December 2011 - Journal of Accountancy

Financial close systems, processes, people and their interconnectivity can be complex, but successful improvements to the process can be achieved by introducing some simple building blocks that are inexpensive to implement. Regardless of company size or complexity, all successful financial close processes require continuous communication, comprehensive documentation and a flexible,

More than 4.5 million companies use QuickBooks, making it by far the most widely used accounting system in the world. However, many CPAs frequently overlook or underutilize the product’s strongest features. Are you using QuickBooks efficiently and getting the most you can out of the product? Following is a list

CPA firms trying to attract and retain top talent should emphasize career growth opportunities, salary and paid time off while maintaining an open-door policy that makes management accessible. That summarizes the key findings of the AICPA’s Private Companies Practice Section (PCPS) 2011 Top Talent Survey, which aims to help PCPS

CPAs, whether in public practice or in industry, face a dizzying array of technological choices as 2012 approaches. To help everyone prepare for the year ahead, the JofA gathered the three technology keynote speakers from the AICPA’s 2011 Practitioners Symposium/TECH+ Conference to discuss the hottest tech topics in the accounting

Editor’s note: Also read “The Lowdown on High Potentials” in the December 2011 issue of the JofA. With the 2011 edition of its Top Talent Survey, the AICPA’s Private Companies Practice Section took a look for the first time at high-potential CPAs working in the business, industry and government (BIG)

The AICPA has released the findings from a yearlong initiative to examine what’s on the horizon for CPAs and the accounting profession. CPA Horizons 2025 leveraged insights from more than 75,000 comments from CPAs in all segments of the accounting profession, regulators, thought leaders and futurists to highlight key trends

Even as the debate over legally recognizing same-sex relationships continues, many such unions are being created in which income, expenses, assets and liabilities are shared, but generally without legal recognition of property and other rights accorded heterosexual marriages, federally and in most states. These unions create unique challenges and opportunities