When you work in a professional services firm with different locations, different practice areas and different industries (not counting different deadlines and "busy seasons"), it is quite challenging to pull everyone together and focus on one vision for your firm.

For professional services firms, competitive differentiation isn't necessarily in the products and services they offer. it's in the talent -- the high-potential and high-performing individuals -- that they're able to attract, recruit and retain, which starts with building a world-class workforce that is motivated, engaged and delivering the high-quality services clients demand.

U.S. management-level accounting and finance employees work an average of 48 hours in a standard week, while non-management staff work an average of 42 hours, according to a new report.

Rebecca Ryan of Next Generation Consulting talks with Accounting Today senior editor Danielle Lee about why the way that many firms think about mentoring needs to change in today's society.

Many private businesses are planning to maintain their current staffing levels this year, according to accountants surveyed by financial information provider Sageworks.

The unemployment rate dipped a tenth of a percentage point to 7.6 percent in March, although hiring slowed to 88,000 jobs, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday, with 11,000 jobs added in accounting and bookkeeping services.

Month-over-month hiring declined 0.2 percent in March at small businesses and the average paycheck size fell 0.1 percent, according to payroll provider SurePayroll, but optimism among small business owners rose.

While small businesses again appear to be hiring, plans to create more jobs appear to be slackening, according to the National Federation of Independent Business.

Employment at small businesses in the U.S. grew a slight amount in March, with employees earning more money and working more hours, but revenues mostly dropping, according to Intuit.

Private sector employers added a total of 158,000 jobs in March, according to payroll giant ADP, with growth occurring across all sizes of companies and many industries such as finance, with the notable exception of construction.

Big Four firm deloitte launched its new leadership Center for inclusion in early March with a celebration, informational sessions and tours of its deloitte University campus in Westlake, Texas, the epicenter for this renewed commitment to evolved diversity education.

The unemployment rate dipped slightly to 7.7 percent as employment increased by 236,000 in February, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday.

Employment in the private sector rose by 198,000 jobs in February, according to payroll giant ADP, fueled by a long-awaited rebound in the construction industry and healthy increases in a broad array of other sectors.

Epicor Software Corp. has unveiled its latest human capital management (HCM) product Epicor HCM version 5.7.1, including HCM Mobile Connect which provides access to users for daily tasks via Apple, iPad, iPhone or Android devices.

I recently had the interesting task of facilitating a group discussion on the topic of mentoring programs among representatives of CPA firms throughout the U.S. The participants were members of the Human Resources Practice Group of BKR International, an association that has more than 150 independent accounting and business advisory firms worldwide.

A New York judge has given the go-ahead for a class-action lawsuit against KPMG by female employees claiming gender discrimination by the firm.

Sir Ken Robinson, a speaker and author with expertise on education, creativity and innovation, describes how firms can follow the model of Zappos in getting staff members more engaged with the firm, during an interview with Accounting Today senior editor Danielle Lee at the Winning Is Everything conference in Las Vegas.

The Internal Revenue Service is making progress in the management of its employees but faces continued challenges, according to a new report.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday that nonfarm payroll employment increased by 157,000 in January, but the unemployment rate ticked up a tenth of a percentage point to 7.9 percent.

Sir Ken Robinson, a speaker and author with expertise on education, creativity and innovation, discusses how firms and companies can leverage the talent of their employees and improve morale in an interview with Accounting Today senior editor Danielle Lee at the Winning Is Everything conference.