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.

Practice management

Pay margin from associate to senior level flatlines

The pay margin between associates and seniors in accounting in North America is plateauing, increasing only 3% in some markets, according to data from Distinct.

By Paige Hagy
Reporter

July 24
AT Think How CFOs thrive with executive presence

CFOs must learn to excel in people-centric leadership, transforming teams, enhancing collaboration, planning for succession and reinforcing employee engagement.

July 23

Dymah Paige

Gartner
Audit

Macquarie looks into KPMG's auditing capacity after scandal

The moves follow investor unease over Macquarie's hiring of KPMG, which has faced misconduct allegations in recent months.

By Bloomberg News

July 23
Audit

IAASB proposes tweaking standard for auditing less complex entities

The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board proposed a set of revisions to the International Standard on Auditing.

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

July 22
AT Think If the SEC lets companies report less, who will demand better accounting?

One question deserves far more attention, particularly from accountants and auditors: Which companies will actually choose to report less?

July 22

Keren Bar-Hava

The Hebrew University Business School
AT Think AI solves one bottleneck for accountants, and creates another

Artificial intelligence will make it easy for accountants to surface great advice. Communicating it, though, is another matter.

July 22

Jody Padar

"The Radical CPA"
Technology

CLA working with Digits to develop proprietary AI model

Top 20 firm CliftonLarsonAllen announced that it is working with Digits to develop and train its own proprietary AI model which will be deployed across the firm, starting with its CAAS practice.

By Chris Gaetano
Technology Editor

July 21

Resources

The latest Accounting Today research and discussion:

Web Seminar The big risks for accountants

Any period of economic uncertainty brings heightened risk of lawsuits against accountants; combine that with the continuous evolution of new cybercrimes and the many changes wrought by the pandemic, and you have an environment rife with new liability exposures for firms. In this webinar, a panel of insurance experts highlights the ones they're most worried about.

Sponsored by Paychex
Web Seminar The Digital Makeover: How internet evolution is shaping your firm's brand

Analyze internet evolution from its origins to the coming era of Web 3.0 and evaluate its implications for their digital presence

Sponsor Content from CPA.com
Web Seminar Managing complexity in a modern firm

It should come as no surprise that managing an accounting firm has become more complex over the years. Accounting firm leaders are navigating increasingly complex tax legislation and accounting standards, managing a blended workforce, and juggling complicated internal projects and client needs.

Sponsor Content from Wolters Kluwer

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.