ON THE RECORD believe that reducing the complexity of accounting standards is an important issue facing the accounting profession. The SEC staff’s study on off-balance-sheet arrangements that was issued this past June highlighted this observation along with several initiatives aimed at improving the transparency of financial reporting.” —Alison Spivey, SEC,
Advertisement
The magazines
Solve Memory Problems
GOLDEN BUSINESS IDEAS f you’re having trouble remembering things, what you need are recall clues to jump-start your memory. For example, say you have to remember these six names: Stanley, Robin, Georgette, Ben, Thomas and Luther. Instead of trying to commit the names to memory, invent a sentence—even a nonsensical
AICPA Financial Literacy Campaign Adds to Its Laurels
The Institute’s 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy program garnered a 2005 Platinum Award from the League of American Communications Professionals and was on the organization’s list of Top 50 Communications Materials for 2005. The campaign also won a Financial Planning Award of Excellence from CPA Wealth Provider magazine and a
Overcome Excel’s Sort Function Shortcoming
I have a spreadsheet that lists products with identifiers that go from C1 up to C1267. Since they are all unsorted, I tried to use Excel’s Sort function to put them in order, but then I ended up with C1, C10, C100, etc. What am I doing wrong? What you
Looking Back
NUMEROLOGY What was the United States like in 1905, when the Journal of Accountancy was first published? The average life expectancy was 47 years. Only 14% of homes had a bathtub. A three-minute call from Denver to New York City cost $11. Only 8% of homes had a telephone. There
Phight Phraud
ou receive an e-mail that appears to be from your bank. You recognize the logo and the letter format. It’s even signed by the bank officer you deal with. It says there has been a glitch in your account and asks for verification of some information—credit card numbers, passwords and
Cheaper by the Hundred
Source: The Impact of Regulatory Costs on Small Firms, Small Business Administration, Washington, D.C., www.sba.gov/advo , 2005.
Benjamin Franklin Quote
AS QUOTED “Drive thy business or it will drive thee.” —Benjamin Franklin
Tell Us a Little About Yourself
SURVEY SAVVY typo on your rsum may give a bad impression, but the interview process is an even bigger hurdle when you’re applying for a financial position. In a recent poll of 1,400 CFOs by Robert Half Finance & Accounting, 32% cited the job interview as the point at which
The Last Word: Virginia Harn
VIRGINIA HARN, CPA Tax principal LarsonAllen Minneapolis, Minn. I MAJORED IN MUSIC IN COLLEGE, but I went to work in a social services agency and eventually moved into quality assurance. The agency received a lot of federal funding, and I was responsible for making sure we were in compliance with
Meyners Does a Reality Check
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Four years ago Meyners + Co. began an intensive business development initiative to align staff performance and compensation with its core values and competencies to better prepare employees to handle additional work. Difficulty in executing the plan surfaced over time. The core of Meyners’s training is developing demonstrable
A Future That Matters: An Exit Interview With Donald Nicolaisen
s he packed up to leave his Washington office, Donald T. Nicolaisen shared some candid comments with the Journal of Accountancy on the profession, the politics and the people that have made up his world for the past two years. JofA : Do you think regulation is dampening the growth
Keep Your Laptop Battery Meter Accurate
Since I use a laptop as my main computer, I keep it plugged in 24/7. But when I take it on the road, I notice that my battery meter shows nearly empty even when it still has loads of power. Can that be fixed? I’d guess it’s a NiCadmium (NiCad)
Smart Stops on the Web
SOX/B&I SITES Brush Up on Compliance http://cpcaf.aicpa.org/Resources/Sarbanes+Oxley/ The+Changing+Regulatory+Landscape.htm CPAs and compliance officers can find background documentation, guidance and tools for implementing the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 here. Looking for related CPE credit? Follow the link to the CPA2Biz.com store for a CD-ROM webcast. Or read the full text of the
AICPA Enters Marketing Agreement on Rivet XBRL Software
The Institute agreed to promote Rivet Software’s Dragon Tag and Dragon View XBRL products. AICPA members can order them by e-mail ( aicpa@rivetsoftware.com ) or from Rivet’s Web site ( www.rivetsoftware.com ). The Institute is using Rivet’s products because they enable CPAs to easily create, send, receive and view XBRL
In Memoriam: George Tornwall
FAREWELL George E. Tornwall died at the age of 83 on November 28, 2005, in St. Petersburg, Fla. He was a certified public accountant who had retired from Cherry, Bekaert & Holland in 1988. He had been a vice-president of the American Institute of CPAs and a president of the
Out, Out and Stay Out, Reviewing Toolbar
What is it about Excel’s Reviewing toolbar? It seems to have a mind of its own. It turns up intermittently—usually when I don’t want it—and each time I have to go to the toolbar menu and unclick it. Is there some way to stop it? I don’t know if it’s
Institute to Relocate Certain Operations
The AICPA Council approved the Institute’s recommendation to transfer selected operations from Jersey City, N.J., and New York City to Durham, N.C. The decision to relocate was based on the continuing rise of labor costs in the New York metropolitan area and unused space in the Jersey City office. The
Antifraud Sponsors Sought
The Institute for Fraud Prevention (IFP), a consortium of organizations and companies that was cofounded by the AICPA, is offering academic grants for the study of various aspects of fraud. The IFP aims to improve the ability of businesses and governments to fight fraud and to educate the public on
The SOX Factor
Source: Survey of 1,400 CFOs, Robert Half International, Menlo Park, Calif., www.rhi.com , 2005.
Features
SPONSORED REPORT
How to find the right CAS clients
The key to success with CAS is selecting the best clients. Tools like ideal client profiles (ICPs), buyer personas, and even artificial intelligence can help identify the businesses that best fit each CAS practice.
From The Tax Adviser
March 31, 2026
Current developments in taxation of individuals: Part 1
March 31, 2026
Current Developments in Taxation of Individuals: Part 1
March 6, 2026
