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.

AT Think Expand your range

Playing it safe is too risky in today’s complicated world.

July 24

Kyle Walters

L&H CPAs and Advisors
AT Think One change at the IRS could be a huge win for CPAs

The creation of a Practitioner Services Division would make a big difference.

July 23

Amy Pitter

Massachusetts Society of CPAs
Accounting standards

5 things you may not know about the lease standard

Beyond the headline changes lurk a number of interesting intricacies.

By Ane Ohm
Co-founder and CEO

July 22
Work-life balance

7 ways to take advantage of a summer slowdown at your firm

Summer is a blissful time of year, but it can also be a tough season to be an accountant.

By Nellie Akalp
CEO

July 18
Accounting standards

FASB to propose delays in major accounting standards

The Financial Accounting Standards Board voted Wednesday to propose to delay some of its major accounting standards — including credit losses, leases, hedging and long-duration insurance contracts — for private companies, nonprofits and small reporting companies.

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

July 17
Accounting methods

AICPA recommends changes in accounting for small-biz taxpayers

The American Institute of CPAs has sent a set of recommendations to the Internal Revenue Service about accounting methods for small-business taxpayers and how to determine whether a taxpayer qualifies as a small business.

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

July 16
Tax-related ID theft

Data defense: 10 tips for tax security

The IRS and its Security Summit partners offer critical steps for keeping client information safe.

By Jeff Stimpson
Freelance writer

July 16

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.