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Cluttered Desk, Cluttered Mind
A cluttered desk is not a sign of genius. It's a big flashing indicator of messiness. "Desk space is the highest value real estate in your office and should not be used as a storage station," says Paul Burton, who frequently speaks to accountants and lawyers about the productivity challenges they face.

Regional Accounting Resources Now Available in Southern Georgia

01/27/2012 - 13:35 - 167 reads

BowenPhillips has merged with Carr, Riggs & Ingram (CRI). Both BowenPhillips offices in Georgia will now operate under the Carr, Riggs & Ingram name. The same BowenPhillips team will serve local clients, who will benefit from the additional specialized services and resources provided by the regional CPA firm.

Marien + Company, LLC Merges with O'Connor Davies Munns & Dobbins, LLP

01/27/2012 - 11:23 - 193 reads

Marien + Company, LLC, which has been servicing clients in eastern Connecticut for the last thirty-one years, is now practicing as O'Connor Davies, LLP. In addition to traditional accounting, tax, and consulting services, Marien + Company brings a significant government and nonprofit practice to O'Connor Davies.

Karen Goodfriend Receives AICPA's 2011 PFP Distinguished Service Award

01/26/2012 - 17:34 - 169 reads

On January 17, the AICPA recognized Karen Goodfriend's long history of service when it named her the recipient of its 2011 Personal Financial Planning Distinguished Service Award. The award is given annually to an AICPA volunteer who significantly contributes to the advancement of personal financial planning.

Review of the PCAOB's Enforcement and Investigations Program

01/26/2012 - 11:46 - 466 reads

In his January 2012 letter to Mary Schapiro, chairman, SEC, James Doty, Chairman, PCAOB, stated, "I am pleased to transmit to you a summary of the PCAOB's most recent performance review, Review of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board's Enforcement and Investigations Program."

SEC Seeking Public Comment on Dodd-Frank Financial Literacy Study

01/25/2012 - 23:09 - 669 reads

The Securities and Exchange Commission is requesting public comments on financial literacy and investor disclosure issues that it is studying as part of a review mandated by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

How CPAs Juggle Distractions to Focus on Work

01/25/2012 - 17:10 - 97 reads

An endless flow of e-mails, chatty coworkers, unexpected clients knocking on your door, and phones that never stop ringing – sound all too familiar? If so, you're not alone. The real question is – how do you stay focused amid the chaos?

Faw Casson: Winner of AccountingWEB's Contest for Fittest Midsize Firm

01/24/2012 - 13:52 - 626 reads

Faw Casson's wellness program – a top-down commitment to healthy living and the physical and spiritual well-being of each of its forty employees – recently earned the firm the title of the fittest accounting firm in the eleven- to fifty-member bracket in AccountingWEB's 2011 Fittest Accounting Firms survey.

The GSCPA Graduates the Ninth Class from Its Leadership Academy

01/23/2012 - 18:55 - 440 reads

The Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants (GSCPA) recently sponsored and completed its ninth Leadership Academy class, graduating twenty new CPA leaders into the community.

Enhancing Your Clients' Experiences

01/23/2012 - 11:27 - 929 reads

What does the Ritz-Carlton do, that other hotels don't, that makes your stay with them such a memorable experience? The hotel chain has instilled a culture of treating guests like royalty.

The Edge of Glory – CPA Auditions for 'The Glee Project'

01/22/2012 - 15:13 - 1268 reads - 1 comment

Last October, Nick DeSanto, aspiring singer, CPA, and senior auditor with Ernst & Young, tested his singing skills in Oxygen's "The Glee Project" competition. Participants selected after the auditions won a spot on the competition series, with the ultimate prize being a guest appearance on "Glee."

Ernst and Young Offers New Tax Offsets on Benefits to LGBT Employees

01/20/2012 - 17:11 - 901 reads

Ernst & Young LLP has joined an increasing number of employers to reimburse lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) employees for additional federal and state taxes they incur for their same-sex domestic partners' medical benefits. The mandated taxes average $1,500 annually.

AAA Warns: Watch Your Language on Earnings Reports

01/18/2012 - 17:23 - 1147 reads

Last month, when a pension fund owning stock in Bank of New York Mellon brought suit against that financial behemoth, the fund not only took aim at the bank's allegedly fraudulent currency trading, but it cited a variety of upbeat claims in its SEC filings that the plaintiff considered highly doubtful.

ASG Vaults to Ninth Spot of All-Time Lenders on Kiva Site

01/18/2012 - 12:22 - 605 reads

The Kiva lending team, Accountants for Social Good (ASG), moved into the ninth spot of all-time lenders. Since its inception in May 2011, the team has seen explosive growth, both in the number of team members (eighty) and in the total amount of capital the team has loaned to the developing world ($70,500).

GOP Tax Debate Could Coalesce around Ron Paul's Ascension in Primaries

01/18/2012 - 10:34 - 814 reads

Despite his decisive second-place finish in the New Hampshire primary and his strong third-place showing in the Iowa caucus, there are still some political pundits who question whether Ron Paul, who was initially a middle-of-the pack candidate, is a viable contender for the GOP presidential nomination.

IRS Gears Up for Health Care Law Appeals

01/17/2012 - 16:17 - 2002 reads

The IRS is bracing itself for the implementation of the massive new health care legislation. A few select provisions in the Affordable Care Act have already taken effect, but the most controversial sections of the new law are not scheduled to kick in until 2014.

NTEU Backs National Taxpayer Advocate Report on IRS Budget Cuts

01/17/2012 - 14:29 - 428 reads

The union leader representing the IRS workforce has long argued that the most serious problem facing taxpayers is insufficient funding at the IRS. This undercuts the agency's ability to fully perform its duties. Now, Colleen M. Kelley, the president of NTEU, has a powerful ally to echo her message.

Community Announcements: Week of January 23, 2012

01/17/2012 - 12:00 - 203 reads

Following is the latest roundup of accounting community news for the week of January 23, 2012.

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How smart is the average investor? Inquiring minds at the SEC want to know. One of the mandates of the Dodd-Frank bill is to improve the timing, content, and format of disclosures to investors regarding financial intermediaries, investment products, and investment services. While that all seems important and even necessary, one shouldn't lose sight of the fact that there needs to be a focus on reminding investors that investing is a risk, and all the best practices in the world aren't going to change that.
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Gail Perry, CPA
Editor-in-Chief, AccountingWEB
editor@accountingweb.com

Reflect On Your Efficiency and Stop Being Busy

Every Friday evening spend some time to reflect on your own efficiency during the week and use that information to prepare your next week. - Pascal Houillon, president and CEO, Sage North America

See all the tips for this month


Efficient Tests of Balances Series—No. 10: Minimizing Audit Procedures for Accounts Receivable	01/27/12	87
How Smart is the Average Investor?	01/26/12	238
States Change Audit Positions Without Authority: WHAT??	01/25/12	239
Mitt And Newt – What Can We Learn For Our Clients?	01/24/12	483
State Tax Provision Time - Who Cares?	01/22/12	318

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Workplace Fitness

AccountingWEB Announces Winners of 2011 Fittest Accounting Firms Contest

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What the Boeing-NLRB Case Means for You

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Maximising the Impact of Accounting & Financial Spreadsheets
by Simon Hurst
Take your spreadsheet knowledge and confidence to the next level. In this book, spreadsheet guru, Simon Hurst, shows you how to produce advanced, robust, compelling and time-saving spreadsheet applications for everyday accounting tasks such as... Read more

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