Careers
In today’s world where many professional people will have more than one career before they retire, CPAs have a hidden asset—a window into many client businesses. This plus their broad-based financial skills can help them seize an entrepreneurial opportunity. Here are guidelines for considering whether to follow a different drummer and profiles of some CPAs who’ve made a switch or added an enterprise line.
Practice Management / Professional Development
Practitioners can use the AICPA Competency Self-Assessment Tool to evaluate which professional performance areas they need to strengthen. This article takes readers through an introductory exercise to show them how to use the tool as the first step to forming an action plan to better prepare for the many opportunities available to today’s CPAs.
Compensation and Benefits
Although the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 did not mandate any changes in compensation methods, its focus on corporate governance issues has been a catalyst for public companies to reexamine standard operating procedures—including how they pay corporate executives.
Internships / Recruiting
Internships benefit potential and established CPAs: Students get an assist in making the transition from school to workplace, and firms that nurture young talent get the benefit of a close look at potential hires. Here are guidelines for making internships a successful part of professional development for students and firms.
Technology Workshop
Microsoft’s Access is a powerful application, but it’s not for the fainthearted. However, with a little effort, you can make it easier to use so anyone in your organization can operate it.
Business & Industry
As companies implement a lean approach to doing business, they are finding that some standard cost accounting practices no longer make sense. This is leading them to adopt accounting concepts that better reflect the entity’s business performance.