Dear Elizabeth:
On Wednesday, we had the honor of welcoming new AICPA chairman Tim Christen, CPA, CGMA at our town hall where he gave a state of
the profession update and discussed what’s new at the Institute. Over 100 members listened to Tim talk about the major trends happening right
now, specifically how acquisition and retention of talent has become one of the biggest challenges for employers in the U.S. Tim said that successful
professional development is key to attracting and retaining talent, and it’s also a big focus for him at the AICPA. He also discussed the
specialization of technology and how it’s reshaping the profession, the services firms provide to their clients and how businesses operate. He
said that while the profession has never been stronger, now is the time to plan for our future.
Members also had the opportunity to ask Tim questions and voice their concerns (a video of the event
will be available to you soon). His knowledge on the issues was fascinating, but it was Tim’s warm and candid delivery that made this a
fantastic dialogue – and one that mirrors our relationship with the AICPA. The Society and Institute have a common goal, and that’s to
help you succeed in the profession. Collaborating with the AICPA to successfully meet these challenges not brings a great value to you, but also to
the profession as a whole. Our future is bright, and I look forward to sharing the journey with you.
Amy A. Pitter
President & CEO
NETWORKING & MEMBERSHIP:
Upcoming Committee Meeting
Employee Benefits and Human Resources (11/11)
 Photos: 2015 Women's Leadership Summit and Women to
Watch Awards
Over 120 women attended the Women's Leadership Summit on October 29 at the Westin Waltham.
 Save 20% on Wiley CPAexcel!
MSCPA members qualify for a 20% discount on all Wiley CPAexcel products. Please use the code:
MSCPA at checkout.
 Last Chance to Register! Sip & Socialize (11/12)
Are you ready to get to the next level? Visit MC Spiedo in the Seaport District for
cocktails and networking with CPAs and lawyers. Make new contacts and unlock the possibilities in your career!
 Have You Seen the Fall Issue of
SumNews?
Check out the the Fall 2015 issue of SumNews magazine - now available online!
NEWS &
RESOURCES:
Top 10 Productivity
Pitfalls - and How to Avoid Them
Unnecessary emails, pointless meetings and inconsistent workflows
are some of the time wasters that financial professionals face. This post offers 10 tips for addressing these and other productivity problems.
How Millennials Will Change Management
Each generation
brings a new set of values. Here's how the growing number of millennial managers are changing the face of the workplace.
Why CFOs are Hiring More Consultants
Companies count on CFOs not only to be experts
on financial performance but also to have oversight in matters such as risk, compliance, HR and IT. Combine an expanding role with the amount and pace
of change in business, and it’s enough to make even the most informed, tech-savvy head spin.
6 Tips for Tax Season Staffing
With tax season looming, now is the time for
accounting firms to ramp up their staffing strategy. Determining your needed mix of full-time and temporary professionals — before holiday
time-off — will set you on a course for success come 2016.
CPE:
Fraud & Forensic Accounting and Auditing Conference (12/2)
Recognizing fraudulent or deceptive
practices is not always easy, but this conference will sharpen your forensic skills with techniques to uncover fraudulent activities and help you to
see them in their many guises. At this conference, you will:
1. Go"beyond the checklist" to discover how you can fact-find and detect
fraudulent activities in your clients’ files or even your own;
2. Uncover the psychology
behind corporate scandals and how research can provide clues to finding real solutions to fraud;
3.
Review the state of cybersecurity threats, techniques and recent case studies;
4. Delve into the
dirty details of identity theft and tax refund fraud;
5. Learn best practices to implement as part
of your Fraud Prevention Program; and
6. Much more!
Fraud: Roles and Responsibilities of the CPA (11/12)
The threat of fraud at clients continues
to plague CPAs. Although the detection of fraud is not the practitioner’s responsibility, consideration of fraud and its effect on the audit
definitely is. This course provides a full understanding of the deeper workings of how and why fraud is committed.
Accounting for New Revenue Standard (11/13)
This program is a combination of lecture
and a full-on workshop where participants will be given situations to analyze and conclude on as part of a group. This type of format engages
participants, provides for lively discussion points and reinforces the overall understanding of the new standard.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE:
Inactive/Retired UAA Exposure Draft
The AICPA and NASBA released an exposure
draft on the UAA Committee’s recommendation to amend the Uniform Accountancy Act and Model Rules to allow CPAs who are at least 55 years of age
to refer to themselves as “CPA-Retired,” offer volunteer tax preparation services, participate in government-sponsored business mentoring
programs and serve on the board of a nonprofit organization. Under no circumstances could the Retired-CPA provide services that require signature and
use of the CPA title. Comments on the Exposure Draft are requested by February 2,
2016.
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