Consulting

I am often asked what differentiates firms that are successful with technology from those that struggle. My standard response is that firms struggle with technology when they view it as overhead, but they invariably profit from it when they value it as a strategic asset.

CFOs remain concerned about their companies' ability to recruit skilled professionals, according to a new survey.

Every once and a while you come across a firm that knocks your socks off. Dezan Shira & Associates (dezshira.com) is just such a firm.

Billy Beane, vice president and general manager of the Oakland A’s, the keynote speaker at the recent Winning Is Everything Conference, explained how mathematics is transforming America’s pastime. Yes, I said mathematics.

Horwath International Association has been named one of the first full members of the Forum of Firms after reporting that it has implemented a globally coordinated quality assurance program.

For those who live and breathe cost segregation work, there’s an element of surprise surrounding how little most people — CPAs included — know about the tax-savings strategy.“On a recent proposal opportunity, a tax principal and I met with a potential client who owns 15 properties,” said Lawrence Knutson, CPA/ABV and consulting senior manager at Ehrhardt Keefe Steiner & Hottman PC in Denver. “The potential client had developed the properties over the last 20 years. He had a sole proprietor doing his tax return who is retiring. We came in and the first thing we mentioned was cost segregation. He had never heard of it. We see that more and more. I don’t think we’ve fully realized the size of the cost segregation market.”

Experts discussed how to share strategies on driving firm profitability and growth at this month's New York Metro Roundtable at the Friars Club in Manhattan.

Want to know how to encourage younger people to stay at your firm?Re-assess their supervisory relationships.

Sage Software said it is sending executives from its business management division on the road to talk to business partners in 10 metropolitan areas.

This free, new webinar details how practitioners are implementing the new audit standards that change how non-public company, not-for-profit and governmental audits are performed.

Spurred by revenue increases in its payroll and human resources units, payroll and benefits outsourcing provider Paychex Inc. posted an 11 percent rise in second quarter profits, to $147.1 million for the period ended Nov. 30.

Tracy Crevar Warren has built a successful consulting business as president and CEO of the Crevar Group, which provides growth consulting, training and coaching for accounting and other professional services firms.

Due to an error, an Industry Leader Q&A this week was mistakenly attributed to Gale Crosley, a principal at Crosley & Co. The comments in that Q&A were not made by her and do not represent her views. The comments were, in fact, those of Tracy Crevar Warren, president and CEO of the Crevar Group. We regret the error.

While friends and family are more concerned with the holidays at hand, tax practitioners are taking last-minute steps to ensure that they and their clients have a successful tax season.Training people to be able to staff the offices properly is key for Peoples Income Tax Inc., said chief executive Charles McCabe. "There just isn't a supply of qualified preparers out there who are willing to work for three months. And if someone is available, you have to ask why they are available - you don't want to hire someone else's problem."

Private sector employment increased by 189,000 in November, according to a report by payroll processor ADP, which sent stocks sharply higher on Wednesday.

Those who regularly read the Revenue Enhancers department in Practical Accountant are familiar with the Outside the Box section written by Jeff Stimpson. For those who aren’t, here’s a flavor.

YellowPages Corp. has launched an online directory listing of accountants at AccountantYellowPages.com.

AccountantsWorld has teamed up with ExpertPlan to help accountants provide retirement-planning services to clients.

WebCPA presents a free online session discussing various facets of philanthropy and its potential benefits for accountants.

It began in college, continued in law school, and still exists today, my fascination with court and disciplinary opinions that provide an inside view of something the involved parties would rather had never come to light. The most recent one is a PCAOB disciplinary order involving an accountant who worked for KPMG.