Most CPAs promoted to leadership positions get there because of their technical skills and professional prowess. In many cases, however, the same CPAs have not been prepared to act as leaders. The following steps show what employers can do to cultivate leadership skills. Emphasize business acumen, curiosity, and strategic sensibility
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Professional development
The leadership cycle: How to effectively lead and develop talent
Richard Oliver, CPA, CGMA, is the president of familyowned THORLO Inc. in Statesville, N.C. He got his start in accounting with a fiber-optics company in Hickory, N.C., then went to work as an auditor for Deloitte. He returned to the fiber-optics field after three years, before he was recruited to
The leadership cycle: The parallel paths of career and firm success
Jennifer Wilson is a partner and cofounder of ConvergenceCoaching LLC, a nationally recognized leadership and marketing firm that provides coaching and consulting services to leaders. She is an experienced change agent who has worked in both the public accounting and business sectors and is a frequent speaker, writer, and blogger
AICPA Council votes to offer specialized credentials globally
Members of certain qualified accounting bodies outside the United States will be eligible to earn AICPA specialized credentials as a result of a resolution approved by the AICPA governing Council on Monday in Washington. As a result of the vote at the annual spring Council meeting, the AICPA will be
CFOs most crave these 2 nonaccounting skills
General business knowledge and IT expertise are the nonaccounting skills CFOs in the United States are seeking most from finance and accounting job candidates, according to a new survey. One-third of 2,100 CFOs surveyed by specialized staffing service Accountemps said general business knowledge is the attribute or area of expertise
Shannon Stith, CPA, CGMA
I wake up early and try to make the most of my day. I’m usually at work before 7. I don’t take a traditional lunch break. I make sure to get to the gym, then I pick up my son and spend a good, quality three hours with him. I
Private-investigator licensing emerges as potential threat to CPAs
The AICPA has made available to members an online guide detailing which states and cities require CPAs practicing forensic accounting to be licensed as a private investigator. More than 40 states have enacted laws requiring private investigators to buy a license to operate in their state. Most of those regulations
From CGMA Magazine: Boards are hungry for CFO talent
The appetite for CFOs to participate on corporate boards is increasing—a demand that, if met, could help not only companies, but also the financial professionals who end up in board roles. They stand to gain a new perspective on running an organization, plus general management experience and exposure to other
The talent drain: Good news for skilled workers, bad news for CFOs
CFOs are still concerned about talent, and that’s potentially good news for workers with specialized skills. Nearly 60% of U.S. CFOs consider it a challenge to find skilled financial professionals, according to a Robert Half International survey. Fifty-four percent said it was “somewhat challenging” to find skilled workers in finance,
From CGMA Magazine: Softer skills for a broader role
Internal auditors were once thought of solely as the go-to people for all issues relating to financial controls and governance. But in the wake of the global financial crisis, internal auditors have become increasingly relied upon to identify operational risks and provide strategic insight on everything from mergers and acquisitions
More North American companies rewarding internal auditors with pay raises, perks
Internal auditors—whose roles have increased in importance in recent years due to increased regulatory demands—were more likely to receive pay raises in 2012, and those with specialized skills and certifications received larger pay increases, according to new research. The analysis, conducted by the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), also revealed
National mobility campaign adds California and D.C.
As California and the District of Columbia reach major milestones related to individual CPA mobility laws, profession leaders pause to reflect on what this means and assess the next steps in promoting cross-border practice. California Gov. Jerry Brown on Sept. 20 signed legislation that facilitates cross-border mobility for out-of-state CPAs
AICPA hosts 2012 Leadership Academy class
Thirty-four CPAs were selected to participate in the 2012 AICPA Leadership Academy, a four-day program in Durham, N.C., in which young CPAs learned to apply cutting-edge leadership theory to complex management challenges. Now in its fourth year, the Leadership Academy was established to inspire, nurture, and empower the next generation
Business etiquette in China
Faux pas and misunderstandings can easily doom a U.S. business deal in China. To improve chances of a successful venture in China, Len Jui, CPA, a partner at KPMG in Beijing who was educated in the United Kingdom and the United States and worked for the SEC, and Jiake Brownbill,
Snyder’s challenge: Reinvigorating Michigan
When Rick Snyder saw the cover of the first comprehensive annual financial report for Michigan produced on his watch as the state’s governor, he smiled and reacted with feigned horror. “So what am I?” he asked State Budget Director John Nixon. “Chicken feed?” The report mentioned Nixon’s CPA credential, but
To ascend to CFO role, controllers must take a broader look at business
Controllers hoping to make the move to CFO must be willing to add new words to their vocabulary. The focus on numbers, while important, has to change from lookback mode to look-ahead. Concerns about month-end close should not be forgotten, but they should be accompanied by thoughts such as, “How
CPA mobility law takes effect in Washington
A new District of Columbia law makes it easier for CPAs from other jurisdictions to practice in the nation’s capital. The Accountant Mobility Act of 2011, which took effect on Monday, grants CPAs with valid licenses in U.S. states the ability to practice in the city without obtaining a reciprocal
Commission issues seven recommendations for bolstering the future of accounting education
Integrating accounting education, practice, and research in new teaching models and curricula is among the recommendations from the Pathways Commission’s final report now being implemented. The report on the future of higher education in accounting, released July 31, culminated two years of study and insights from teams representing diverse viewpoints
From practice to the classroom
At some point in their careers, many CPA practitioners have said, “I wonder what it would be like to teach.” The traditional path to a teaching or research appointment as a tenure-track faculty member (academically qualified, or AQ, faculty) usually involves obtaining a Ph.D. Another path, professionally qualified, or PQ,
The Accounting Doctoral Scholars Program: A status report
The Accounting Doctoral Scholars Program is the largest investment ever made by the accounting profession to advance accounting education. The program represents the most significant cooperative initiative undertaken jointly by the accounting educational community and the accounting profession. The unprecedented effort to increase the number of doctoral candidates studying tax
Features
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From The Tax Adviser
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Current developments in taxation of individuals: Part 2
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