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FRAUD

Lessons from an $8 million fraud

Nathan J. Mueller’s fleecing of his employer, a financial services giant, is noteworthy because of the amount of money stolen, the many years the embezzlement lasted, and the internal control weaknesses that made the scheme possible. This article examines how the crime was committed and what organizations can do to protect themselves from similar losses.

FRAUD

What’s your fraud IQ?

Do you know how to spot the red flags of a fraudulent transaction? Can you evaluate the warning signs? Find out in our Fraud IQ quiz.

TAX

Treating partners as employees: Risks to consider

Partnerships often grant equity interests to valued employees but often mistakenly continue to treat them as employees for employment tax and other purposes. This article examines the risks a partnership and the partner run in continuing this treatment and suggests a few solutions.

TAX

QDROs demand the attention of CPAs

Expertise in qualified domestic relations orders and dividing retirement benefits in divorce can be a valuable accounting and tax specialty.

FROM CGMA MAGAZINE

Nimble thinking takes the lead

Finance must, in certain cases, spend less time focusing on the past and more time seeking better predictions about the future.

TECHNOLOGY

Expanding your app-titude

New column debuts with descriptions of networking app Fing and shopping assistant RedLaser.

PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY SPOTLIGHT

All in a dishonest day’s work

It’s difficult to believe, but sometimes CPA firm employees, and even partners, steal from clients. While a CPA firm’s leaders may believe this would never happen to them, claim experience in the AICPA Professional Liability Insurance Program demonstrates this does occur.

HUMAN RESOURCES

A pipeline for diversity

A professionwide effort to grow the ranks of underrepresented minorities in accounting has been developed by the Howard University School of Business Center for Accounting Education’s Pipeline Working Group, supported by the AICPA. The initiative is focusing on reaching out to high school and community college students in an effort to create a pipeline of talent to the profession.

FROM THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

AI risks CPAs should know

Are you ready for the AI revolution in accounting? This JofA Technology Q&A article explores the top risks CPAs face—from hallucinations to deepfakes—and ways to mitigate them.