Practice Management

Burr, Pilger & Mayer LLP has inked a deal to its second major merger this summer, with the planned acquisition of Walnut Creek, Calif.-based Leibowitz Shumaker Berger & Holsworth LLP.

After months of increasing reports of investigations by both the Securities and Exchange Commission and academics, Congress is now examining the sometimes-questionable timing of stock options granted to executives.

A report from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration estimates that computer programming woes cost the country more than the $200- to $300-million range originally estimated by the Internal Revenue Service.

RSM McGladrey Inc. announced a Labor Day deal to acquire Phoenix-based real estate tax firm, Gaughan & Nahom PLC.

In its second acquisition in as many months, Wolters Kluwer business CCH made another big splash in the small practitioner market with the announcement of its agreement to purchase Tax Wise Corp.

The reasoning might be sound in the latest recommendations brought forward by the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel , but huge questions remain over how any of the panel's latest handful of suggestions might actually be executed.

Emerging Information Systems Inc., the developer of NaviPlan financial planning software, announced it will acquire rival financial planning software developer Financial Profiles Inc.

Pitney Bowes Inc., a manufacturer of postage meters, mailing systems and other equipment, agreed to a $1.1 billion tax settlement with the Internal Revenue Service.

Recently, we asked marketers nationwide to share their firms' evaluation forms; we were surprised to learn that many respondents do not have a formal evaluation process similar to those that are conducted for their CPA staff.Instead, they said that they summarize their efforts, and offer a report card to firm management. Unfortunately, these subjective reporting efforts frequently feel inadequate, because they are created without much partner support or understanding of the marketing process, its value and its results.

Who needs risk management? All firms do.The passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 has resulted in significant legal and regulatory changes affecting auditors of publicly traded companies. Given the current litigious climate, the inherent danger of auditing nano- and small-cap firms, and most firms doing larger and larger engagements, risk management may soon become one of the top five issues in managing an accounting practice.