On the surface, the results of the 2013 North America Top Technology Initiatives survey, released Wednesday by the AICPA and CPA Canada, show that “managing and retaining data” nudged past “securing the IT environment” to become the top technology priority cited by the nearly 2,000 accounting professionals polled. Dig a
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Information management and technology assurance
Good vibrations
Q: Most of the decent portable speakers available in stores are too bulky to carry as portable speakers, and the few small ones I’ve tried aren’t loud enough. Can you recommend a small portable speaker that actually works well? A: As a CPE presenter, I typically play a few video
Top concern of FVS practitioners: Business development
The top priorities of forensic and valuation services (FVS) accountants have changed drastically over the past few years, with business development concerns outpacing technical issues, according to a new AICPA study. The 2013 FVS Membership Top Issues Survey found that “bringing in new clients,” the classic business development imperative, ranked
Assurance opportunities broaden
Editor’s note: Beth Schneider is the chair of the AICPA Sustainability Task Force under the Auditing Standards Board. Corporate and public interest in sustainability and climate change issues, and voluntary reporting of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions information, has grown significantly in the United States during the last decade. Companies have
Restore Windows 8 Start button
Q: I recently upgraded my computer to a Windows 8 system, and so far I like the new operating system. As suggested by many articles, I find that I can do most everything on Windows 8 without the old Start button, but I still would like to have the Windows
Preparing for disaster
One CPA firm is still recovering from a “superstorm” that damaged nine of its 14 offices. Another has constructed a safe room in its new office, which was built after a tornado destroyed its previous office. A third firm is adjusting to the “new normal” in a city forever changed
Use Excel 2013 this instance!
Q: When I open two Excel files in two instances of Excel and display them on two monitors, I find that I cannot then copy formulas back and forth between the files—only the formula’s calculated value is pasted to the other instance of Excel. What’s happening here, and what can
Five iPad questions
1. Print Screen on an iPad Q: I know how to create an image of my computer screen simply by pressing the PrintScreen button, but is there a way to do this on my iPad or iPhone? A: Holding down the Home button and pressing the Power button will create
Time to stock up
Q: Can you tell me where to find good, free internet-based resources and information that will help me analyze my stock portfolio? A: A plethora of web-based resources is available to help you analyze investments and investment options, and I am certainly not familiar with them all. However, over the
Time to recruit talent
Millions of Baby Boomers will leave their jobs in the next 10 to 12 years. This exodus of talent will place extraordinary pressure on every U.S. organization’s talent recruitment and retention efforts. Consider these strategies to help your organization compete in an unprecedented people cycle: Ensure your HR leadership
Defending third-party audit claims
Early in the 20th century, audits of company financial statements served merely as verification for management that a company was productive and efficient. After the 1929 stock market crash, the role of the auditor evolved. The Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 established requirements for
Baker Tilly to merge with New York firm Holtz Rubenstein Reminick
Baker Tilly Virchow Krause LLP, one of the 20 largest U.S. accounting firms, is merging with Holtz Rubenstein Reminick LLP in a deal that will give Chicago-based Baker Tilly a significant foothold in New York City. The merger announced Wednesday is scheduled to take effect June 1. It will create
Microsoft Office 2013
An essential tool for many CPAs is a dependable computer running Microsoft Office. Accordingly, CPAs have more than a passing interest when Microsoft releases new editions every three years or so. This year should be no exception. With Office 2013, Microsoft has made major modifications related to new touchscreen capabilities,
Can I Drop(box) QuickBooks?
Q: We use a multiuser version of QuickBooks, and our remote satellite office personnel log in to my computer remotely using LogMeIn to access the system—which means that only one of us can access QuickBooks at the same time. This also means that when others access QuickBooks in this manner,
Tech talk: What CPAs need to know
Tax Code modifications and new FASB rules aren’t the only changes that CPAs have to concern themselves with these days. Whether it’s the security of clients’ data, the implications of migrating to the cloud, or the uncertain future of the once-venerable desktop, rapid technological transformation continues to generate new challenges
Smart tech tips
Technology mistakes can cause higher expenses and lost revenue opportunities. During a session at the AICPA Advanced Personal Financial Planning Conference in January, Advisor Products President and CEO Andrew Gluck shared tips on how to avoid the biggest technology mistakes. The tips could prove useful for accounting firms and small
Horsing around with paint
Q: We have a company logo that I want to display on a proposal’s cover atop a graphic image, but I want to get rid of the logo’s surrounding white space. Is there a quick way to accomplish this without buying fancy software or paying a graphic artist to do
A complicated inheritance
Q: I inherited an Excel workbook containing lengthy formulas, and I am having trouble determining exactly how these formulas work. Is there a magic trick for figuring out how complicated formulas work? A: Excel provides a couple of tools that might help. The first tool is Evaluate Formula. To use
A tour of five XBRL tools
Supporters of extensible business reporting language (XBRL) have long touted its potential to transform financial data mining and analysis. Now that potential is starting to become a reality, thanks to several new software applications. These tools are designed to help accountants, investors, and analysts extract data from XBRL documents for
Criminal background checks can’t remain in the background anymore
Among the many client services they perform, accounting firms often handle client funds in the performance of various services provided to both individuals and businesses—bookkeeping, investment advisory, family office, and more. Imagine what might happen if a firm employee steals or otherwise misappropriates funds from a client: The firm would
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SPONSORED REPORT
Preparing clients for new provisions next tax season
As the 2025 filing season approaches, H.R. 1 introduces significant tax reforms that CPAs must be prepared to navigate. These legislative changes represent some of the most comprehensive tax updates in recent years, affecting both individual and corporate taxpayers. This report provides in-depth analysis and guidance on H.R. 1.
From The Tax Adviser
November 30, 2025
Digital asset transactions: Broker reporting, amount realized, and basis
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Recent developments in estate planning
October 31, 2025
