A beef over legal fees could mean that the fate of a $10 million verdict won by a pair of Atlanta millionaires against PricewaterhouseCoopers is in greater limbo than previously thought.

Go ahead, say it: Forensic accounting is sexy. At least, that's how those in the field describe this fast-growing niche that incorporates investigation and auditing expertise to provide analysis in a judicial setting."I see more general service firms saying on their Web sites, 'We do forensic accounting,'" said Howard Silverstone, CPA, FCA, CFE and co-founder of Forensic Resolutions Inc., based in Haddonfield, N.J. "Part of it I think it's because it's sexy, and part of it is because they realize there's a legitimate market for it and people really understand it enough now that they are going to be looking for people like us."

Would you give investment or insurance advice to a client without knowing their tax situation?

To argue the success of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, one can point to the strength and integrity of the capital markets and financial systems. If optimistically inclined, one could claim that the rules and procedures are quietly averting crises and major headline news.

PWC DECLINES RE-ELECTION AS AMERIGON AUDITOR

We hate to say how long we have been watching accounting standard-setting, but trust us, it has been a long time. Over those eons, we have been frustrated at the lack of attention granted to the interests of financial statement users and the perennial promotion of the interests of auditors and statement preparers. This imbalance simply does not work for the economy's good, because the capital markets are inefficient if users don't have ready access to the information they need for allocating capital to the right places at the right prices.

If life insurance professionals picture the accounting profession as it was a decade or two ago, they may be forfeiting an opportunity to build a mutually beneficial alliance.

Financial planners reported mean gross earnings of $283,079 in 2006, an increase of more than $50,000 from a year ago, according to a recently released survey.

The Internal Revenue Service is preparing to redesign its Form 990, “Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax,” according to published reports.

Two major accounting associations have announced the recipients of research grants for the 2007-08 year.

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board concluded its first International Auditor Regulatory Institute last week.

A veteran business reporter once advised me that if I really wanted to gauge the culture and future of a company I was writing on, check out their customer service department.

Criticism is nothing new to either the Financial Accounting Standards Board or the Governmental Accounting Standards Board. They get it from investors who want more information. They get it from corporations that say they already offer too much information. And recently, they've gotten it from both the Securities and Exchange Commission and from a former SEC chairman.

The Securities and Exchange Commission endorsed the recommendations of the agency's professional staff to eliminate "waste and duplication" in companies' compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley. The change is particularly aimed at providing relief for smaller companies.

In recent hearings before the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures, both the American Institute of CPAs and the New York State Society of CPAs called for the repeal of the oft-debated alternative minimum tax.

Appointed to serve as the first executive director of the Center for Audit Quality, Cindy Fornelli is guiding the new organization in its mission to bolster confidence in the audit process, and to aid investors by promoting constructive suggestions for change.Still affiliated with the American Institute of CPAs, the center is the revamped version of the AICPA’s former Center for Public Company Audit Firms. The CAQ Governing Board consists of representatives from the AICPA, the major public company auditing firms and independent public members.

In a major shift of its normal timetable, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board issued its 2006 inspection report for Ernst & Young this week.

The Government Accountability Office has asked Congress to consider enacting a statute period longer than three years for taxpayers involved in questionable offshore activities.

"Boomers have both unrivaled influence and rich networks of peer advisors,” says Dr. Leslie Gaines-Ross, chief reputation strategist at Weber Shandwick, one of the world’s leading public relations firms.

The International Accounting Standards Board has published its preliminary views on accounting for insurance contracts in a discussion paper.