The Latest

AICPA BACKS FASB ON MARK-TO-MARKET STUDYThe American Institute of CPAs has written to the Securities and Exchange Commission urging it to allow the Financial Accounting Standards Board to continue to set standards for mark-to-market accounting.

In a Nov. 3, 2008, press release, the Financial Accounting Standards Board and the International Accounting Standards Board jointly announced they would be holding three round tables in the U.K., the U.S. and Japan to "identify financial reporting issues highlighted by the global financial crisis."This idea started us considering whether we could help by articulating what role financial reporting, and those who engage in it, can play before, during and after a crisis. Although the meetings will be over by the time our thoughts are printed, perhaps they will be useful in subsequent deliberations.

Having a long-term financial plan gives your clients' logic a leg up over their emotions during times of market volatility.The past year has seen the stock markets swinging hundreds of points a day in either direction. That roller coaster ride has tested even the most stoic of investors, but those with a professionally prepared, long-term financial plan most likely have fared better than most do-it-yourself investors.

H.D. VEST ADDS REMOTE CHECK SCANNINGBroker/dealer H.D. Vest Financial Services is offering remote check scanning and depositing services to its network of financial planning advisors.

There are a number of ways that your clients can outgrow their entry-level accounting software. One of the more common instances is that a growing client totally embraces the accounting system to a degree where it has more people that want to use it than the software can support.Most entry-level accounting applications are built on proprietary databases and limit access to five or so simultaneous users.

MYOB UPGRADES PREMIERMYOB has released the 2009 version of its MYOB Premier Accounting software, with extra payroll, security, search, print and spell check features for small businesses.

Technology plays an increasingly critical role in all firms, yet information technology departments are generally the last to know when a firm is merging with another - or being merged.Why?

We tend to associate successful CPA firms with interesting clients that offer high-visibility products and innovative services. At least for me, that image has not typically included firms that handle government or public-sector work. That's whyI was so pleasantly surprised to make the acquaintance of Tucson, Ariz.-based Heinfeld, Meech & Co. PC.

CPA2BIZ TO RESELL GOOGLE ADWORDS TO ACCOUNTING FIRMSNew York - The American Institute of CPAs' business subsidiary CPA2Biz has signed a deal with Google to offer Google AdWords as a way for accounting firms to market and promote their services via local paid search ads.

What makes an accounting firm a great employer? Is it exceptional benefits? Flex time? Opportunities for advancement?As you might expect, the tactics that make for success vary from firm to firm; however, one value underlies them all - a genuine "people-first" attitude.