Where'd everybody go?
You know how you're having a hard time finding and keeping staff? Well, we didn't want to say anything, but you're the reason it's so difficult - your policies, your firm structure, your outdated ideas. Fortunately, the Work/Life and Women's Initiatives Executive Committees of the American Institute of CPAs can help, with a free DVD that details the changes you need to initiate to attract the best new talent and the CPAs of tomorrow. The DVD, which includes commentary by staffing experts and the young professionals you're looking to hire, is available by e-mailing educat@aicpa.org.
Price: Free.
American Institute of CPAs
www.aicpa.org/worklife
Around the world
If you're looking for a primer on current issues in international accounting, you could hardly do better than a book called International Accounting, could you? This collection of research papers on a range of topics includes discussions on the adoption and implementation of
International Financial Reporting Standards, as well as fair value accounting and auditing, taxation and accounting education in several countries.
Our favorite, though, is probably the in-depth examination of the lobbying that went into the creation of the International Accounting Standards Board's IAS, which are currently being mandated for all European public companies.
Price: $64.95.
Elsevier
www.books.elsevier.com
Draft picks
In the mad scramble just to find warm bodies, it's easy to forget that in the long term, a firm's strength is based on that of its people. Bench Strength is a blueprint for building a roster of leadership talent that can sustain your competitive edge long into the future. It explains the many decisions you'll have to make about the team you're building, such as whether to buy talent or develop it internally, whether to focus on a few high-potential individuals or a broader group, and much more.
Price: $29.95.
Amacom
www.amacombooks.org
Governmental SOX
When it comes to regulation, the government sure can dish it out - but can it take it? Turns out it has to, in some cases. OMB Circular A-123 and Sarbanes-Oxley brings to light the relatively obscure internal controls regulations with which federal agencies are supposed to be in compliance - their very own Section 404. The book provides agencies with the practice tools, guidance, tests and explanations they need to comply. Interestingly, Circular A-123 is based on practices stemming from a law from back in 1982, long before SOX was even a gleam in Congress' eye.
Price: $70.
John Wiley & Sons
www.wiley.com
(800) 762-2974
Look what Congress did
When Congress passes legislation, we wonder if they actually understand it, or if they just shove it through and then wait for analysts like the ones at CCH to explain it to them. Either way, CCH has taken a fine-tooth comb to the recent 900-plus-page pension reform bill to produce Law, Explanation and Analysis of the Pension Protection Act of 2006. Given that this is one of the biggest changes to retirement in decades, it's nice to know that CCH is there to tell Washington what just happened.
Price: $79; volume discounts available.
CCH
http://hr.cch.com/pension
(800) 248-3248
Small biz loans
If you have small business clients looking for financing - or are looking for it yourself --then Loan Financing Guide for Small Business Owners could prove very useful. It's full of advice on every aspect of getting a loan, from what lenders are looking for to how to limit your debt burden.
Price: $27.95.
Small Business Empowerment Publishing
www.loanfinancingguide.com
