AT Think

Working Mother magazine announced on Tuesday their 2015 Working Mother 100 Best Companies. The list salutes companies committed to progressive workplace programs, including advancement of women, flexibility, child care and paid parental leave.

Two recent reports demonstrate how tax breaks at the state and federal level can help reduce poverty.

PricewaterhouseCoopers, the global consulting and accounting firm, announced Tuesday that it will begin to help its junior-level employees pay back their student loans. Starting next July, all of PwC’s associates and senior associates—approximately 45 percent of the firm's 46,000 employees, from entry-level to six years of experience—will become eligible to receive as much as $1,200 a year for up to six years toward their student loans.

The Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA) will honor the Michigan recipients of the AICPA 2015 Women to Watch Award at its annual Awards Dinner on Sept. 30. The MICPA Women’s Initiatives Task Force selected three MICPA members to receive the AICPA’s Women to Watch Experienced Leader Award and one to receive the Emerging Leader Award.

PricewaterhouseCoopers has released a useful report demonstrating the many differences that remain between U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards.

I’m a Payroll Betty and I’m proud. What does that mean exactly? It means I’ve built my firm with payroll. The result has been very rewarding. However, not surprisingly, I’ve run into an accountant or two that looks down on payroll. They don’t want to be bothered with such “low level” work. Not me; I love payroll.

Last Thursday, the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA) announced that they have opened a government affairs office in Albany as the 28,000-member association renews its focus on state legislation and regulations.

As the Baby Boomer generation ages and faces the prospect of needing to hire caregivers, accountants are increasingly being called upon to help families sort out the tax issues associated with hired domestic help.

According to a recent survey by Robert Half Finance & Accounting, job-seekers value learning just as much as their salary when they consider a opportunity. Among finance and accounting professionals surveyed, 64 percent said the chance to gain new skills is a critical consideration when making a career move. 50 percent also reported they are very concerned about keeping their skills current in the next few years.

Top executives at mid-market companies increasingly see technology as a strategic asset that can drive competitive advantage and are taking a more active role in technology decisions, according to a new report from Deloitte.