Accounting

Accounting News & Professional Insight

Accounting Today delivers news, rankings, thought leadership, and analysis for accounting professionals so they can navigate change in standards, firm strategy, technology adoption, talent, and the overall business environment.

Accounting professionals are facing rapid transformation, including shifting professional standards, demographic change, technology disruption, practice consolidation, and changing expectations for advisory services. Our coverage surfaces these strategic dynamics and provides insights and analysis for firms, leaders, and the accounting profession.

Tax preparation

NATP calls for speakers, topics for 2021

The National Association of Tax Professionals is accepting proposals for speakers and topics at its 2021 annual conference and its virtual 2021 TaxCon event.

By Jeff Stimpson
Freelance writer

December 8
Tax season

Ready, set: Tax pros prepare for tax season

Practitioners share what they’re doing to get ahead of 2021.

By Jeff Stimpson
Freelance writer

December 8
Payroll

Gusto expands People Advisory Certification program

The provider of payroll, benefits and HR technology for small businesses is making a push to sign up more accounting firms as partners.

By Michael Cohn
Editor-in-chief, AccountingToday.com

December 7
IMA

Accountants can buck the tide of increasing automation

Accountants can build the kinds of skills needed to stay relevant in a rapidly automating world, according to IMA president and CEO Jeff Thomson.

By Michael Cohn
Editor-in-chief, AccountingToday.com

December 4
AT Think Is becoming a CPA the right career move?

It's not easy to do, so it's important to know what's involved before aiming to get licensed.

December 4

Jacob Dayan

Community Tax
Career advancement

2020 Top 100 People extra: Legacy

As part of this year’s Top 100 Most Influential People survey, Accounting Today asked, “What do you hope your legacy will be?”

December 3
AT Think Yuletide treats and balance sheets

An income statement summarizes revenues and expenses and then reports profits. Isn’t that just like the Christmas letter that summarized all the year’s activities?

December 3

Thomas L. Porter

Hult International Business School

Resources

The latest Accounting Today research and discussion:

Predicting the next 15 years in accounting

Take a look at what the accountant and the accounting firm of the future will look like with AICPA chief Mark Koziel.

Sponsored by BILL
The changing world of government financial reporting

The serious new pressures facing governments of all sizes are changing their financial reporting, says GASB Chair Joel Black.

Sponsored by Intuit Quickbooks
Special Report Technology and CAS

Handling the compliance work that is the foundation of modern CAS while also creating time and insights for the advisory overlay that really drives its value to clients requires the careful deployment of a suite of technology tools — and that suite is constantly evolving, meaning accountants need a strategy to keep up.

Sponsored by Canopy

Accounting: Key Questions & Analysis

What are the key trends and strategies emerging from accounting industry leaders?

Top leaders are focused on structural challenges facing firms, including succession planning, evolving service mix, and long-term sustainability of traditional models.

How are accounting firms positioning themselves for the profession’s next phase?

Firm leaders are redefining and evaluating their strategy for growth. This includes investing in people and systems as well as rethinking how firms deliver value to address changing client needs and competition.

What role does professional identity play as accounting continues to change?

Debate continues over how accounting defines itself. This is due to accounting expanding into advisory, consulting, and technology-enabled services. These changes can raise questions about standards, training, and long-term credibility.

How are accounting firms managing leadership and succession risk?

Demographic shifts are accelerating in accounting. This means more firms are confronting leadership transitions and ownership succession which can create critical strategic risks that influence growth, culture, and valuation.