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Dear Hannah:

There are a lot of reasons why I love being at the MSCPA, but I have to say chief among them is the way our small office truly feels like a family. It’s always hard to lose a great employee, but harder to lose a friend and family member. Kara Kieran is leaving us after 14 years to take a position closer to home that will allow her to spend time with her two little girls. Kara came to the Society right out of college; her father was a CPA and it felt like a good fit. Fourteen years later, she is a Vice President, a true professional and a tremendous asset to the organization because of her skills, judgment, candor and warmth. Please join me in wishing Kara all the best and feel free to drop her a note to say goodbye – we’ve already heard from some of our members:

"It’s been a real pleasure working with Kara. She is very professional and great at her job and happy to help with any request. Also, it was always fun to work with Kara! I will miss her and wish her well."
Jeanie Gorlovsky-Schepp, CPA, Manager, AAFCPAs

"Kara has been a great resource to the Society in encouraging our members to contribute to the community through financial literacy opportunities and volunteerism. Kara brought together members with a wide range of interests to strategize and achieve the goals of the Society. Her thoughtful communication, strategic outlook and ability to bring members of the Society together has made her a tremendous asset. Congratulations on your new venture, Kara!"
Kristin Costa, CPA, Senior Tax Manager, Baker Newman Noyes

"Kara has been an extraordinary representative for the MSCPA and the accounting profession. She has applied her intelligence and creativity to her role bringing new ideas for the Society to continuously improve its service to members. Kara’s inherent dignity, kindness, and positive attitude deservedly garner her the respect of all who have had the opportunity to work with her. We’ll miss you, Kara!"
Alison K. Simons, Simons Marketing, LLC

Best of luck, Kara!

Sincerely,

Amy A. Pitter
President & CEO

Upcoming Committee Meeting

- Governmental Accounting & Auditing

New Volunteer Opportunity

- Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. - Member of the Board of Directors

Help Educators Help Their Students

Many firms produce newsletters, technical updates and other learning materials that would be helpful to faculty as they prepare students for our changing profession. The MSCPA is developing a directory of firms that are willing to share some or all of these types of resources with educators. Please take a minute to answer this two-question survey to express your interest in participating in this program.

National Association of Black Accountants Bentley Business Bowl - Special Volunteer Opportunity

Bentley University is in need of additional judges and volunteers for its annual Business Bowl. The event takes place on Saturday, February 20 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  Lunch is provided and an optional networking session follows.

Photos: Perspectives on the Pipeline Symposium

Last Friday, college educators and firm representatives gathered at Bentley University to learn about issues facing the next generation of accountants at the MSCPA Perspectives on the Pipeline Symposium.

FEI Boston Executive Event (2/10)

All MSCPA members are invited to FEI Boston’s February Executive Event at the Newton Marriott Hotel. FEI is offering a $60 discounted rate for MSCPA members. 

Temporary Job Opportunities

How to Report Clients' Fantasy Football Winnings

The College Majors with the Highest Starting Salaries

Summer CPE Survey
Would you attend CPE seminars in the summer (July and August)? Please let us know!

Employee Benefit Plan Conference (5/20)
Conference highlights include a Department of Labor update from Ian Dingwall, CPA, Employee Benefits Security Administration.

Upcoming Webinars

     Getting Along at Work? Managing Different Personalities (2/9) 

     MS PowerPoint - Advanced Techniques for Better Presentations (2/9)

     Excel Reporting Series - Creating KPI Dashboards (2/10)

IRS Update: AICPA Suggests Changes to IRS Estate Tax Form
Last week, the AICPA sent comments to the IRS requesting eight changes to the agency’s draft Form 8971 Information Regarding Beneficiaries Acquiring Property from a Decedent.

DOR Update: January Revenue Collections Total $2.588 Billion
The DOR announced this week that revenues totaled $2.58 billion last month, $48 million over the recently-revised monthly benchmark. The gains are contributed to stronger than expected income tax withholdings and business tax collections.

Advocacy Update: Bill to Allow Non-CPAs Leadership Awaits Senate Approval
A bill, backed by the MSCPA, is scheduled for a full vote in the Massachusetts Senate on Thursday. Senate bill 2126, An Act to modernize firm leadership structures, would allow non-CPAs to serve as managing partners of accounting firms, provided that the firm remained more than 50% CPA owned and the individual responsible for attest functions and firm registration continue to be a licensed CPA.

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