The Latest

Payroll and benefits outsourcing provider Paychex Inc. has purchased San Diego-based Hawthorne Benefit Technologies Inc., an online benefits and management administrator. Going forward, the company will now operate as Paychex Benefit Technologies Inc. The acquisition will give Paychex access to Hawthorne's proprietary BeneTrac system, which provides benefits enrollment and administration technology.

Browser-based business management application provider NetSuite has released new features for its Version 2007.0 suite for their Wholesale/Distribution and Services Company edition verticals.Designed for wholesale/distribution companies in the midmarket, new features for the 2007.0 versions include graphical tools such as a transaction form assistant that allows users to customize quotes, orders and invoices delivered via e-mail or self-service to customers; a matrix item assistant for inventory management; vendor return authorizations that aim to track approval and item return statuses; an extended real-time FedEx integration with Canada for e-commerce shoppers; a multi-location inventory that can help specify which locations may carry available items; and the ability to tailor records such as serialized inventory, lot numbers, item labels and item receipts.

The demand for outsourcing finance and accounting functions will remain strong over the next 12 to 18 months, with the strongest growth coming in the higher-end market according to Everest Research Institute.

Jamie Fowler, a Grant Thornton LLP tax partner, has been named the firm's new national managing partner for its National Tax Process Group. The group, which supports the more than 1,000 tax practice professionals in the firm, encompasses not only process improvements, but also internal tool development, deployment, training and support; external tool and third-party research selection, deployment, training and support; vendor and contract management; project management; and knowledge management. Fowler has over 22 years of experience leading major large-scale international and domestic restructuring projects for companies nationwide, bringing to bear international, federal, and state and local resources. Prior to joining Grant Thornton's Dallas office as tax practice leader in 2004, she was a federal tax partner at KPMG in Dallas.

CPAs have received a blessing in disguise with the annual continuing professional education requirements that force them to learn something new.

Hiring of accounting and finance employees is anticipated to increase in the fourth quarter, according to a newly released survey of CFOs in the United States.

The Justice Department has filed suit against a Detroit tax preparer to keep her from preparing federal tax returns for others, accusing her of cheating her clients.

Job cuts in the mortgage industry are prompting many workers to turn to the accounting industry for work, according to one staffing company.

Female business owners are increasingly more educated and more willing to take risks, according to a newly released survey.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., has proposed a series of measures intended to provide tax relief and disaster assistance to farmers and ranchers as part of a revamped farm bill.