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.

Payroll

Private sector added 22K jobs in January

The professional and business services sector, which includes accounting and tax, lost 57,000 jobs last month, the largest loss since August 2024, ADP reported.

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

February 4
Payroll

Small business jobs and wages held steady in January

Small business job growth and wage growth last month largely followed the same pattern as late last year, payroll company Paychex reported.

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

February 3
Bank Fraud

75-year-old CPA pleads guilty to $2M fraud conspiracy

Thomas Unsworth, a CPA from East Naples, Florida, pleaded guilty in a federal fraud probe of Oakes Farms Food & Distribution Services.

By Paige Hagy
Reporter

February 2
AICPA

AICPA unveils Profession Ready Initiative

The American Institute of CPAs introduced a new program to identify and develop the skills needed by early-career CPAs to succeed in an AI-driven market.

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

February 2
Accounting standards

FASB to tackle market-return cash balance plans

The Financial Accounting Standards Board has voted to add a project to its technical agenda on market-return cash balance plans.

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

January 30
Accounting fraud

SEC to dismiss accounting fraud case against bridge builder

The SEC will drop a lawsuit against the former VP of a construction company accusing him of fraudulent accounting in projects including New York's Kosciuszko Bridge.

By Bloomberg News

January 30
Accounting standards

IPSASB releases climate disclosure standard

The International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board released a standard to help entities consistently report climate-related risks and opportunities.

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

January 29

Resources

The latest Accounting Today research and discussion:

Payroll Relief: The Ultimate Payroll Software for Accountants

No matter what payroll software you're currently using, you can increase your profits with Payroll Relief. In fact, 75% of Payroll Relief users have seen at least 25% improvement in their practice.

Partner Insights from AccountantsWorld
Input a lease in as little as 3 minutes with LeaseCrunch

This brief demo highlights how LeaseCrunch is able to provide the fastest way to enter a new lease and generate the corresponding journal entries, amortization schedule and quantitative footnote calculations.

Partner Insights from LeaseCrunch
The perception problem in accounting

Former AICPA chair Kimberly Ellison-Taylor discusses the misconceptions about the profession that it needs to correct.

Sponsored by Divvy

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.