managed sales and use tax filing and remittance services, we are introducing two powerful new solutions into our portfolio: Sales Tax Calculation Software: Designed to simplify the process of calculating the proper sales tax, this software integrates seamlessly with a variety of business systems and shopping carts to provide precise, re

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Data Talks, CFOs Listen: Why Analytics Is The Key To Better Spend Management

Speaker: Claire Grosjean

Finance teams are drowning in data—but is it actually helping them spend smarter? Without the right approach, excess spending, inefficiencies, and missed opportunities continue to drain profitability. While analytics offers powerful insights, financial intelligence requires more than just numbers—it takes the right blend of automation, strategy, and human expertise.

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From Flights to Meals: A Guide to Business Travel Tax Deductions

RogerRossmeisl

As a business owner, you may travel to visit customers, attend conferences, check on vendors and for other purposes. Understanding which travel expenses are tax deductible can significantly affect your bottom line. Properly managing travel costs can help ensure compliance and maximize your tax savings. Your tax home Eligible taxpayers can deduct the ordinary and necessary expenses of business travel when away from their tax homes.

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Leverage FP&A for Smarter Financial Planning

AccountingDepartment

For any business owner, prioritizing the company’s future is essential. Financial planning plays a crucial role in this, enabling business owners to drive growth and broaden their operations. If a business owner hasn’t focused on this aspect, they need to understand what it is, what it does, and how it differs from regular accounting. What Is FP&A?

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Enrolled Agent Near Me: Comprehensive Tax Services for Individuals and Businesses

MyIRSRelief

Enrolled Agent: Comprehensive Tax Services for Individuals and Businesses When it comes to managing your taxes, finding a qualified and reliable tax professional is crucial. An Enrolled Agent (EA) is a federally-authorized tax practitioner who has technical expertise in the field of taxation and is empowered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to represent taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for tax issues including audits, collections, and appeals.

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Citing Rising Costs, Accounting Firms Plan to Increase Fees in 2025

Going Concern

*Smaller shops, that is. We know Big 4 and mid-tiers have this pricing thing down. Ignition has released its 2024 US Accounting and Tax Pricing Benchmark report and it reveals that the 325 Ignition customers surveyed are going all-in on fee increases in 2025. Or at least half-in. 90% plan to increase fees for individual tax returns, 87% plan to increase fees for business tax returns, 85% plan to increase fees for bookkeeping and accounting, and 76% plan to increase fees for CFO and controller se

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What Your Financial Statements Are Telling You—And How to Listen!

Speaker: David Worrell, CFO, Author & Speaker

Your financial statements hold powerful insights—but are you truly paying attention? Many finance professionals focus on the income statement while overlooking key signals hidden in the balance sheet and cash flow statement. Understanding these numbers can unlock smarter decision-making, uncover risks, and drive long-term success. Join David Worrell, accomplished CFO, finance expert, and author, for an engaging, nontraditional take on reading financial statements.

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Stacking CPA and CMA Credentials Is an Investment for a Career-Long Payoff

CPA Practice

By Monte Swain, PhD, CMA, CPA, CGMA. If you’re planning a career in the world of accounting or finance, two distinctions have the branding impact and bench strength you need. Invest your time and effort into stacking the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Management Accountant (CMA) letters behind your name. First and Lasting Impressions The first impression a potential employer will have of you comes in a flash – the top line of your LinkedIn profile or your resume or perhaps a qui

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How to Track Employee Hours Without Going Crazy 

Patriot Software

Tracking your employees’ time worked ensures you pay them accurately and comply with labor laws. Although you can use whatever method you want, you need a dependable and organized system, especially as your business grows. Learn how to track employee hours with time and attendance software and other alternatives. Why does tracking employee hours matter?

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ESG Reporting Tools: A Unified Approach

Acterys

As ESG considerations become more integral to business strategy, companies face significant challenges in collecting, managing, and reporting ESG data. That’s why ESG reporting tools are becoming an increasingly important piece of the enterprise tech stack. Fragmented data sources, evolving regulatory requirements, and rising stakeholder expectations are just a few of the obstacles that can make ESG reporting a complex endeavor — and one that many executives don’t feel prepared for.

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Are you ready? Prepare for tax season with these essential resources for accountants

ThomsonReuters

Jump to ↓ Why tax season resources matter How to make the most of these resources Tax season success starts here Tax season is here, and with it comes the familiar rush of deadlines, complex returns, and endless questions from clients. You know the drill all too well. But what if you had a comprehensive place with tools, guides, and expertise to help you navigate the chaos and stay ahead of the curve?

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Forecasting Failures Are Costly: Heres How To Fix Them

Speaker: Dave Sackett

Traditional budgeting and forecasting methods can no longer keep pace with today’s rapidly evolving business environment. Static budgets, rigid annual forecasts, and outdated financial models limit an organization’s ability to adapt to market shifts and economic uncertainty. To stay ahead, finance leaders must leverage a future-forward approach—one that leverages real-time data, predictive analytics, and continuous planning to drive smarter financial decisions.

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Understanding When a Retirement Plan Audit Is Required

Withum

Understanding when audited financial statements of a retirement plan are required to be attached to a Form 5500 is an important part of demonstrating fiduciary responsibility over the plan and preventing unnecessary fines for an invalid filing of the 5500. A plan is required to have an audit attached to the Form 5500 when they are a “large plan”. For plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2023, the plan has an audit requirement if they have 100 participants with account balances as of the f

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The Real Cost Of Bad Construction Client Service

Randal DeHart

Have you ever paused to consider the real impact of your business's customer experience? Is it lifting your brand or dragging it down, along with your team's morale? Today's consumers expect nothing short of excellence, so understanding the consequences of poor customer service is vital. So, what does poor customer service cost you? Let's delve into the details—they might change your perspective.

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Sales tax risk: What to ask (part 1)

TaxConnex

Whether you’re a consultant working with companies or you run your own company. whether you’re just looking to clean up your own operation or you’re doing homework for an M&A. sales tax risks and exposure should be an important topic. And getting to the bottom of that topic means knowing what questions to ask. Our recent webinar “What to Ask Your Clients to Identify & Manage Their Sales & Use Tax Risk” addressed many of these questions – along with what to do once you find out the an

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When Can You Deduct Business Meals and Entertainment?

RogerRossmeisl

Youre not alone if youre confused about the federal tax treatment of business-related meal and entertainment expenses. The rules have changed in recent years. Lets take a look at what you can deduct in 2024. Current law The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act eliminated deductions for most business-related entertainment expenses. That means, for example, that you cant deduct any part of the cost of taking clients out for a round of golf or to a football game.

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Are Robots Replacing You? Keeping Humans in the Loop in Automated Environments

Speaker: Erroll Amacker

As businesses increasingly adopt automation, finance leaders must navigate the delicate balance between technology and human expertise. This webinar explores the critical role of human oversight in accounts payable (AP) automation and how a people-centric approach can drive better financial performance. Join us for an insightful discussion on how integrating human expertise into automated workflows enhances decision-making, reduces fraud risks, strengthens vendor relationships, and accelerates R