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.

CAQ

Taxes cited most often in CAMs disclosures

Companies discussed taxes, followed by goodwill and/or intangibles, most frequently during their first year of disclosures of critical audit matters, according to a new report from the Center for Audit Quality.

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

December 3
Charles Rettig

The top people in public accounting — 2020

The most influential people in the field, as chosen by their peers.

December 3
PCAOB

PCAOB finds audit firms adjusting to COVID-19 challenges

Auditors have taken a number of steps to address pandemic-related issues, according to a new publication from the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

By Danielle Lee
Editor-in-Chief

December 2
AT Think Accounting is being drawn into a new future

Regardless of how we feel, the CPA, like everyone else on the planet Earth, is undergoing major changes.

December 2

Joanne Barry

New York State Society of CPAs
Intuit

Intuit launches assisted tax prep

TurboTax Live will connect taxpayers with a tax expert for advice — or to prepare their return.

By Daniel Hood
Editor-in-chief

December 2
Bookkeeping

The 21st century bookkeeper

The future of the field lies in directing the orchestra, not playing in it

By Antoinette Alexander

December 2
Tax practice

Mixed returns: Lots of easy ones, or fewer, more complex ones?

Practitioners weigh in on their preferred mix of tax return types.

By Jeff Stimpson
Freelance writer

December 2

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.