• Practice Management - QuickRead Top Story

    A New Age of Professional Skills Education

    Beyond the 40 Hours of CPE and Embracing Continuous and Mindful Learning The traditional requirement to account for 40 hours of CPE is often viewed as an annual hurdle. This mindset needs to change. This requirement is an opportunity to commit to continuous learning and improvement. In this article, the author identifies the impediments and opportunities to continuous professional and mindful development. [su_pullquote align=”right”]Resources: Consultants’ Training Institute Professional Education [/su_pullquote] In a world that is rapidly changing, company leaders in every industry are being faced with adapting to the trends that redefine the ways in which we conduct business. While…

  • QuickPress

    88% of Firms Planning Cost Cuts in Next Two Years

    Companies Plan Cost Reductions Over Economic Concerns Spurred by concerns over the global economy, 88% of respondents to a survey of senior executives at Fortune 1000 companies say they are planning to look for ways to cut costs in the next two years.  Matthew Heller explains. To read the full article in CFO.com, click: 88% of Firms Planning Cost Cuts in Next Two Years.

  • Case Law - QuickPress

    New York Updates Franchise Reporting Regulations —Deloitte

    New York State Department of Taxation and Finance recently adopted amendments to the combined reporting regulations applicable to general business corporations (including REITs and RICs) subject to the Franchise Tax imposed by Article 9-A of the New York Tax Law. The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance (Department) recently adopted amendments to the combined reporting regulations applicable to general business corporations (including RThe New York State Department of Taxation and Finance (the “Department”) recently adopted amendments to the combined reporting regulations applicable to general business corporations (including REThe New York State Department of Taxation and Finance (the “Department”)…

  • Case Law - QuickPress

    Deloitte: California Franchise Tax Board Revamps Rules on Small Business Stock Gain Exclusions, Deferrals

    Notice implements court of appeal decision involving qualified small business stock gain exclusion/deferral Deloitte’s Tax Matters newsletter (Issue 2013-02) reports that on September 10, 2012, a Tax Alert was issued summarizing the California Court of Appeal’s decision in Cutler v. Franchise Tax Board (“Cutler”) involving the exclusion or deferral of qualified small business stock gain.  More:

  • Practice Management - QuickPress

    Big Four Firms Saw Big Revenue Increase in 2012—Accounting Today

    Solid revenue growth last year following strong performance in 2010 and 2011 after a severe revenue decline in 2009 Michael Cohn at Accounting Today reports this growth according to a newly published analysis.  The report, from the social networking forum Big4.com, analyzed the 2012 financial performance of Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers. It found that after a strong 2011, fiscal year 2012 saw increases in revenue for all four firms, with revenues increasing between 1.4 percent and 7.8 percent from 2011, as firms leveraged the global economic recovery, improved equity markets, liquid credit conditions, stricter regulations, globalization and…

  • QuickPress - Valuation/Appraisal

    PCAOB: Asset Valuation is Most Common Big Four Audit Problem –WSJ CFO Report

    The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board found 123 audit deficiencies related to fair-value estimates and asset impairments in 2010, making asset valuation the most common audit problem. Market volatility always makes it tough to value assets fairly based on market prices.  But that doesn’t mean management forecasts—and the assumptions and methodologies of financial modeling used in corporate pricing—couldn’t benefit from additional scrutiny. Emily Chasan reports at the Wall Street Journal’s CFO Report blog: The Big Number:  123   That’s the number of audit deficiencies related to asset-valuation problems found among clients of the Big Four accounting firms in 2010. Market volatility…

  • Practice Management - QuickPress

    Lawmakers Put S-Corporations in Their Sights

    Congressional Democrats have proposed financing student-loan legislation by expanding payroll taxes on subchapter S corporations and partnerships. The bill would levy Social Security and Medicare taxes on all business income if the firm is engaged in professional services, such as investment advice, or if 75% or more of the gross income of the firm is attributable to three or fewer shareholders. Investment News’ Mark Schoeff Jr. reports that in Washington parlance, the phrase “pay for” has become a noun, “payfor.”  This term trends during the legislative process, as lawmakers seek “payfors” to offset spending or tax cuts contained in bills.…

  • QuickPress - Tax

    IASB Plans Network for IFRS. U.S. Seen Cautious. World is Cranky. Deadline: 2013.

    The International Accounting Standards Board plans to establish a formal network to give standard-setting bodies a voice when their countries switch to International Financial Reporting Standards. There is conflict, however, over how the network will operate and whether it would dilute IFRS as a single set of reporting standards. Advocates of such a network say the U.S. will not commit to IFRS without it.  In an article called “Long Push for Accounting Standards” sub-titled “The United States is Seen to Be Dragging its Feet in Choosing to Come on Board,”  Star Publications (Malaysia)/Reuters reports: SHAREHOLDERS and regulators have long wanted the…