Consulting

Sageworks has released "Next-Level Accountants: Your guide to growing a firm of trusted advisors," an e-book containing insights from some of the top thought leaders in the accounting and valuation professions.

Did you ever hear that accounting firms, particularly the larger ones, don’t provide distinctive client service and only compete on price?

Many family run businesses have parents and children who perform excellently together, and I have worked with many proud companies. However, occasionally there is a stumbling block, in that a parent and child cannot just get it together. What to do?

Jim Boomer will succeed his father L. Gary Boomer as CEO of Boomer Consulting, Inc., as part of a long-term succession plan that has been underway for the last seven years and includes several other big moves at the prominent accounting firm consultancy.

Global shipping and international trade have been reserved historically for big companies with the resources required to manage the disparate steps involved in moving shipments worldwide. After managing “big trade” for some of the largest companies in the world, I believe the real global trade opportunity is with small and midsize businesses. But SMBs are likely flying blind (and under your radar); they need your help.

Ever-evolving regulatory complexity, coupled with an increasingly competitive marketplace, globalization and the rise of part-time and casual employees make it more difficult than ever for growing businesses to keep up with the numerous changes in the law, risking costly noncompliance.

The New York State Society of CPAs will be holding its first ever Sustainability Investment Leadership Conference on May 6. This is a new area that could result in substantial involvement by CPAs.

Industry consultant Allan Koltin once shared a statistic that probable client retention rates were 81 percent for clients using four services from their financial services provider, compared with 12 percent for clients using just one service. This indicates that accountants can benefit when clients utilize more services from the firm.

Payroll tax credits, workforce training grants, infrastructure grants, property tax abatements and tax increment financing are just a few of the tools that state and local economic development groups have at their disposal to entice businesses to expand and invest in their communities.

The London-based International Valuation Standards Council is asking for input on some of its new standards for performing valuations on financial instruments, real estate and intangibles.

I have and had many clients where children work in their parents’ business and have seen a lot of private interactions that shouldn’t have ever occurred, but did.

Baby boomer business owners will retire in droves over the next decade, which means they will consider their options for passing on the business to family or key employees or for selling the business to a third party.

Jay Nisberg and Gary Shamis, co-authors of the book "Stratagem," discuss how often accounting firms should review their strategic plans in this video.

Jay Nisberg and Gary Shamis, co-authors of the book "Stratagem," talk about what to expect from strategic planning meetings for accounting firms, how long they can take and how to synthesize them.

Gary Shamis of BDO and consultant Jay Nisberg discuss how the personal element dovetails with the firm's business in strategic planning, along with their book "Stratagem."

Last September, Accounting Today published the thoughts shared by “Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting” in an in-depth article, “T100 Extra: The Most Important Issues Facing the Profession.” From the more than 18,000 words expressed by the influencers, I identified the 31 most critical words that truly reflect their wisdom about the real “challenges” facing the accounting profession today.

Gary Shamis of BDO and consultant Jay Nisberg talk in this video about the different ways that firms pursue a strategic planning process, along with their book "Stratagem."

Gary Shamis of BDO and consultant Jay Nisberg discuss strategic planning for accounting firms and their book, Stratagem, in this video.

The CPA Consultants’ Alliance has approved a new slate of officers during a recent annual meeting in New Orleans.

Some time ago I had breakfast with a client who was not able to make ends meet but was fortunate to have his brother-in-law send him monthly checks so he and his wife could get by without any pressure.