How to handle the 2020 PTO backlog
With few employees taking extended time off this summer due to the coronavirus pandemic, firms will inevitably face scheduling challenges as the year ends.
Financial and Admin Operations
17 strategic questions to answer before reopening
Firms must consider strategic as well as practical issues as they reopen. These questions can help you think through some of these issues and point you toward ways to preserve positive changes made during the lockdowns.
15 questions firm leaders should ask before returning to the office
Reopening your physical office is not a decision to take lightly. Here’s an overview of the many issues firm leaders need to consider when developing a plan to reopen.
Keep or toss? A guide to CPA firm record retention
Develop a record-retention policy that follows prudent practice without turning into hoarding.
Planning for succession at a small firm
Increasing staff members’ interaction with clients is one way partners can prepare for their succession, according to Johanna Sweaney Salt, CPA, CGMA, a partner at Gray, Salt & Associates LLP in Claremont, Calif.
Top cyberthreats targeting accounting firms
An expert outlines three of the top external cyberthreats accounting firms face and provides pointers on how to reduce a firm’s risk of becoming a victim.
Flexible work strategies for public accounting
Worker-friendly policies — when executed correctly — can assist CPA firms in retaining valuable people.
Interesting CPA stories of how tech has transformed accounting
Technology-savvy accounting professionals describe their old and new ways of doing things, and the pros and cons of those changes.
Navigating storms, and risk, with subcontractors
Seeking professional help when the firm needs it is not as easy as it sounds.
Apples + Oranges = Risks in nontraditional acquisitions
Navigating the acquisition, onboarding, and integration of non-CPA professionals can be tricky.
Housekeeping tips to mitigate data security risk
Protecting your firm from privacy breaches is often a matter of strong internal practices.
How to launch a financially successful CPA firm
CPAs discuss creating a budget, projecting cash flow, and reeling in the right clients in a competitive arena.
Effective communication to help avoid litigation
Don’t let a “failure to communicate” escalate into a loss of clients or costly litigation.
Why you can’t wait to prepare for disaster
Jennifer H. Elder, CPA/CFF, CGMA, co-author of the book "Faster Disaster Recovery: The Business Owner’s Guide to Developing a Business Continuity Plan," discusses how to prepare so that an organization’s finances and reputation will be protected if a disaster occurs.
Ways to ward off cyberthieves outside the office
Working outside the office can leave you open to invasions from hackers if your device or the Wi-Fi network you’re on is not secure.
Docket or lose it: Avoiding the risk of missed deadlines
An effective docket system helps reduce the likelihood of a filing error and can make a CPA firm more efficient.
Overcoming obstacles to engagement letter use
Don’t expose your practice to a severe liability claim by relying on one of several fallacious arguments for avoiding the use of engagement letters.
Bank-financing an accounting practice sale
This article explains the what, why, and how for firms that may benefit from using SBA 7(a) loans in CPA firm purchases and sales.
Technology may push firms beyond the billable hour
Switching from hourly billing to value pricing can reward tech-enabled efficiency.
'Address' the risk of being your client’s mailbox
Permitting a client to use a CPA firm’s address exposes the firm to potential problems.
