Recruiting

By 2009, the market for legal, tax and regulatory information will grow to $18.3 billion, according to Outsell Inc.

Loretta Doon was named chief executive of the California CPA Society and the CalCPA Education Foundation this May, after serving for just over a year as the chief operating officer for both groups.

Less than six months after announcing a plan to revamp its test for enrolled agents, the Internal Revenue Service said that the new version of the examination is ready. The first testing window opens today and runs through Dec. 1. The IRS contracted Thomson Prometric to redesign the test and stressed that experts within the Enrolled Agent community had played a role in shaping the new content that is included in the special enrollment examination. The exam has been reformatted from four sections, to three sections, in order to more accurately reflect the current state of taxpayer representation. Each of the three new sections -- individuals, businesses and representation, practice and procedures -- will contain about 100 questions. There are currently about 40,000 active enrolled agents, many of whom are attorneys and CPAs, and represent taxpayers in both examinations and collection matters. Other changes include that:

On the heels of the new risk assessment standards rolled out by the American Institute of CPAs, Thomson Tax & Accounting and the PPC brand are offering two new audit tools. PPC’s Smart e-Practice Aids focused on risk assessment, allows users to automatically generate customized audit programs based on risk assessments. Specifically, the aid will:

DePaul University's College of Commerce has launched the Center for Global Accountancy Education, Benchmarking and Research, which will work to improve financial accounting in the developing world by policing three specific areas: international auditing standards, financial reporting and accounting education.The center will work closely with established international aid and development agencies, including the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the United States Agency for International Development.

For those unfortunate readers familiar with my writing, you know that, as a rule, I don't get sentimental in this space -- save for a somber column on the passing of my father-in-law in 2002 and his patient attempts to coach his all-thumbs son-in-law on home improvement projects.

Thomson Tax & Accounting, a Thomson Corp. business, has acquired PassOnline, a provider of electronic continuing professional education.

CCH, a Wolters Kluwer business, announced that its acquisition of the assets of ATX/Kleinrock has been completed.

BNA announced that it will launch a new Accounting Policy & Practice Series for the accounting, legal and financial professions on Sept. 5.

In a continuing effort to assist victims of last year's hurricanes, the Internal Revenue Service has issued a new publication summarizing the tax incentives to rebuild the Gulf Coast, which are valued at almost $9 billion.

After spending most of 2006 talking to users and revamping its QuickBooks ProAdvisor Program, Intuit is looking to add another 15,000 accountants and small business consultants to the program over the course of the next year.

The International Federation of Accountants' education standards board has proposed new guidance outlining the skills accountants need to perform competently in a variety of information technology roles.

DePaul University's College of Commerce has launched the Center for Global Accountancy Education, Benchmarking and Research Center, which will work to improve financial accounting in the developing world by policing three specific areas: international auditing standards, financial reporting and accounting education.

The International Accounting Education Standards Board, an independent standard-setting group within the International Federation of Accountants, has released a paper, "Approaches to the Development and Maintenance of Professional Values, Ethics and Attitudes in Accounting Education Programs."

LexisNexis and BNA announced an agreement to bring BNA's content to accounting firm and corporate tax department subscribers on the LexisNexis Tax Center platform.

The Professional Accountants in Business Committee of the International Federation of Accountants has released its 2006 "Articles of Merit."

Facing a radical shortfall of CPAs in China, where the Chinese Institute of CPAs has just 140,000 members and needs roughly 300,000 to serve the needs of global capital markets, Britain's largest domestic institute of chartered accountants is implementing a radical training plan.The Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales will send some 50 "elite" professionals - but the number could increase later - for intensive training that will focus on accountancy and keeping China competitive in the global market environment.

A federal labor board has sided with the Internal Revenue Service in a case over the agency's desire to raise the educational requirements for revenue agents.

Abilene, Texas, CPA Jerry Love will serve as chairman of the 27,000-member Texas Society of CPAs for the coming year.

"Get all the dots," the young boy said. "Get them, and you'll beat it. I've beaten it."