Catalyst (Dublin, Ohio) articles from November 2003

Catalyst (Dublin, Ohio) archives from November 2003

Meeting your technology needs.(A message From The Chair)
November 1, 2003... While technology is daunting for many, it is one of my true passions in life. This interest is what drove me to obtain the Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP) certification. For those unfamiliar with the CITP it is an AICPA...

State of the profession is fall Town Hall meetings topic.(Ohio)
November 1, 2003... Here is your chance to find out about the latest changes impacting your profession. The Ohio Society of CPAs is holding another round of Town Hall meetings in a city near you. In the "The State of the Profession" forum, we will cover topics...

Governor Taft urges Ohio House to enact civil justice reform.(Ohio)
November 1, 2003... Gov. Bob Taft personally promoted quick passage of meaningful civil justice (tort) reform through a series of press conferences to pass a comprehensive tort reform package. He stressed his position that tort reform is an integral part of his...

Public pension fund accountability proposal introduced in Ohio.(Ohio)
November 1, 2003... Two Ohio senators are leading an effort to create stronger oversight and accountability for state pension funds. Republican Senators Lynn Wachtmann (Napoleon) and Kirk Schuring (Canton) are advocating the passage of Senate Bill 133, which...

And the winner of the laptop is ...(Ohio)
November 1, 2003... ... Diane L. Merk from Clark Schaefer Hackett & Co. in Cincinnati. Thank you to all participants in our recent Web site quiz. Nearly one thousand members of the Society took the time to respond to our five easy questions and register to...

Results from the AICPA fall council meeting.(National)
November 1, 2003... AICPA Council Votes to Retain Credentials The AICPA governing Council has decided to retain the Institute's three specialty credentials and provide financial support for them, the underlying disciplines, and related membership sections. It...

Enhanced disciplinary procedures accepted.(National)
November 1, 2003... Members have approved two bylaw amendments to enhance the AICPA's ethics enforcement process. Over 82,000 members participated in the referendum, with an overwhelming majority voting in favor of both proposals on the ballot. The first...

Public company accounting oversight board (PCAOB) update.(National)
November 1, 2003... The following are the latest actions of the PCAOB New Standard Requires Auditor to Identify Internal Weaknesses in Writing The new standard would require an auditor to communicate in writing to the company's management and audit...

FASB delays consolidation rule.(National)
November 1, 2003... The Financial Accounting Standards Board will briefly delay a new rule to force companies to consolidate off-balance-sheet entities onto their own financial statements. Interpretation No. 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities,...

New IRS material helps retirement plans stay compliant.(National)
November 1, 2003... The IRS released new materials to help small businesses and plan administrators understand how to keep employee retirement plans eligible for tax-favored status. These materials, in various formats, explain the IRS programs available to...

Series of Webcasts to provide updates on computerized CPA Exam.(National)
November 1, 2003... The four live Webcasts about the computer-based CPA Exam, "Educators: How to Prepare for the Computerized CPA Exam," will be broadcasted by the AICPA. The Webcasts will help inform candidates, students, educators, and CPA employers about the...

CPAs: survival of a profession.(Cover Story)
November 1, 2003... This title only raises additional question... Were we ever a profession? If so, what has changed? Is the "necessary" body-of-knowledge still unique? Are there "many or few" criteria for professional status? Do the...

Is it time for change in peer review.
November 1, 2003... The self-disciplinary and practice monitoring activities of the CPA profession have been in the spotlight over the past year to an extent never before experienced. In particular, a number of groups are questioning the role of peer review....

Case study: ethical considerations when auditing a small business.
November 1, 2003... Are you confident what bookkeeping services may or may not be provided when auditing a private company? Through this case study, The Ohio Society illustrates the tricky questions, and more importantly, the correct ethical response in such...

Important considerations in documentation and record retention.
November 1, 2003... CAMICO has long advocated that accounting firms establish a written record retention policy that is applied consistently to all engagements. When developing a record retention and destruction policy, the firm should consider the level of...

Educator feature: bringing the CPA vision to life with the Business Activity Model (BAM).
November 1, 2003... The Business Activity Model (BAM) for teaching intermediate accounting provides a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between academe and practice by requiring students to practice the communication and interpersonal skills currently demanded...

Weighing the benefits: fewer companies are going public post Sarbanes-Oxley. Why?
November 1, 2003... Just one day after the first anniversary of Sarbanes-Oxley becoming law, a Cleveland area company took its first big step toward going public. International Steel Group Inc. is now poised to cash-in on an estimated $250 million in capital...

Not-for-profit endowments in a down market.
November 1, 2003... Over the past several years the equity market has taken a toll on endowment investments held by not-for-profit organizations. The downturn in the market effects not only the not-for-profit organization, but its board of directors and its...

Shouldering the workload: tips for taking the strain out of busy season.
November 1, 2003... Ah, busy season. Every tax accountant in every public accounting firm knows exactly what's in store--hectic days, long nights, endless weekend hours. But, there are alternatives to help ease the pain. Many firms utilize staffing agencies to...

The CPA firm growth challenge.
November 1, 2003... Strategist Sun Tzu: "Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win". CPA Firms, like most professional service firms, challenge traditional management methods because they...

Self-assessment exam Catalyst--November/December 2003.
November 1, 2003... The self-assessment exam is provided as a convenient method for CPAs to earn CPE credit by reading Catalyst: The Leading Edge of Ohio Business. The exam consists of 25 multiple-choice questions covering information included in articles and...

The new standard of giving: charities are now subject to updated regulations.
November 1, 2003... The board of directors of the Miami Valley Better Business Bureau (BBB) approved revamped national standards for charity accountability on July 29. The Charity Advisory Service, a committee that monitors the activities of non-profits and...

Limited government or limited governance? The hidden costs of legislative term limits.(capitol access)
November 1, 2003... In 1992, Ohio voters overwhelmingly supported an amendment to the Ohio Constitution to impose term limits on members of the state legislature. Proponents boasted a victory against career politicians, and the seedy deals made in smoke-filled...

E-mail 301: defeating the spam monster.(business bytes)
November 1, 2003... E-mail is quickly being suffocated by spam. Not to be confused with SPAM the luncheon meat, spam in this context means unsolicited commercial e-mail. Resent studies show that over 35 percent of the total e-mail traffic on the Internet is...

Digital video for home and office: finding the best in DVD players & recorders.(gadgets & gizmos)
November 1, 2003... Welcome to the digital age; no VCRs allowed. Today, digital video is taking over and many people are wondering how to get equipped with the latest technology. Which one do should I buy? Home entertainment and office use differ, so we...

Section membership takes the sting out of busy season.(steal this idea)
November 1, 2003... With "busy season" fast approaching, are you taking advantage of all the resources The Ohio Society offers? The Ohio Society's 13 special interest sections provide members the opportunity to ask questions and get advice from colleagues...

Making the member initiatives program: work for you.(member initiatives)
November 1, 2003... In an effort to better serve our more than 23,00D members, The Ohio Society's Member Initiatives Program brings a diverse platter of programs and activities directly to members. Many of these programs are the result of member feedback. Below...

Thoughts on the profession.(Members Only)
November 1, 2003... As you read this article I have just stepped into my new role. Speaking with others in preparation for this time, I had likened the chair-elect role as similar to the batter on deck who watches the pitcher, observes the batter, and adjusts...

Ohio accountant earns top honor on CPA Exam.(Members Only)
November 1, 2003... It has been said that the Uniform CPA Examination is the most grueling of all the professional tests. To adequately prepare for it requires dedication, intense focus and hundreds of hours of study. Joe Rutledge, a staff accountant at...

Another record setting Ohio Accounting Show.(Members Only)
November 1, 2003... The Society's Ohio Accounting Show in Cleveland continued to increase in popularity this year as CPAs from all over Ohio set a another record attendance for the event. The two-day event drew over 1200 professionals. The annual event, held...

State association recognizes Ohio Society achievements.(Members Only)
November 1, 2003... The Ohio Society of CPAs was recognized for excellence among Ohio associations at the annual reception for the Ohio Society of Association Executives (OSAE), a state-wide organization for all associations in Ohio. The Ohio Society received...

High school teachers get lesson in accounting 101.(Members Only)
November 1, 2003... High school teachers assembled in Perrysburg and Dayton on Oct. 1 and 3 to take advantage of a program designed to help them develop strategies for teaching accounting. Sponsored by The Ohio Society of CPAs, the High School Educators Summits...

AICPA past-chair welcomes new CPAs to the profession.(Members Only)
November 1, 2003... William F. Ezzell, CPA, past chair of the AICPA, welcomed almost 150 new CPAs to the profession during The Ohio Society's Columbus New CPA Recognition Luncheon and Symposium. During the luncheon on Sept. 24 Ezzell urged the new CPAs to remember...

Congratulations!(Ohio CPAs who have passed the CPA exam)
November 1, 2003... The Ohio Society of CPAs would like to congratulate those individuals who passed the November 2002 and the May 2003 CPA exam, and also these who have become certified. Marie A. Adams Mark L. Adams Brian Adkinson Susan E....

Answers--self-assessment exam: Ohio CPA Journal-July 1, 2002-Sept. 30, 2002.
November 1, 2003... Ohio CPA Journal-July 1, 2002-Sept. 30, 2002 1. d 6. A. 11. c 16. b 21. c 2. c 7. b 12. c 17. b 22. d 3. b 8. d 13. d 18. d 23. a 4. a 9....

Answers--self-assessment exam: Catalyst: the Leading Edge of Ohio Business--September-October, 2002.
November 1, 2003... Catalyst: The Leading Edge of Ohio Business--September-October, 2002 1. c 6. b 11. c 16. a 21. d 2. d 7. d 12. d 17. d 22. b 3. b 8. b 13. d 18. b ...

In memoriam.
November 1, 2003... In memory of our friends and colleagues: Lawrence L. Barnthouse, CPA Hamilton, OH Andrew D. Braden, CPA Cleveland, OH Robert E. Burmeister, CPA Shaker Hts, OH Tina M. Ford Cleveland, OH ...

Bober, Markey, Fedorovich & Company.(James Merklin named partner at firm)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... James Merklin, CPA has been named a partner in Bober, Markey, Fedorovich & Company.

Howard, Wershbale & Co.(Akron/Canton)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... James M. Horkey, CPA/ABV of Howard, Wershbale & Co. was awarded the Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV) designation by the AICPA.

Bruner-Cox LLP.(Ronald J. Manse will succeed John C. Finnucan)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Bruner-Cox LLP announced that Ronald J. Manse, CPA will succeed John C. Finnucan, CPA, MSA, JD, MSA, MT as the Firm's managing partner, effective Jan. 1, 2004.

LADD.(Donald L. Mellott Jr. elected president of board)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Donald L Mellott, Jr., CPA was recently elected president of the board of directors of LADD for the 2003-2004 year on which he has served as treasurer, vice president and a member of the finance committee since 1992.

Skoda, Minotti & Co.(Deborah L. Huling, Marie E. Lenarduzzi and Kelly A. Klusmann promoted)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Skoda, Minotti & Co. announces the recent promotions: Deborah L Huling, CPA, and Marie E. Lenarduzzi, CPA both to manager tax planning and preparation department. Kelly A. Klusmann to senior accountant.

Ulmer & Berne LLP.(David Shultz joins Cleveland office)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Ulmer & Berne LLP has added David Shultz, CPA as an associate in its Cleveland office. David is an associate in the Business Litigation Group with his practice concentrating on construction law and business law.

Kamphaus, Henning & Hood.(Linda K. Pilon promoted to partner)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Linda K. Pilon, CPA has been promoted to partner with Kamphaus, Henning & Hood CPAs.

Howard, Wershbale & Co.(elected to the Montefiore Board of Directors)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Harvey Wershbale, CEO of Howard, Wershbale & Co. was recently elected to the Montefiore Board of Directors.

Michelle M. Bizily, CPA, CFP of Howard, Wershbale & Co. successfully completed all requirements.(Cleveland)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Michelle M. Bizily, CPA, CFP of Howard, Wershbale & Co. successfully completed all requirements for the Certified Financial Planning (CFP) designation.

Meaden & Moore, Ltd.(Andrew T. Clark promoted)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Andrew T. Clark, CPA has been promoted to senior manager with Meaden & Moore, Ltd. and has earned the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) designation.

Joseph Decosimo & Co.(Kathleen Mitts and Chris Flaig join firm)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Kathleen Mitts, CPA has joined Joseph Decosimo & Co., CPAs as tax director and Chris Flaig, CPA has also joined as audit manager.

John Gerlach & Company, LLP.(Stephanie Heffron joins firm)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... John Gerlach & Company, LLP is pleased to announce it has added Stephanie Heffron has joined the client service team of John Gerlach & Company LLP.

Plante & Moran, PLLC.(Matthew B. Weekley elected partner)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Matthew B. Weekley, CPA has been elected partner with Plante & Moran, PLLC.

Patrick A. McCormick, CPA has been elected partner with Plante & Moran, PLLC.(Toledo)
November 1, 2003... Plante & Moran, PLLC.

Correction.(members in motion)(Correction Notice)
November 1, 2003... Kenneth Stefanski, CPA, has been promoted to senior manager and Michele Hoover. CPA, has been promoted to supervisor at Walthall, Drake & Wallace LLP. Their titles were incorrectly reported in the September/0ctober 2003 issue of Catalyst John...