CPA Now Blog Archive

In advance of her presentation at the Nov. 28-29 PICPA Insurance Conference, Jessica K. Altman, Pennsylvania insurance commissioner, discusses some of the current initiatives and priorities of her department.

Political action committees (PACs) play an important and necessary role in the political landscape. Unfortunately, they are often associated with negative feelings and notions of slimy politicians. This view of PACs is far from the reality.

Audits and forensic investigations are different services. They are planned and performed to accomplish unique objectives. This blog is the second part of a three-part blog that compares the roles of the auditor and the forensic accountant. It is focused on materiality and team building.

When the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was passed in 2017, many clients asked their CPAs, “How much in taxes will I owe?” As is the case with most personal tax issues, it depends on several factors.

Inclusion starts with creating a welcoming environment, one where all viewpoints and backgrounds are valued. And you are vital to its success.

Audits and forensic investigations are different services. They are planned and performed to accomplish unique objectives. Unfortunately, there is a misconception that financial statement audits are conducted with the primary objective to detect fraud. This blog is the first part of a three-part blog that compares the roles of the auditor and the forensic accountant.

Since 2002, Pennsylvania has retained U.S. savings bonds that have been turned over to the Pennsylvania Treasury. The state wants to take title to these bonds, with the ultimate goal of making the proceeds available to the owners or heirs through the state's unclaimed property process.

On Oct. 24, the PICPA will meet with the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue and broadcast it live. Hear what you can expect out of the presentation from Jeff Spengler, CPA, chair of PICPA's State Taxation Committee.

PICPA member Valerie Williams, CPA, is the director of the accounting mentorship program at Duquesne University. Williams shares her insight on the key differences between mentoring, coaching, sponsorship, and reverse mentoring.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act increased take-home pay for many. However, most people have not adjusted their withholding rates to prevent a larger tax bill at the end of the year. Find out what CPAs have been noticing among their clients.

To increase efficiencies at the PICPA, our financial team was looking for a way to replace some of our manual accounting processes with automated solutions. Though automation is not always an easy process to implement, the investment in both software and staff training can provide a valuable return.

About 95 percent of people ages 21 to 32 are not saving adequately for retirement. Young CPAs are no exception to needing a retirement savings reminder. Here are some best practices to help young CPAs navigate the financial challenges they’ll face early in their careers and still prepare a nest egg.

The Combat-Injured Veterans Tax Fairness Act of 2016 entitles certain U.S. veterans to file for a refund of income taxes they might have paid on their disability severance pay in the past. The IRS and Defense Finance and Accounting Service jointly sent out a letter to discharged military members about this matter. Find out what this letter was about and how a CPA can help.

PICPA’s Leadership Conference, developed for active PICPA volunteers, is designed to help participants take a wider view of professional and economic issues and to help them succeed in both their volunteer capacity with the PICPA and in their workplaces.

The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act went into effect Sept. 21, 2018. One of its key provisions grants consumers the ability to freeze their credit, free of charge. PICPA member Tami Noll Russo explains how this is a huge benefit for families with children.

Most CPAs' eyes have understandably been on the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, so it may come as a surprise to many PICPA members that Pennsylvania tax reform efforts are under way in Harrisburg.

CPAs with the CGMA credential have a wide array of resources available to them. Ed Jenkins, a Pennsylvania CPA Journal Editorial Board member, put together a video tutorial highlighting these resources.

The conflict between distraction and deep thought is going to be a big issue for CPAs as they experience dramatic shifts in their occupational demands that will require a higher level of thinking. This could be a problem, because some research indicates that we are training our brains to reduce our capacity to perform deep thought.

The job of the CPA is demanding. CPAs must keep pace with constantly changing rules, while also provide greater strategic value to their clients. This is where automation can elevate the CPA.

Cybersecurity, blockchain, transformation of the finance function: these are changing the accounting industry, and construction industry accounting is no exception. Check out this interview with Charles Sgrillo of Kreischer Miller as he discusses emerging topics in construction accounting.