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.

Marketing

Time for tax pros to start marketing

Get working on it now, before the filing season rush begins.

By Roger Russell
Senior Editor

January 7
Independent BDs

Seeking new business, Blucora to buy employee RIA for $160M

The Avantax Wealth Management parent views HK Financial as another way of working with CPAs and tax professionals branching into the field.

By Tobias Salinger
Chief Correspondent

January 7
GASB

Joel Black named GASB's next chair

The Financial Accounting Foundation’s board of trustees has named Joel Black, partner in charge of the audit practice at Top 100 Firm Mauldin & Jenkins, the next chair of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board.

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

January 7
Tax season

Seasonable doubt: Preparers discuss hiring temp help

For many tax pros, temporary staff aren’t worth the trouble.

By Jeff Stimpson
Freelance writer

January 7
Tax season

IRS sets the opening of tax season

Filing will begin on Monday, Jan. 27, 2020.

By Jeff Stimpson
Freelance writer

January 6
CECL

Banks prepare to communicate CECL disclosures

Financial institutions are getting ready to begin complying this year with the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s new credit losses standard, which means they will need to start making disclosures about their loan portfolios.

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

January 6
Apps

Receipt Bank raises $73M in Series C funding

The money is earmarked to extend the company’s product suite and expand in Europe, Australia and North America.

By Ranica Arrowsmith
Technology Editor

January 3

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.