AT Think

Warren Buffett’s holding company Berkshire Hathaway certainly has an interesting way of replying to questions from the Securities and Exchange Commission.

IMGCAP(1)] Someone made the comment about being an inspiring woman in the profession. I turned to look to see who this person was talking about…and it was me! What? When did that happen? I’m not really sure myself. All I know is that over the past few years I’ve been speaking out, trying to educate the profession and help my fellow colleagues in such areas as technology and innovative practices.

A couple of colorful tax strategy monikers have emerged to describe the elaborate steps that Google and other companies employ to shift their U.S. tax burden overseas.

IMGCAP(1)] In an ideal world, everyone’s fitness and health would be monitored 24 hours a day like something seen on “The Biggest Loser.”A team of fitness professionals watching your every move, conspicuous cameras catching even the slightest of “cheat” snacks, and a team of goal-oriented individuals surrounding you are just the highlights of what this kind of environment provides.The reality is that most people do not have access to these kinds of all inclusive environments.

A New Jersey man could be facing nearly a year in prison after he cashed a $158,174 refund check from the IRS that was supposed to go to his former employer.

IMGCAP(1)] There are many discussions going on about the use of social media among accountants. Surely there are folks who don’t understand the value of these mediums, mostly due to inexperience in using them. “Why should I go on Twitter and tell someone what I’m doing? Who is going to care?”

The Internal Revenue Service is opening the proverbial Al Capone vault on its income tax statistics, stretching back nearly a century.

IMGCAP(1)] If you look at the history of any firm that dominates a niche market, you will often find one or two people who became the famous “go-to” people in that industry. Everyone in the industry knows that when you have certain kinds of problems, you “go to” this certain person. The go-to person is quoted in the press about the industry, asked to speak at industry events and has a high profile with local and national associations.

Edward Gordon, a researcher, writer and speaker on workforce development, education reform and literacy gave AICPA governing council members an earful during a talk in New Orleans addressing the future of social and human resources.

IMGCAP(1)] It’s highly unlikely you went into accounting because you really wanted to learn how to sell. Yet, the simple truth is that the success of your career is likely to be profoundly impacted by your ability to bring in work, perhaps even more so than the advancement of your technical skills.