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The Senate Finance Committee is considering President Obama's economic stimulus package as leaders call for increased tax cuts.

Accounting firms Blum, Shapiro & Co., and Nishball, Carp, Niedermeier, Pacowta & Co., have merged, building Blum's presence in Connecticut.

Online sales tax management software developer SpeedTax has introduced business partner programs for technology consultants who resell products from Sage, Microsoft and Intuit.

South Florida accounting firm Daszkal Bolton is the latest to offer services to clients who have suffered losses from Bernard Madoff's $50 billion Ponzi scheme.

One of the fastest-growing practice niches among CPA firms over the past several years, forensic accounting has ushered in an era in which CPAs are in constant demand as expert witnesses and in other litigation support capacities.

There is no time like the present for firm leaders to take a very hard look at their current team—from entry-level to senior manager and even at newer partners and ask: Are they adequately equipped to market, sell and provide the kind of relationship-building environment to acquire and keep new clients (and new staff)? Firms have been extremely busy in recent years simply serving clients, that more or less fell into their lap. Little effort has been expended to obtain new clients because the phone has just kept ringing. The bigger problem has been finding enough people to serve clients, not finding enough work to keep people busy. Firm leaders are beginning to acknowledge that even their young partners have never honed their skills in marketing and actively pursuing new business. Current leaders in many firms will naturally ask, “Did we make too many technicians partners?” Change is real. It always provides opportunity for those who have ambition, drive and the desire to take their career to new heights. Now is the time to refocus firm efforts from frantically hiring and training technicians to building a team that possesses professional relationship-building skills. Now is the time to instill more discipline and structure into your marketing, branding and sales efforts. The best part of all this is the fact that the next generation is waiting in the wings for opportunity and guidance from established firm leaders. The next generation, young Gen-Xers and Millennials, are looking for mentors and coaches who can help them achieve quickly. They have been asking for more direction and attention from firm leaders for several years. Now, firms have the critical need to pay attention and develop training programs to enhance smart skills like communication, business etiquette, listening, speaking, writing, marketing and selling. This next generation is also asking firm leaders to develop a more collaborative firm culture. It’s easy to get started, but remember, it takes discipline from firm leaders to keep it alive and healthy inside your firm. Here are some ideas:

Here's a smart idea for all you financial planners out there. Target the children of your Baby Boomer clients. Read more on the Accounting Tomorrow blog.

The incoming chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Mary Schapiro, criticized the International Accounting Standards Board and expressed reluctance to move to International Financial Reporting Standards.

With the election over, we now must focus on what real changes will advance the markets.

SMITH EXITS SAGENina Smith, who headed Sage North America's largest division for the last year, has left the company as major changes continue to roll through the organization following the hiring of new CEO Sue Swenson in March.