Proudly sponsored by:
Dear Hannah:
Profound demographic changes in the U.S. are significantly impacting the communities in which we
live and the way companies conduct business and serve clients. From marketing to business relationships, client development to communications, all
aspects of client service delivery must be evaluated in light of the needs and expectations of a changing population. Public accounting firms need to
recognize that a talented, skilled and ethnically diverse workforce will be required to serve and retain clients and remain competitive in the
marketplace. Accounting firms who do not adapt their work force and their culture will have difficulty attracting and retaining strong talent and
clients. Most of our members recognize this challenge, but many struggle with knowing what practical moves to make to attract and retain a more
diverse workforce.
At the MSCPA, we are working
with high schools and colleges to fuel the pipeline and attract more diverse candidates to the profession. We would also like to help member firms and
businesses to meet their diversity goals. To that end, we will be reinvigorating our Diversity and Inclusion Committee to work on that initiative.
Please contact Barbara Iannoni or me if you are interested. Also, we are hosting a breakfast for
managing partners of accounting firms to have a very candid conversation about what barriers firm leaders have encountered in becoming a welcoming and
inclusive environment and what resources exist to help overcome those barriers. If you haven’t registered for this, I promise it will be a
worthwhile event – please feel free to call or email me for more information.
Finally, there are two terrific recruiting opportunities coming up in
October:
• NABA Career
Fair– Saturday, October 17, 11:30 – 2:30 p.m., State Street Corp in North Quincy – Opportunities are also available to serve as judge for student case competitions at
student symposium earlier in the morning.
• ALPFA –
Saturday, October 3, 2015, 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. Liberty Mutual Insurance, 30 St. James Avenue, Boston, MA
For more information, contact Barbara
Iannoni.
Have a wonderful
weekend,
Amy A. Pitter
President & CEO
NETWORKING:
Upcoming Committee Meetings
• Women in Accounting (9/22)
• Real Estate (9/24)
Last Chance to Register -
Women in Great Places: An Evening in Law and Finance (9/21)
Join the MSCPA and the Women's Bar Association for an evening of cross-industry networking at
the TD Garden. Attendees will also hear from Deborah Grossman of TD Bank who will discuss why women and minority-owned businesses are the
fastest-growing segments in the US. Economy.
Women's Leadership Summit: EmpowHER (10/29)
Dynamic speaker Denise Ryan will show you how to overcome obstacles to success and how to
become the type of leader who inspires others and makes a difference while staying true to yourself. The day will end with a panel discussion
featuring the 2015 Women to Watch Award winners and a celebratory cocktail reception. This is a must-attend event for women at all stages in their
careers.
MEMBERSHIP:
Meet Rising Star: Jill Singer
When she's not running the recruiting department at PwC, MSCPA member Jill Singer is spending time with her family at Singing Beach and enjoying the pork rabe sandwich from Cutty's in Brookline. We profiled the senior manager - U.S. recruiting in the Summer II issue of SumNews - read the full interview now!
Call for Panelists -
Emerging Leaders Summit (11/13)
By the year 2020, there will be five generations in the workplace. What challenges and opportunities does this bring, what
motivates employee engagement, what are the best ways to communicate across generations and how can each generation work together? We’ll cover
these topics and more through a panel discussion at the Emerging Leaders Summit on November 13. We are
looking for members from various generations to participate in the panel. Email Kara Kieran for more
information.
Need to Complete the 150-Hour Requirement?
Attend the MSCPA’s Graduate School Expo on September 25 at 1:00 p.m. at the Sheraton Boston Hotel. It’s a one-stop forum for
working professionals to learn about programs that offer flexibility and convenience to qualify for the CPA designation. View a list of participating colleges and universities.
NEWS & RESOURCES:
Quiz: Are You a Reluctant Leader?
Those who don’t take charge not only limit the effectiveness of their organizations, but also curtail their own professional development. Take this quiz to determine how much your reluctance shows — and learn strategies to
overcome it.
Six Interview Question to Get to the Heart of Generation Z
Generation Z - those born after 1995 - constitutes about 25% of the U.S. population, and they are looking for jobs. With them come new habits of a
digitally networked, post-recession world. Are you asking these candidates the right questions to learn if they will be a good fit for your firm or
company?
Three Daunting Statistics About Bill and Pay Fraud
Paper checks are dangerous. They represent a serious fraud risk. Does this risk worry you?
According to a survey of 540 accountants and bookkeeping professionals, the answer is probably yes.
CPE:
LLCs and Partnership Agreements from a CPA's Perspective (9/29)
The devil is in the details
when it comes to the tax implications of how LLCs and partnerships are structured. This course focuses on provisions of an agreement or state law that
can affect tax reporting. You will develop a checklist approach to reviewing partnership agreements and gain critical information on how to prepare
partnership and LLC tax returns.
2015 New England State and Local Tax Forum (11/16)
This conference will provide an overview on significant state and local tax developments
from across the nation with a particular focus on New England. Enjoy breakout sessions and hear from the New England Commissioner's panel on the
latest developments in the six New England states.
Fraud and Forensic Accounting
Conference (12/2)
Discover how to fact-find and detect fraudulent activities in your clients’ files or
even your own! Larry Benson of LexisNexis will share a glimpse into the world of identity theft and its impact on the accounting industry. Plus, the
compelling true story of Toby Groves as he uncovers the psychology behind corporate scandals and how research can provide clues to finding real
solutions to fraud.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE:
IRS Updates
• IRS Eliminates Appeals
Arbitration Program
• IRS Updates Per Diem Rates for
Lodging and Meals
Ready for MassTaxConnect?
The DOR will launch their new
online filing system for business taxpayers, practitioners, and professionals on November 30. Check out all the new offerings on the
department’s website.
Labor Department Driving Changes
Accountants Need to Know
President Obama is advancing
his employment law agenda by using the U.S. Department of Labor to enact change. Among the most impactful changes coming out of the DOL are four key
employment issues: the newly proposed overtime rule, increased enforcement around worker classification, mandatory paid leave and retirement
savings.
State Leaders Begin to Study Uber, Lyft in
Hearing
Massachusetts legislators held
a marathon hearing this week on proposed regulations targeting ride-sharing services. The MSCPA is watching closely as the final proposal could impact
the innovation economy and signal a shift in philosophy on Beacon Hill in terms of the freelance economy and use of independent
contractors.
AICPA Calls Senate Proposal to
Regulate Paid Preparers Too Broad
This week, the AICPA Tax
Executive Committee sent a letter to the Senate Finance Committee acknowledging concerns over the Senate’s plan to regulate paid tax preparers,
The AICPA recommended that Congress, at a minimum, limit the IRS’s authority to require a PTIN and to require the IRS to take steps to mitigate
marketplace confusion.
 |
