Audit & Accounting

In a union that would create one of the largest CPA and business advisory firms in California, Top 100 Firm Burr Pilger Mayer is merging with Windes & McClaughry Accountancy Corp., effective Jan. 1, 2012.

H&R Block announced Thursday it will discontinue service under its ExpressTax brand, which primarily served early filers who wanted quick refunds and currently has 269 franchise offices.

While Southeast accounting firm Elliott Davis scored first in four categories of university and employer ranking Web site Vault.com’s Accounting Quality of Life Rankings for 2012, accounting firms shared the wealth in the other 11 categories.

Big Four firm KPMG LLP has agreed to acquire Optimum Solutions, an Oracle Platinum Partner that provides management consulting and implementation services for organizations using Oracle Corp.’s enterprise software.

A total of 33 state CPA societies representing over 275,000 CPAs have written letters so far to the Financial Accounting Foundation or passed resolutions urging the FAF to create a new accounting standard-setting board for privately held companies, according to the American Institute of CPAs.

Small and midsized enterprises are placing greater emphasis on sustainability strategy in tandem with their accounting, according to a new report.

The New York State Society of CPAs has written a comment letter opposing changes in the format of audit reports.

Vault.com has ranked Grant Thornton as the top accounting firm to work for in the employment site’s second annual rankings.

Deloitte & Touche has been sued by the trustees for a bankrupt mortgage lending company for failing to detect the financial fraud that led to the company’s collapse.