CSI ABSORBS EXACTAX PACKAGE EX: Making its second tax software acquisition in less than a year, accounting software provider Creative Solutions Inc., a Thomson business, has acquired the ExacTax Package EX software line from Anaheim, Calif.-based ExacTax. Terms were not disclosed.

Outsourcing is not for every firm.

by Seth Fineberg

Mistakes can teach us a great deal.

by Seth Fineberg

New York — A huge opportunity for improving efficiency related to technology use is to focus on those at the top of the firm, according to CPA Tom Davis, owner of TC Davis CPA, and president of Knowledge Concepts Inc.

Managing an accounting firm is not an easy task, due to the nature of the ownership and the fact that, too often, everyone thinks that they are in charge.

by Ted Needleman

In the information technology profession, many consider crisis management and disaster planning to be client issues. In fact, it isn’t unusual to find IT consultants who specialize in developing disaster recovery plans — predominantly systems-related ones — as an ongoing client service offering.

ACCPAC RESELLER NEXTLEVEL BUYS CRM SPECIALIST: Long-time Accpac International reseller NextLevel Information Solutions has finally realized plans to expand into customer relationship management services with its acquisition of Chicago-based CRM specialist Apex Business Solutions.

by Seth Fineberg

Washington — The California Public Employees’ Retirement System, one of the largest pension funds in the country, has nominated former Securities and Exchange Commission chair Arthur Levitt to the board of the New York Stock Exchange. In addition to being the SEC’s longest-serving chairman, Levitt also headed the American Stock Exchange.

Washington — The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board has tapped Claudius B. Modesti as its director of investigations and enforcement, effective May 3, 2004.

How do you evaluate your professional information technology staff? Who is responsible for that evaluation and how often do evaluations occur?

by Dave McClure

by Seth Fineberg

by Seth Fineberg

LEXISNEXIS ACQUIRES TIME MATTERS AND BILLING MATTERS: Legal, news and business information services provider LexisNexis has taken another step forward in its legal and accounting services strategy through the purchase of Time Matters and Billing Matters — the practice management workflow and time and billing software of Cary, N.C.-based Data.TXT Corp.

Denver — RGL - Forensic Accountants & Consultants, a high-profile forensic accounting firm here, unveiled new offices in Boston and Las Vegas —bringing its total new office openings to seven over the past 18 months.

OPENPAGES SECURES $10M FOR SOX SOFTWARE: OpenPages Inc. has locked in $10 million in funding from several private equity investors, which will be used to enhance and market its Sarbanes-Oxley compliance software.Since the release of its SOX Express software last June, OpenPages has secured clients from over 30 Global 5000 companies across a wide range of industries.