Personal Financial Planning
With bankruptcy reform imminent this year, CPAs and their financially troubled clients should consider whether they will be better off filing under existing rules or waiting until new rules make some potentially radical changes.
Disaster Recovery
Earthquakes! Hurricanes! Blackouts! Network failures! A business continuity plan can help a company stay in business despite sudden trauma. CPAs have the skills and background to add value to these plans. Case study: San Francisco copes with a regional power failure.
After years of steady growth, turbulent markets have jolted corporate pension fund administrators. People who serve on a company’s investment committee ought to review the committee’s strategy for the fund, write it up and adhere to it. Here's a step-by-step guide to reviewing allocation decisions.
Practice Management / Business and Industry
Do meetings lead your list of corporate time wasters? They don't have to. In fact, they can be the most efficient and effective way to exchange information. Learn what you can do to make the most of any meeting, whether you are calling it, leading it or just showing up.
New Assurance Services / Liability Issues
What are the liability issues for CPAs performing WebTrust engagements? The service is still new and there have been no lawsuits. Nevertheless, there are a few cases that may serve as precedents and some techniques the prudent accountant can use to minimize exposure.
Tax Practice
Has a client made a wrong election? Did an attorney file a late return? Do you have a client who is a famous sports figure? If you answer yes to any of these questions, you could be at risk for a malpractice suit. Know the 10 most common claims that could threaten your tax practice and why they occur.
Management Accounting
To determine how it's doing, a business must be aware of more than its financial history. Performance measures, a process for tracking key business functions, not only can take a businesss pulse but also can be used to plan its future. We show how two different businesses use this process.