An Arkansas CPA firm has been selected as recipient of the 2008 Public Service for Firms Award by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. The firm was honored at the AICPA Spring Council Meeting in Washington, D.C. on April 26, 2009. Olivia Kirtley, chair of the AICPA awards committee, presented the award to Jim Phillips, managing partner, who accepted it on behalf of JPMS Cox, PLLC. The national award aims to recognize firms for their public service contributions on the local, state, or national level.

A former senior manager and a former partner of KPMG who left the Big Four firm more than a decade ago to form their own business were sentenced and fined millions of dollars earlier this month after being convicted in December of selling illegal tax shelters that helped their clients avoid paying millions.In Manhattan Federal Court, former senior manager John Larson was sentenced to a decade in prison and fined $6 million. Former KPMG tax partner Robert Pfaff was sentenced to eight years and ordered to pay $3 million.

Porte Brown LLC, a Chicago area accounting firm, announced it has received the highest rating possible following an independent peer review of its financial statement audit and review services. The peer review, conducted in accordance with standards established by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), resulted in an "Unmodified Report, Without a Letter of Comment," the best possible rating. The evaluation certifies that Porte Brown's policies and procedures conform to AICPA professional standards for quality accounting and audit services.

Parente Randolph, LLC, one of the top accounting and consulting firms in the United States and the largest independent audit firm in Pennsylvania, recently announced the largest merger in the firm's history. Effective February 15, the firm combined its practice with New York City-based, Lazar Levine & Felix LLP, a 40-year old firm that provides professional accounting and consulting services to individuals, law firms, private companies, and public corporations in the greater New York/New Jersey metropolitan area.

Kristopher Miller, CPA, senior in the tax department of Lattimore Black Morgan & Cain, PC in Brentwood, Tenn. was recently named the 2008 Adult Learner of the Year by the American Council on Education (ACE). This award is presented annually by ACE and is given to an adult learner who has earned a college degree or advanced his or her career as a result of utilizing ACE's College Credit Recommendation Service (CREDIT). Recipients must also demonstrate outstanding achievements in their community and/or workplace while balancing family, career, and education.

Morrison, Brown, Argiz & Farra, LLP (MBAF), Florida's largest independent accounting firm, continues its growth strategy with the opening of its Boca Raton office. The office, led by Partner Marjorie A.