Accounting Today articles from January 2004

Accounting Today archives from January 2004

Charting the AICPA's future: institute execs discuss differential standards, credentials and what's to come.(American Institute of Certified Public Accountants)
January 12, 2004... Arguably, no other professional Organization has come under as much scrutiny from both its membership and the media over the past two years as the American Institute of CPAs. In the wake of the spate of massive accounting scandals, the...

Intuit restructures its accounting focus.(Intuit Inc.)
January 12, 2004... PLANO, TEXAS -- Slightly more than a year after launching Professional Accounting Solutions as the umbrella organization for all its accounting-focused operations, Intuit Inc. has eliminated that unit in a restructuring of its approach to the...

Close more opportunities!(Action Idea)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... By creating a centralized pipeline, you'll be able to identify and manage your sales opportunities and move them effectively and efficiently through the sales cycle. First, determine who "owns" the sales in your firm. Then: * Create a...

PCAOB unveils plan for non-U.S. auditors.(Public Company Accounting Oversight Board)
January 12, 2004... WASHINGTON -- The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board moved to soothe ruffled regulatory feathers throughout the international accounting community by proposing new rules that grant foreign regulator, bodies a role in inspecting and...

Freddie Mac agrees to $125 mn fine.(Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... WASHINGTON -- Mortgage securities concern Freddie Mac agreed to pay a $125 million fine as part of a consent decree after a scathing 185-page report charged that the concern fostered "a pattern of inappropriate conduct and improper management...

Big firms want clearer audit guidance.(Public Company Accounting Oversight Board)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... WASHINGTON -- Representatives of some of the nation's largest accounting firms are urging the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board to provide clearer, more specific guidance in declaring which specific standards are being changed. ...

SEC moves to curb fund abuses.(Securities and Exchange Commission)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... WASHINGTON -- Amid a widening scandal that has rocked the mutual fund industry, the Securities and Exchange Commission proposed tougher rules to curb abuses among funds. The commission voted to require that hinds and advisors have...

Corrections.(Correction Notice)
January 12, 2004... The Accounting Today 2003 Technology Pacesetters report in the Nov. 24-Dec. 14, 2003, edition inaccurately reported the name of the tech consulting practice affiliated with the Eisner CPA firm in New York. The correct name of the practice is...

CBiz in streamlining mode; Fiducial continues expansion.(Top of the news: the complete chronicle of news and trends shaping the profession)
January 12, 2004... COLUMBIA, MD. -- The recent purchase of two bookkeeping and tax preparation services from accounting consolidator CBiz Services Inc. by Fiducial is a tale of two businesses moving in different directions--one aggressively trying to expand, the...

Fallout from Sarbanes-Oxley: Elliott Davis sells valuation unit.(Top of the news: the complete chronicle of news and trends shaping the profession)(Baker Consulting Inc.)
January 12, 2004... GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley continues to rear its head as a factor in firms' practice management strategies, as South Carolina-based Elliott Davis, one of the nation's largest firms, has pulled out of business valuation....

Professional associations.(Web Cites)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... * Association of Certified Fraud Examiners--www.cfenet.com The 26,000-member ACFE offers the Certified Fraud Examiner accreditation. Their site has links, products, services, CPE and more. * Association of College and University...

KPMG receives NYC Service Award.(Footnotes)(KPMG Consulting Inc.)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... KPMG RECEIVES NYC SERVICE AWARD: The Big Four firm KPMG was named the inaugural recipient of the Mayor's Corporate Volunteer Service Award, an honor that was established in 2003 by New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg to recognize contributions...

Advisors and clients huddle for 2004 planning strategies.
January 12, 2004... With the year-end flurry of activity over and a new year beginning, advisors have already started planning for the future. There are new tax brackets to consider, and portfolios to adjust to the new capital gains and dividend tax rates, as...

GASB fills gap in reporting on 'impairment' of assets.(Governmental Accounting Standards Board)
January 12, 2004... NORWALK, CONN. -- The Governmental Accounting Standards Board has plugged a significant, if not especially large, gap in governmental accounting and reporting for impairment of capital assets. When Statement 42 goes into effect for fiscal...

Let saner heads prevail.(Opinion: the free and open forum for the tax and accounting community)
January 12, 2004... An unwritten rule is that no one goes into journalism for the money. Oh sure, you have your syndicated columnists, such as George Will, who generate seven-figure incomes, but by and large, the members of the Fourth Estate earn relatively modest...

It's the same old song.(Letter to the Editor)
January 12, 2004... Your last publication of Accounting Today included an article on Big GAAP and Little GAAP by Glenn Cheney ("Big GAAP and Little GAAP: Has this idea's time come?" Accounting Today, Nov. 24-Dec. 14, 2003, p. 5). It was informative but in a...

'Change of Auditors' needs change.(Letter to the Editor)
January 12, 2004... I have a gripe about your Change of Auditors column, as it usually implies that a firm being replaced is fired or otherwise dismissed because of some failure on its part. Although firms get fired for cause, they often resign or choose not...

Grassley, Baucus introduce Fuel Fraud Prevention Act.(Taxing Issues)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... GRASSLEY, BAUCUS INTRODUCE FUEL FRAUD PREVENTION ACT: Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, chairman of the Committee on Finance, and ranking member Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., have introduced the Fuel Fraud Prevention Act. Grassley noted in his...

Federal court bars nationwide 'expatriation' tax scam.(Taxing Issues)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... FEDERAL COURT BARS NATIONWIDE 'EXPATRIATION' TAX SCAM: A federal court has permanently barred a Fort Collins, Colo., couple and their organization from promoting a tax seam. Chief Judge Lewis T. Babcock of the U.S. District Court for the...

IRS explains how military personnel can get new law's tax breaks.(Taxing Issues)(Internal Revenue Service)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... IRS EXPLAINS HOW MILITARY PERSONNEL CAN GET NEW LAW'S TAX BREAKS: The Internal Revenue Service is helping taxpayers use a new law providing income exclusions for death benefit payments and certain home sales. Both provisions are retroactive, so...

Limited liability companies are the new entity of choice.(Tax practice: the special report on news and trends for the tax professional)
January 12, 2004... Tax practitioners should get familiar with hand ling limited liability companies this tax season, as 85 percent of tax professionals responding to a recent poll reported that LLCs accounted for up to a quarter of the returns they filed last tax...

Health savings accounts open significant new opportunities.(Tax Strategy)
January 12, 2004... As 2004 rolls in, we find ourselves with a brand new tax-favored savings vehicle with which to work--but this one is not "the same old" savings plan. Health Savings Accounts, created in the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and...

First-ever 2Q profit for H&R Block.(H and R Block Inc.)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... ST. LOUIS -- Citing better cost controls in its tax business, tax-prep giant H&R Block Inc. posted second quarter profits of $10.4 million for the period ended Oct. 31, 2003, compared with a loss of $37.3 million for the same period a year...

D&T resigns as Level 8 auditor.(Change Of Auditors)(Deloitte & Touche L.L.P.)(Level 8 Systems Inc.)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... D&T RESIGNS AS LEVEL 8 AUDITOR: Big Four firm Deloitte & Touche resigned as independent accountant to Level 8 Systems Inc., a provider of integrated software, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The filing,...

E&Y resigns as U.S. Home Systems auditor.(Change Of Auditors)(Ernst & Young L.L.P.)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... E&Y RESIGNS AS U.S. HOME SYSTEMS AUDITOR: Big Four firm Ernst & Young resigned as independent accountant for U.S. Home Systems, a manufacturer and marketer of home-improvement products. No reason was given for the change in a filing with...

TEAM sports hires Guest & Co.(Change Of Auditors)(Team Sports Entertainment Inc. )(Guest & Co. PC)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... TEAM SPORTS HIRES GUEST & CO.: Team Sports Entertainment Inc. dismissed incumbent auditor Elliott Davis LLC and hired Guest & Co. PC as its replacement. In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Team Sports Entertainment...

Greene County taps Dixon Odom.(Change Of Auditors)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... GREENE COUNTY TAPS DIXON ODOM: Greene County Bancshares, a holding company for Greene County Bank, said that it would replace Crowe Chizek, its independent accountant, with Dixon Odom. In an 8-K filing, Greene County said that Crowe would...

FASB calls for increased pension plan disclosures.(Assurance: technical developments, professional issues and engagement changes)(Financial Accounting Standards Board)
January 12, 2004... NORWALK, CONN. -- September's Financial Accounting Standards Board exposure draft on public company pension plan disclosures greatly expanded the information that such companies must provide as indicators of the health of their plans. The...

Unnecessary complexity in accounting principles.(Commentary)
January 12, 2004... The greatest economic engine the world has yet seen has been the one experienced by the citizens of the United States over the last some 225 years. The "ism" that drives the engine is capitalism. The scorecard that American business has...

FPA names pro bono advisory committee.(Financial Planning Association)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... FPA NAMES PRO BONO ADVISORY COMMITTEE: In keeping with its pledge to make pro bono services available to those in need, the Financial Planning Association has formed an advisory committee to help it identify populations in need of help and to...

NASD establishes $10 million education fund.(PFP Briefs)(National Association of Securities Dealers)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... NASD ESTABLISHES $10 MILLION EDUCATION FUND: The National Association of Securities Dealers has established an Investor Education Foundation to provide investors with information and tools to better understand investing and the markets. The...

AXA taps Pantaleo to head business development.(PFP Briefs)(AXA Financial)(Laura Pantaleo)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... AXA TAPS PANTALEO TO HEAD BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT: Financial services conglomerate AXA Financial named Laura Pantaleo senior vice president and head of business development for its strategic distribution services unit, effective this month. In her...

Unger Software to provide Methuselah for PBS agents.(PFP Briefs)(Personalized Brokerage Services LLC)(Unger Software Corp.,)(Methuselah financial planning software)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... UNGER SOFTWARE TO PROVIDE METHUSELAH FOR PBS AGENTS: Unger Software, the maker of Methuselah financial planning software, has struck a deal with Personalized Brokerage Services LLC, a marketing organization for annuity, life and long-term care...

SIPC names Harbeck.(PFP Briefs)(Securities Investor Protection Corporation)(Stephen P. Harbeck)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... SIPC NAMES HARBECK: The Securities Investor Protection Corp. said that Stephen P. Harbeck, a 28-year veteran of the SIPC, has been named the new president and chief executive of the congressionally chartered investor watchdog. He succeeds...

Options for college funding abound--but so do caveats.(Financial planning: news and strategies for the personal financial planner)
January 12, 2004... As tuition prices climb, more people may turn to financial advisors for help with funding college costs. Tuition and fees at four-year public institutions in 2003 in creased a whopping 14 percent over 2002 levels, according to the College...

Using short-term losses to offset your long-term gains.(Financial Planning Tax Tactics)(Internal Revenue Code [section] 1(h)(4) and IRC [section] 1(h)(6))
January 12, 2004... Short term capital losses (including any short-term carryover) of non-corporate taxpayers (individuals, estates and trusts) are applied first to reduce short-term capital gains. Under Internal Revenue Code [section] 1(h)(4) and IRC [section]...

IT security services could be a tough SMB sell.(Tech Briefs)(Small nad medium business)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... IT SECURITY SERVICES COULD BE A TOUGH SMB SELL: Despite a track record of vulnerability to information technology security breakdowns, fast-growth small and mid-sized businesses are not increasing their IT security spending, according to...

AMR sees spending surge by large companies.(Tech Briefs)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... AMR SEES SPENDING SURGE BY LARGE COMPANIES: An increase in information technology spending by businesses with at least 1,000 employees may be right around the corner, according to technology industry analysts AMR Research. IT budgets in...

Accpac enhances vertical focus of Simply Accounting.(Tech Briefs)(ACCPAC International Inc.,)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... ACCPAC ENHANCES VERTICAL FOCUS OF SIMPLY ACCOUNTING: Accpac International has improved the vertical industry support capabilities of Simply Accounting and has made several other enhancements in its latest release of that low-end accounting...

IDC bullish on technology outsourcing.(Tech Briefs)(International Data Corp.,)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... IDC BULLISH ON TECHNOLOGY OUTSOURCING: Internet-based outsourcing of information technology will continue to grow, with "some of the better opportunities" to be in government, financial markets, services and discrete manufacturing industries,...

Developing a CRM practice: worth the large investment.(Technology: news and trends in information systems and electronic commerce)(customer relation ship management)
January 12, 2004... No one becomes an expert customer relation ship management consultant or reseller overnight, but many who have found success in CRM, either recently or over many years, find that the rewards outweigh the risks. Over the past year or so,...

Gartner sees welcome rise in SMB tech spending in '04.(Technology: news and trends in information systems and electronic commerce)(Gartner Inc.)(Small and medium business)
January 12, 2004... SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. -- After two years of declines, information technology buying by small and midsized businesses should rise appreciably in 2004, according to technology industry researchers Gartner Inc. "There is unrealized potential in...

Practice mgt. software is loaded with extras.(Software Review)
January 12, 2004... The last few years have marked a change in practice management solutions for CPA firms. Practice management used to be a fancy name for time and billing. Throw in a little due-date monitoring, some custom database fields for tracking the...

Take a fresh approach to your firm's IT budget.(Boomer's Blueprint)
January 12, 2004... As firms plan for the new year, they must be careful not to simply resort to the same strategies they have used in the past. Unique processes, differentiation and process improvement may be the keys for many firms as they operate in an...

Anton Collins Mitchell LLP.(Colorado)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... Stacey Hekkert has joined the audit practice of Anton Collins Mitchell LLP, Denver. Formerly, she was an audit partner at BDO Seidman. In addition, the firm also hired Tom Hughes, Brent Tuck and Nathan Beal, and recent graduates James...

Kforce Inc.(Florida)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... Jennifer Dutch has been appointed account executive for finance and accounting for the Tampa Bay region by Kforce Inc. She was a sales executive for Lexus of Tampa Bay....

Berkowitz Dick Pollack & Brant LLP.(Florida)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... Eduardo L. Vega has joined Berkowitz Dick Pollack & Brant LLP, Miami, as a staff accountant in the Tax Department....

American Institute of CPAs.(Florida)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... Ronald Thompkins, office managing partner of Watson Rice LLP, Miami, has been elected to a three-year term on the Board of Directors of the American Institute of CPAs. He has served five years on the institute's Council....

Deborah Brannon has been made a partner of Geller, Ragans, James, Oppenheimer & Creel.(Florida)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... Deborah Brannon has been made a partner of Geller, Ragans, James, Oppenheimer & Creel, Orlando. She has been with the firm since 1994, and focuses on real estate, employee benefit plans and the health care industry.

Grant Thornton.(Illinois)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... Margaret Maxwell Zagel has rejoined Grant Thornton, Chicago, as co-general counsel. She had previously worked at the firm from 1984 to 1998, before leaving to serve as a vice president, general counsel and secretary of a Fortune 1000 company.

Katz, Sapper & Miller LLP.(Indiana)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... JoDee Curtis has joined Katz, Sapper & Miller LLP, Indianapolis, as human resources manager. In addition, the firm has hired Roxanne Burns and Christine Woolsey as staff accountants in the Real Estate Services Group, and Tammy Selleck as a...

Keith A. Neus and Ryan Sikora, of the Forensic Accounting and Dispute Analysis Department of Klausner Dubinsky & Associates PC, Bethesda.(Maryland)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... Keith A. Neus and Ryan Sikora, of the Forensic Accounting and Dispute Analysis Department of Klausner Dubinsky & Associates PC, Bethesda, have obtained the Certified Fraud Examiner designation from the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.

Wolf & Co. PC.(Massachusetts)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... Wolf & Co. PC, Boston, announced a number of promotions: Kandra M. Tranghese was promoted to senior manager; Daniel F. Morrill and Nancy E. Rossetter to audit manager; and Noelle M. Sanford to tax manager. In addition, Brian M. Canina and...

Schowalter & Jabouri PC.(Missouri)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... Martha K. Dill has joined Schowalter & Jabouri PC, St. Louis, in the Tax Department.

UpShot for Siebel.(Software)(Siebel Systems Inc.,)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... Siebel Systems' hosted CRM OnDemand product has a new module for tracking service and support interactions, providing users with a view of the customer beginning with marketing and sales interactions and continuing through the service and...

Enhanced MIP.(Software)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... Paradigm 5.0, the latest version of Best Software's MIP Fundraising solution, includes a number of technical and practical improvements designed specifically for smaller nonprofit organizations. The product accommodates from one to five users...

SEC-compliant HTML.(Software)(Securities and Exchange Commission )(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... The Securities and Exchange Commission has strict requirements regarding the use of graphics in Edgar filings. EdgarEasePPT can automate and speed the conversion of PowerPoint files to SEC-compliant HTML. This product can convert an entire...

Antivirus for SMBs.(Software)(Trend Micro Inc. )(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... Small and midsized businesses are just as likely to experience the same mixed threats as any large organization today, but are often not fully equipped to deal with fast-moving and elusive viruses--or with spare for that matter. Client/Server...

Simplified tax law.(Books)(New Tax Law Simplified 2004)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... Whether it is alternative minimum tax relief, higher exemption amounts, or increased standard deductions for non-itemizers, J.K. Lasser's "New Tax Law Simplified 2004" has the answers. The book explains the complexities of the new laws in a way...

E-file compliance binders.(Books)(E-file Compliance Binder Set)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... With ImageOne's E-file Compliance Binder Set, tax accountants can organize all of their electronic filing authorizations. This management tool has everything that a tax accountant needs to stay compliant and is presented in an organized binder...

Anti-money laundering guide.(Books)(Guide to U.S. Anti-Money Laundering Requirements)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... Internal audit and technology risk consultant Protiviti's "Guide to U.S. Anti-Money Laundering Requirements" contains detailed information designed to help companies understand the key provisions of current money-laundering legislation, assess...

Business asset recovery handbook.(Books)(The Handbook to Cost Recovery of Business Assets: Expensing, Depreciation, Amortization)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... "The Handbook to Cost Recovery of Business Assets: Expensing, Depreciation, Amortization" includes a detailed explanation of the latest rules. It reflects up-to-date official guidance, including temporary regulations on bonus depreciation...

'The Mega Producers'.(Books)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... Just over half of 1 percent of all financial professionals control 25 percent of the monetary assets in this country. Many simply refer to this elite set as "mega producers." Financial services trainer and author Steven Drozdeck's new book,...

Internet directory.(Directory)
January 12, 2004... The Tax and Accounting Community's Internet Directory Basic listings in the Website Guide include the company name, a 25-word description of the site, and the URL. Screen shots can also be added to the listing. Don Uhl and Associates...

Merger fever rising in 2004; industry gurus predict merger & acquisition frenzy for the coming year.
January 26, 2004... Buckle your seatbelt. That's the advice of industry watchers who are anticipating a NASCAR-like pace with regard to industry mergers in 2004. "If there is ever such a thing as a sure prediction in the accounting industry, it would be that...

Tax preparers brace for 2004 filing season.
January 26, 2004... Significant new tax law changes, an expanding economy, expired tax provisions that may be reenacted and a smaller-than average increase in the total number of tax fliers will all impact the type of filing season facing tax pros this year. ...

Best buys new weapon in war vs. MBS: Accpac.
January 26, 2004... IRVINE, CALIF. -- The battle lines between Best Software and Microsoft Business Solutions in the accounting and business application space are currently the only clear things in Best's plans to acquire Pleasanton-based Accpac International...

Look before you leap.(Action Idea)(information technology purchases require research and planning)(Brief Article)
January 26, 2004... Buying technology is fraught with the potential for costly mistakes. Follow these steps to be prepared. 1. Know your needs. Determine exactly which problem you want the technology to solve. Then, determine what the minimally acceptable...

E&Y, Mitchell & Titus forge alliance.(Ernst & Young L.L.P. and Mitchell and Titus L.L.P.)(Brief Article)
January 26, 2004... NEW YORK -- Big Four firm Ernst & Young and Mitchell & Titus, the nation's largest minority-owned CPA firm, have forged an alliance to work together on client engagements, staff training, marketing, and recruiting and diversity efforts. ...

Another Minn. grab for LarsonAllen.(Minneapolis based LarsonAllen )(acquisition of Biebl, Ranweiler, Christiansen, Meyer, Thompson & Co.)(Brief Article)
January 26, 2004... MINNEAPOLIS -- Top-ranked accounting firm LarsonAllen has bolstered its foothold in Minnesota with the merger of New Ulm-based Biebl, Ranweiler, Christiansen, Meyer, Thompson & Co., which specializes in agricultural taxation. LarsonAllen said...

Caturano chairs PCPS Exec Committee.(Richard Caturano)(American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Private Companies Practice Section )(Brief Article)
January 26, 2004... NEW YORK -- Richard Caturano, president of Boston-based Vitale, Caturano & Co., has been named chairman of the American Institute of CPAs' PCPS Executive Committee. Caturano succeeds William Balhoff and will serve, a three-year term. He has...

RSM McGladrey adds Fla. firm.(RSM McGladrey Inc. expands in south Florida )(addition of Bustamante Nunez & Co)(Brief Article)
January 26, 2004... MINNEAPOLIS -- RSM McGladrey has expanded its presence in the South Florida market with the addition of professional services firm Bustamante Nunez & Co. to its fold. Miami-based Bustamante Nunez & Co., which has adopted the RSM name,...

AICPA launches new CPCAF.(American Institute of Certified Public Accountants)(SEC Practice Section becomes Center for Public Company Audit Firms)(Brief Article)
January 26, 2004... NEW YORK -- The American Institute of CPAs kicked off the new year with the launch of the Center for Public Company Audit Firms, the revamped version of its former SEC Practice Section. According to the AICPA, the voluntary membership center is...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
January 26, 2004... The Vendor Directory in the Top 100 Products Report in the Dec. 15, 2003-Jan. 11, 2004, edition of Accounting Today incorrectly reported the Web site address for interface Software. The correct address is www.interfacesoftware.com.

Are state tax amnesties good for revenue--or for politics?(Top of the news: the complete chronicle of news and trends shaping the profession)
January 26, 2004... Tax amnesty programs are taking center stage as state governments seek new ways to boost revenue and relieve budgetary pressure. In the 20 years prior to 2002, the United States saw an average of only 2.6 state tax amnesty programs each...

European oversight called into question by Parmalat scandal.
January 26, 2004... While Grant Thornton International may have distanced itself from the accounting scandal at bankrupt Italian dairy giant Parmalat by booting its Italian member firm, the scandal--the scope of which is rapidly approaching $12 billion--has raised...

Practice management.(Web Cites)(accounting and financial services web sites)(listings and brief information )(Brief Article)
January 26, 2004... * Accountant City--www.accountant-city.com For a fee, Accountant City will provide you with a ready made Web site, complete with frequently updated tips, news and more. * Accounting & Financial Site Builder--www.afsb.com The AFSB...

Deloitte Chicago employees honored for community commitment.(Footnotes)(Tom Flanagan and Yvette Ellis of Deloitte & Touche )(Brief Article)
January 26, 2004... Tom Flanagan and Yvette Ellis, partner and marketing manager, respectively, of the Chicago office of Big Four firm Deloitte & Touche, were named as winners of the firm's Community Impact Awards. The Deloitte Community Impact Awards...

FASB proposes amendments to hasten IASB convergence.
January 26, 2004... NORWALK, CONN. -- Delivering, in part, on a promise made last year, the Financial Accounting Standards Board has proposed adjusting four of its statements to bring them closer to international standards. The adjustments are relatively minor,...

SEC's Nicolaisen: embrace a culture of investor protection.
January 26, 2004... WASHINGTON -- Securities and Exchange Commission chief accountant Donald T. Nicolaisen served up a clear warning to the profession, stressing that pre-Enron "business as usual" audit practices will draw heavy fire from his agency. In an...

The 6:09 and the state of the profession.(Opinion: the free and open forum for the tax and accounting community)
January 26, 2004... Recently, while riding my usual commuter train, I noticed the gentlemen seated next to me reading a copy of "The Trusted Professional," a publication put out by the New York State Society of CPAs. Eschewing my usual 30-minute catnap, I quickly...

The buzz continues on interstate compacts.(Commentary)
January 26, 2004... I did not anticipate that I would receive so much positive feedback from so many places about my suggestion of an interstate compact for private sector auditing standards (Accounting Today, Sept. 22-Oct. 5, 2003, p. 6). Because an...

Kudos to Kliegman.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
January 26, 2004... Nice job by Ed Kliegman in his commentary (Accounting Today, Dec. 15, 2003-Jan. 11, 2004, p. 6). These so-called learned folks at the various points of power just don't get it. An old CPA once told me that the only thing that mattered when...

Selling on the inside: attitude and aptitude.(Practice Management)
January 26, 2004... Becoming an insider and selling to owners, boards and top management takes a unique combination of both attitude and aptitude. The belief that you, as a businessperson, have the expertise and stature to converse with these top officers is...