EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The CPA profession’s continuing professional education regimen requires a supply of class presenters, or discussion leaders, who in turn receive honoraria, CPE credit and the satisfaction of imparting valuable skills and knowledge. CPAs considering becoming discussion leaders can take several exploratory steps, including facilitating
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Professional development
Smart Stops on the Web
CONTINUING EDUCATION THE CPA TOOLBOX www.cpemarket.com This Smart Stop is part of the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy’s www.nasbatools.com, which offers “tools for accountancy compliance.” CPAs can search CPE course providers, the National Registry of CPE Sponsor courses and quality assurance service courses, plus
Make Your Resume Pop
It’s no secret that human resource managers use electronic scanners and keyword searches of resumes to rank potential candidates. According to CareerBuilder.com, the terms employers search for most often are: Problem-solving and decisionmaking skills (50%) Oral and written communication 44%) Customer service or retention (34%) Performance and productivity improvement (32%)
Succession Plans Simmer on the Back Burner
According to the AICPA’s 2008 PCPS Succession Survey, almost 70% of multi-owner firms and more than 50% of sole proprietors (sole owner firms and sole practitioners) believe succession planning will be a significant issue for them in the near future. But only 35% of multi-owner
Make the Most of Mentoring
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The definition of mentoring is expanding to include the concept of coaching, which is focused on helping others learn job-related skills for growth. In today’s rapidly changing work environment, young accountants appear to learn more quickly and thoroughly through on-the-job training. Firms with strong cultures that facilitate continual
Mentoring Part of Recruiting and Retaining, Too
“Recruiting (and Retaining) the Next Generation Accountant” (April 08, page 60) intrigued me. The authors, Kent State faculty members, clearly understand the challenges involved in recruiting the next generation of accountants. They also discuss many ways in which academia and the profession can work together while young people are earning
Successor Readies to Take the Lead
Thirty years ago, Krista McMasters applied for a job at Clifton Gunderson’s office in Danville, Ill. She was fresh out of the University of Illinois undergraduate accounting program. Despite good grades, she heard nothing back. McMasters had job offers from other firms, but she persisted with Clifton Gunderson
Professional Issues
The guide provides step-by-step guidance, including ready-to-use forms and checklists, to assist in launching a mentoring program. To request a free copy of the guide, e-mail womensinitiatives@aicpa.org or download it at www.aicpa.org/download/career/wofi/Mentoring_Prg.pdf.
Swinging for the Fences: Jonathan Mariner Interview
Jonathan Mariner sports a shiny 1997 World Series championship ring on his right hand—a trophy from the nine years he spent with the Florida Marlins. Mariner got into the business of professional sports by answering the fledgling baseball club’s CFO wanted ad in 1991. He went on to become executive
“Success in Two” for the CPA Exam
At LarsonAllen LLP, our goal is to get employees started on the exam within one year of their full-time hire date, and then to pass the exam by their second anniversary with the firm – hence the name of the program “Success in Two.” Here’s how we do it: If
Recruiting (and Retaining) the Next Generation Accountant: One University’s Experience
What attracts students to accounting? Is it the appeal of social and forensic accounting in a post-Enron world? Is it the allure of big money? Or is it simply supply and demand? When it comes to attracting students to the accounting profession, faculty in university accounting departments face pressures from
Make More, Worry Less: Secrets From 18 Extraordinary People Who Created a Bigger Income and a Better Life
If your New Year’s resolution about finding more satisfaction—monetary or otherwise—on the job has begun to fade, Wes Moss has a pep talk designed to get you back on track. Moss is a certified financial planner in Atlanta. Fans of Donald Trump’s “The Apprentice” may recognize Moss’ name from among
A Bright Outlook at All Experience Levels
Changing jobs this year may get you not only a better position, but also a bigger paycheck. The 2008 Salary Guide from Robert Half International predicts a 4.3% increase in starting salaries for accounting and finance professionals this year, with public accountants, financial analysts and internal auditors seeing the largest
Expanding the Ranks of African-American CPAs
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) and the Howard University School of Business Center for Accounting Education (CAE) in June 2007 convened the CPA Examination Summit, a gathering designed to identify ways to fill the pipeline of future CPAs with African-American accountants who are ready
Effective Interviewers Snatch Candidates and Competitive Edge
Employers are reporting the lowest interview-to-hire ratio in 17 years, with 3.9 new college graduates interviewed for every hire they make. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, increased efficiency in the screening process allows employers to concentrate on a select few candidates at the interview stage. In
Notice to Interviewers: Turn On the Charm
CAREERS AND RECRUITINGWith two-thirds of job seekers reporting that interviewers influence their decision to accept or decline job offers, untrained and aloof interviewers may be a company’s own worst enemy. In a Development Dimensions International and Monster survey of 3,725 job seekers, respondents identified several annoying interviewer behaviors, including: Acting
Practical Training Tips for Smaller Firms
Implementing a training program in a smaller firm does not require a significant financial investment and can be done without hiring a trainer. A standardized training process can help ensure that all new employees coming into the firm are on the same page and improve retention. Consider these tips for
Internships Let You Try Before You Hire
It’s impossible to learn everything you want to know from a potential employee’s resume and an interview. That’s why internship programs can be a valuable way for students and employers to get to know each other before making a big commitment. But just how effective are internships as a test
CPAs as Corporate Directors
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Section 407 of SOX requires public company disclosure of “financial expert” participation on an audit committee but stops short of requiring one. Reasons for not including one must be disclosed. CPAs have become prime candidates to serve in this capacity because they generally meet the
Successful Students Tap Career Centers
The most effective job-search resources are not the most popular among students, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers. NACE’s Graduating Student Survey found that students who tended to use college career center resources—including career fairs and affiliated Web sites—were more likely to secure full-time jobs than those
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From The Tax Adviser
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Navigating the QSBS rules in pass-through structures
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Sec. 338(h)(10) elections in business acquisitions
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